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Why it matters
If you hold an Indian e-passport and fly one of the trial routes from a trial airport, the app may save you some repeated identity checks at the entry point, the security area and the gate. The ministry says it complements the usual process, so you still need your passport and must clear immigration as before.
Indian passengers with e-passports can now use Digi Yatra, the facial-recognition airport system, on some international flights. The Civil Aviation Ministry said the Digi Yatra international trials began on 1 November 2026 at seven airports, and they cover select flights run by Air India and IndiGo.
Which flights and airports are in the Digi Yatra international trial
The ministry named Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Mumbai, Chennai and Amritsar as the seven Digi Yatra airports. Only Indian nationals holding e-passports can take part in the Digi Yatra international trial, and only on select international flights of the two airlines. IDTech Wire, a trade publication, reported that the trial covers all international destinations Air India serves and some IndiGo destinations.
Esquire India reported that the roll-out at Cochin started on 27 October, a few days before the other airports. The Hindu and IDTech Wire both give 1 November as the start of the trial, so this article uses that date.
The Cochin airport’s managing director, S. Suhas, told Esquire India that extending the system to international flights is part of wider efforts to make travel easier. Digi Yatra already runs at domestic airports, The Hindu reported, and uses facial recognition to move passengers through checkpoints. IDTech Wire said the Digi Yatra Foundation had a beta programme running before the trial began.
How to set up the Digi Yatra app before you fly
The Hindu reported that passengers must first create an e-passport-based verifiable credential in the Digi Yatra mobile app. Punekar News and IDTech Wire describe the same steps:
- Scan the machine-readable strip on the passport’s data page with the app.
- Read the passport’s chip with your phone’s near-field communication (NFC) reader, the short-range chip reader most smartphones have.
- Take a selfie so the app can verify your details.
- The verified credential is stored in the Digi Yatra wallet on your phone.
Once the Digi Yatra credential is in the wallet, it can be used at the airport points listed below. IDTech Wire said each point works only where the airport has the equipment and infrastructure.
| Airport point | What the passenger does | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal entry | Uses the credential at the entry point | Where the airport has the equipment |
| Security Hold Area (SHA) | Uses the credential at the area after security | Where the airport has the equipment |
| Boarding gate | Uses the credential to board | Where the airport has the equipment |
What to have ready before you fly
Based on the reports, a passenger on a trial flight needs four things:
- An Indian e-passport, the passport with an electronic chip that the Digi Yatra app reads.
- A smartphone with NFC and the Digi Yatra app, with the credential already created.
- A booking on an Air India or IndiGo international flight that is part of the trial.
- The physical passport, which is still needed for immigration.
The list is built from The Hindu, Punekar News and IDTech Wire. None of the reports gave a deadline for creating the credential before travel.
What the app does not replace
The ministry said the Digi Yatra trial complements existing travel processes rather than replacing them. Passengers must still carry their travel documents and complete all mandatory airline document checks and immigration procedures, The Hindu reported from the release. Esquire India added that the pilot is not linked to passport control or visa clearance, so travellers still clear immigration counters with a physical passport.
The trial is limited to Indian nationals, so foreign nationals are not covered, The Hindu reported.
What happens next for the trial
The trial runs from November to December 2026, The Hindu and IDTech Wire reported. Feedback from passengers during that period will be used to plan a wider rollout in 2027, the ministry said. Punekar News reported that the trial is meant to test facial recognition and passport-based digital credentials to reduce repeated identity checks at selected stages of the airport journey. The reports read did not say whether the trial will reach more airlines or airports during 2026.
- 27 October 2026: Cochin roll-out starts, per Esquire India.
- 1 November 2026: Digi Yatra trial begins at seven airports.
- November to December 2026: passenger feedback collected.
- 2027: wider rollout planned, the ministry said.
For more on airport technology and other tech news, see our Tech section.
Frequently asked questions
Who can use Digi Yatra on international flights now?
Indian nationals holding e-passports, on select international flights of Air India and IndiGo, The Hindu reported from the ministry's release.
Which airports are in the trial?
Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Mumbai, Chennai and Amritsar, according to The Hindu and IDTech Wire.
Do I still need my passport?
Yes. Passengers must carry their travel documents and complete airline document checks and immigration procedures, the ministry said.