The Ministry of Civil Aviation has officially commenced trial operations for the Digi Yatra initiative for international travellers. This digital identity verification service, which has already been implemented across numerous domestic airports in India, is now being tested at seven international transit hubs to assess its functionality and passenger reception in an international context.
The pilot programme, scheduled to run throughout November and December 2026, is currently operational at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, and Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad. Other participating facilities include the Cochin International Airport, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, Chennai International Airport, and Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar.
While these facilities are now active, the service is not currently available for all international traffic. Participation is restricted to passengers travelling on select international flights operated by Air India and IndiGo. Officials have clarified that the trial serves as a data-gathering phase, with user feedback set to play a critical role in shaping the government's strategy for a broader, full-scale rollout of the technology in 2027.
Under the current framework, the facility is accessible only to eligible Indian citizens who possess valid e-passports. To utilise the system, passengers are required to generate Verifiable Credentials through the dedicated Digi Yatra mobile application. This process necessitates scanning the Machine-Readable Zone of their e-passport and utilizing the Near Field Communication feature on their smartphones to read the document's embedded electronic chip. After completing a selfie verification, these credentials are stored securely in the user's digital wallet for use at terminal entry points, security hold areas, and boarding gates.
The Ministry has emphasised that Digi Yatra is intended to function as a supplementary tool rather than a replacement for existing regulatory requirements. Travellers are still required to carry their physical passports and other mandatory travel documentation throughout their journey. Furthermore, the introduction of this technology does not bypass standard airline document verification, formal immigration checks, or any other necessary international travel formalities.
The expansion into the international sphere follows the platform's significant adoption within the domestic sector. According to government data, the Digi Yatra platform currently serves over 26.5 million users and has facilitated more than 110 million passenger journeys across 39 domestic airports. Building on this success, authorities have outlined plans to extend the service to an additional 25 domestic airports by 2027, as part of the broader Digital India initiative aimed at leveraging technology to simplify aviation infrastructure.
As the two-month trial period progresses, the Ministry of Civil Aviation will monitor the integration of the system at the designated airport touchpoints. The performance of these digital checkpoints, coupled with the input provided by passengers, will inform the technical and operational adjustments required for future international implementation. For now, travellers eligible for the service are encouraged to verify their flight eligibility through their respective airlines before attempting to use the digital infrastructure at the airport.
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