Digi Yatra International Trials To Begin At Seven Airports From 1st November
New Delhi, 30th October 2026: Digi Yatra is set to expand beyond domestic air travel, with international passenger trials scheduled to begin at seven Indian airports from 1st November. The initiative will allow eligible Indian nationals holding electronic passports (e-passports) to use digital identity credentials at designated airport checkpoints while travelling on international flights operated by Air India and IndiGo.
The trials will be conducted at Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Mumbai, Chennai and Amritsar airports and are expected to continue until December 2026. The programme will test the use of facial recognition and passport-based digital credentials to reduce repeated identity checks at selected stages of the airport journey.
Under the trial, eligible passengers will be required to create a digital identity credential through the Digi Yatra mobile application. The process involves scanning the machine-readable section of their e-passport, reading its embedded chip using a compatible smartphone’s Near Field Communication (NFC) feature, capturing a selfie, and verifying their details.
Once verified, the digital credential will be stored in the passenger’s Digi Yatra wallet on their device. It can then be used at participating airport touchpoints, including terminal entry, security hold areas, and boarding gates, depending on the infrastructure available at each airport.
However, the digital facility will not replace existing international travel requirements. Passengers will still need to carry their passports and other required travel documents, complete airline document checks, and undergo mandatory immigration and other travel formalities. The initial trials focus on passenger processing within airports, while immigration and emigration procedures will continue separately.
The expansion follows the use of Digi Yatra for domestic air travel, where the platform enables passengers to use digital identity credentials and facial recognition at participating airports. The international trials will assess how e-passport-based credentials can be used across different airport checkpoints before any wider rollout is considered.
According to reports, passenger feedback from the trials will help inform plans for a broader expansion in 2027. Digi Yatra is also exploring interoperability with international aviation identity frameworks, including the International Air Transport Association’s One ID initiative and the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Public Key Directory.
Alongside the international trials, the platform has introduced a redesigned mobile application featuring simpler navigation, an updated credential wallet and a revised consent screen intended to help users understand what information they share and with whom.
The trials mark another step towards digitising airport processes in India. Their wider adoption will depend on the results of testing, airport infrastructure, regulatory requirements, and the ability to maintain passenger privacy and data security while simplifying international travel.
