The Civil Aviation Ministry has announced the start of Digi Yatra trials for international passengers at seven major Indian airports. The airports include Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Mumbai, Chennai and Amritsar. The trial phase began on November 1, 2026, and aims to test the system before its wider launch in 2027.
Digi Yatra uses facial recognition technology to help passengers move through airports more quickly and easily. The system allows travelers to pass through selected airport checkpoints without repeatedly showing physical documents. It is already available for domestic passengers at several airports across India and is now being tested for international travelers.
During the trial, international passengers flying with Air India and IndiGo on selected routes can use the system. The trials will help officials understand how well the technology works for international travel and identify areas that need improvement.
Indian citizens with e-passports can create a Verifiable Credential (VC) through the Digi Yatra mobile application. To complete the process, passengers must scan the Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) of their passport. They must then use a compatible smartphone to read the passport’s embedded chip through Near Field Communication (NFC).
Passengers are also required to take a selfie and verify their personal details. Once the verification process is completed, the digital credential is stored securely in the Digi Yatra wallet on their mobile device. This credential can then be used during the airport journey.
The trial period will allow authorities to collect feedback from passengers, airlines and airport officials. This information will help improve the system and address any technical or operational problems before the wider rollout.
However, passengers must continue to carry their regular travel documents and follow all airline and immigration procedures. Digi Yatra is designed to support existing airport processes rather than replace passports, visas or other required documents.
Digi Yatra has already gained significant use among domestic travelers in India. According to the ministry, the platform has more than 26.5 million users and has supported over 110 million journeys across 39 domestic airports.
The government plans to expand Digi Yatra to another 25 domestic airports by 2027. The international passenger trials are an important step toward making airport travel more convenient and improving the use of digital technology in India’s aviation sector.