Digi Yatra is now being tried for international flights. From 1 November 2026 to December 2026, Indians with an e-passport flying Air India or select IndiGo international flights can use face-based entry at Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Cochin and Amritsar airports. You first create an e-passport credential in the Digi Yatra app. Immigration checks don't change.
Updated 2 November 2026
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official portal | Digi Yatra and Ministry of Civil Aviation |
| Helpline | Help section inside the Digi Yatra app; airport Digi Yatra desks at participating terminals |
| Fee | Free. The app and credential cost nothing |
| Deadline | Trial runs November 2026 to December 2026; wider rollout planned in 2027 |
| Documents | Indian e-passport (with chip), NFC-enabled smartphone, boarding pass for an eligible flight |
| Airports | Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Mumbai, Chennai, Amritsar |
| Related posts | How domestic Digi Yatra works, Passport appointment guide |
What did the government announce on 1 November 2026?
The Ministry of Civil Aviation said Digi Yatra has started trials for international passengers at seven airports. The trial runs from November to December 2026. Feedback from passengers will decide how a wider rollout happens in 2027.
At these airports, eligible passengers can use Digi Yatra at three touchpoints, wherever the setup is ready:
• Terminal entry gates
• Security Hold Area (the pre-security check point)
• Boarding gates
Digi Yatra already has more than 26.5 million users and has handled over 110 million journeys across 39 domestic airports. Another 25 domestic airports are planned by 2027.
Who can use Digi Yatra on an international flight right now?
Only people who meet all of these:
1. Indian nationals. Foreign passport holders aren't part of the trial.
2. Holding an e-passport. The new passports with an electronic chip. Older non-chip passports won't work for this.
3. Flying on an eligible flight. All Air India international destinations are included. For IndiGo, only select international routes.
4. Departing from one of the seven trial airports.
If you're flying out of, say, Kolkata or Ahmedabad on an international flight, you'll use the regular process for now.
How do I know if my passport is an e-passport?
E-passports have a small gold chip symbol printed on the front cover, below the words "Passport" and the emblem. They also contain a microchip inside the cover. India started issuing e-passports from select Passport Seva Kendras and has been expanding them. If yours was issued earlier without the symbol, it's a regular passport and won't work for this trial.
How does the e-passport credential actually work?
This is the clever part. Your e-passport's chip already holds your photo and details, digitally signed by the Government of India. The Digi Yatra app reads that chip directly using your phone's NFC, the same tech used for tap-to-pay.
So the app doesn't just trust a photo of your passport. It checks the chip, compares your live selfie with the chip photo, and then creates what's called a Verifiable Credential (VC). This credential sits in the Digi Yatra wallet on your own phone. At the airport, the face camera matches you with the credential you share.
That's the same "data stays on your phone" design the domestic version uses. We explained the privacy side in detail in our domestic Digi Yatra guide.
How do I create my e-passport credential, step by step?
1. Update the Digi Yatra app from the Play Store or App Store. The app got a redesign with the trial launch, so make sure you're on the latest version.
2. Open the credential wallet and choose the e-passport option.
3. Scan the MRZ. That's the two lines of letters and arrows at the bottom of your passport's photo page. Hold the phone steady in good light.
4. Read the chip using NFC. Turn on NFC in phone settings. Place the phone flat on the passport (usually the cover or photo page) and hold still till it finishes reading.
5. Take a selfie. Remove glasses and caps, face the camera straight.
6. Verify the details shown and confirm. Your credential is created and saved in the wallet.
7. Add your boarding pass for the eligible flight as usual, and share it with the departure airport.
Do this at home a day before travel, not in the airport queue. NFC reading can take a few tries.
Does this replace immigration or passport checks?
No, and this is where many people will get confused. Digi Yatra only helps at entry, security hold area and boarding gates. You must still:
• Carry your physical passport and visa
• Complete airline document checks (visa checks, return tickets where needed)
• Go through immigration as usual
• Follow customs rules
Think of it as a faster way through the gates, not a replacement for any legal check.
What if Digi Yatra doesn't work at the airport?
Phone can't read the chip. Not all phones have NFC, and some older models struggle. Try removing the phone cover. If it still fails, use the regular process.
Face match fails at the gate. Step aside and use the manual counter with your passport and boarding pass. No penalty, no fuss.
Touchpoint not ready. The government says touchpoints work "wherever infrastructure is available." Some gates may not be enabled yet during the trial.
Flight not eligible. If your IndiGo route isn't in the trial, the app won't accept it. Use the normal lines.
Always keep enough time. Treat Digi Yatra as a bonus during the trial, not something your timing depends on.
Real-life examples
A student flying Delhi to Toronto on Air India. Aman got an e-passport in 2026. He creates the credential at home, links his boarding pass, and walks through the e-gates at Delhi's terminal entry. He still clears immigration normally.
A family flying Kochi to Dubai. The parents have e-passports but their son's older passport has no chip. The parents use Digi Yatra; the son goes through the regular gate, and they meet at security.
A business traveller from Amritsar. Harpreet's phone has no NFC. She can't create the credential, so she uses the normal process and plans to try again with her new phone.
Documents checklist
☐ Indian e-passport with chip symbol on the cover
☐ NFC-enabled smartphone with the latest Digi Yatra app
☐ Boarding pass for an eligible Air India or IndiGo international flight
☐ Visa and other travel documents as needed
☐ Physical passport carried at all times
Final reminder
The trial is open only till December 2026, at seven airports, for e-passport holders. If you're travelling abroad this winter, set up the credential a day early and still reach on time. If you face issues, give feedback in the app, because that's what shapes the 2027 rollout. Want your MP to push for this at your city's airport? Find them on NetaSampark's Know Your Neta.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Digi Yatra for international flights?
Yes, in a trial from November to December 2026 at seven airports, only for Indian e-passport holders on eligible Air India and IndiGo flights.
Which airports have Digi Yatra for international flights?
Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Mumbai, Chennai and Amritsar.
Do I still need to go through immigration?
Yes. Digi Yatra doesn't replace immigration, visa checks or customs.
Does Digi Yatra work with an old passport for international travel?
No. The trial needs an e-passport with a chip that the app reads through NFC.
Is Digi Yatra mandatory?
No. It's voluntary. You can always use the regular manual process.
Where is my data stored?
The credential is stored in the Digi Yatra wallet on your own phone and shared at enabled touchpoints for the journey.
Sources
• Passport Seva, Ministry of External Affairs
• Times of India, October 2026: Digi Yatra to start international passenger trials at seven airports