Digi Yatra for international flights could soon make travelling abroad from India more convenient. The Indian government has started trials of the Digi Yatra facility for international passengers at seven Indian airports. This new service will allow eligible Indian nationals holding e-passports to use facial recognition technology at selected airport checkpoints.

Currently, the facility is being tested for passengers travelling on select international flights operated by Air India and IndiGo. The trials are scheduled to run from November to December 2026. A wider rollout is planned for 2027, with passenger feedback from the trials informing the expansion plans.

Digi Yatra International Flights: Which Airports Are Included?

According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, international Digi Yatra trials are being conducted at seven Indian airports:

1. Delhi International Airport
2. Bengaluru International Airport
3. Hyderabad International Airport
4. Cochin International Airport
5. Mumbai International Airport
6. Chennai International Airport
7. Amritsar International Airport

The service will be available at selected terminal entry points, Security Hold Areas (SHAs) and boarding gates, wherever the necessary infrastructure is available. Passengers should note that Digi Yatra is currently being tested on select international flights at these airports.

Who Can Use Digi Yatra for International Travel?

For now, Digi Yatra for international flights is only available to eligible Indian nationals holding e-passports as part of the trials. To use the facility, you need to:

• Have a valid Indian e-passport.
• Be flying on a select international flight operated by Air India or IndiGo.
• Have the Digi Yatra app installed on your phone.
• Use a compatible smartphone with Near Field Communication (NFC) capability.
• Verify your passport details and identity through the app.

Wondering what an e-passport is? It’s just like a regular passport, except it has a small electronic chip embedded in its cover. The chip stores information that can be read digitally using a compatible smartphone during Digi Yatra registration.

How to Complete Digi Yatra Registration for International Flights?

If you’re eligible to use Digi Yatra, here’s what you need to do before your flight.

Step 1: Download the Digi Yatra App

First, download the Digi Yatra app on your smartphone.

Step 2: Scan Your E-Passport

Open the app and scan the Machine Readable Zone (MRZ), which consists of two lines of letters, numbers and symbols at the bottom of your passport’s photo page.

Step 3: Scan the Passport Chip

Next, use your phone’s NFC feature to read the chip inside your e-passport. This allows the app to retrieve and verify the information stored on the chip.

Step 4: Take a Selfie

The app will ask you to take a selfie to confirm your identity. Once your details are verified, your e-passport-based Verifiable Credential (VC) will be saved in the Digi Yatra wallet.

Step 5: Upload Your Boarding Pass

Add your international flight boarding pass to the Digi Yatra app.

Step 6: Use Digi Yatra at the Airport

At the airport, you’ll still need to get your travel documents checked by the airline. After that, you can use facial recognition at the designated Digi Yatra-enabled checkpoints, subject to infrastructure availability.

Will You Still Need Your Passport and Immigration Checks?

Yes. Even if you’re using Digi Yatra, you still need to carry your passport, visa (if required), and other travel documents. You’ll also have to complete mandatory immigration procedures and airline document checks.

Digi Yatra is simply meant to make moving through designated airport checkpoints more convenient. It doesn’t replace the mandatory travel formalities you need to complete before flying abroad.

How Can Digi Yatra Make International Travel Easier?

Anyone who has travelled through a busy international airport knows how tiring long queues and repeated document checks can be. Digi Yatra aims to make some of these steps easier. Here’s how it could help:

• Less waiting at airport entry: Facial recognition may help you get through Digi Yatra-enabled entry points faster.
• Reduced need for repeated document presentation: Facial recognition can help verify your identity at participating checkpoints, reducing the need to repeatedly present your boarding pass at supported touchpoints.
• Simpler boarding: At supported boarding gates, your face can be used to verify your identity through biometric authentication.
• Easy identity verification: Your e-passport details can be verified digitally when you create your Verifiable Credential through the app.
• A more comfortable airport experience: Spending less time on repeated checks could make the journey feel less stressful.

The service is still in its early stages. How much time it actually saves will depend on the airport and how well the system works during the trials.

When Will Digi Yatra Be Available for More International Flights?

The government is planning a wider rollout of Digi Yatra for international travel in 2027. For now, the focus is on testing the service at seven airports and collecting feedback from passengers. This will help officials understand what needs to be improved before making it available more widely.

There are also plans to bring domestic Digi Yatra services to another 25 Indian airports by 2027. Meanwhile, Digi Yatra has already gained traction across India’s domestic aviation network. The platform has more than 26.5 million users and has facilitated over 110 million journeys across 39 domestic airports.

The international project will explore interoperability with global frameworks such as IATA’s One ID and ICAO’s Public Key Directory (PKD). These could help make cross-border digital identity verification more seamless and secure in the future. Passenger consent, privacy and security will also remain important considerations.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Digi Yatra for international flights in India?

Yes, but the service is still being tested. It’s currently available to eligible Indian nationals with e-passports on selected Air India and IndiGo flights at seven Indian airports.

Do I need an e-passport to use Digi Yatra for international travel?

Yes. An Indian e-passport is required for the current international Digi Yatra trials.

Can I travel internationally without carrying my passport if I use Digi Yatra?

No. You must carry your passport and complete all the usual immigration and airline checks.

Which airlines are part of the Digi Yatra international trials?

Air India and IndiGo are taking part in the trials on selected international flights.

When will Digi Yatra be available for all international flights?

The government plans a wider rollout in 2027, but there’s no confirmed date for when it will be available on all international flights.

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Flying abroad from Bengaluru Airport could soon become a little easier. Kempegowda International Airport has announced trials of Digi Yatra for international flights, which are scheduled to begin on November 1, 2026. The facility will allow eligible passengers to use facial recognition at participating airport checkpoints.

The idea is to reduce the number of times travellers need to show their documents while moving through the airport. The trials will initially cover selected international flights operated by Air India and IndiGo. Passengers will still need their passports and must complete the usual immigration checks.

New International Digi Yatra Facility at Bengaluru Airport

Many domestic travellers in India are already familiar with Digi Yatra. The system uses facial recognition to verify passengers at participating airport checkpoints, reducing the need to repeatedly present identity documents. According to Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), which operates Kempegowda International Airport, Digi Yatra has more than 26.5 million users.

Bengaluru Airport is now taking the system a step further by extending trials to international departures. The new programme, called Digi Yatra International Passenger Trials (DY-IPT), uses e-passport chip validation followed by photo verification to establish a traveller’s identity.

Once passengers complete the verification process, they can use facial recognition at participating checkpoints, reducing repeated document checks.

How to Use Digi Yatra for International Flights at Bengaluru Airport

If you are travelling on an eligible international flight, you can prepare your digital travel credential using the Digi Yatra app before heading to the airport. Here’s how the process works:

1. Open the Digi Yatra app: Download the app or update it to the latest version available for your phone.
2. Scan your e-passport: Use the app to scan the machine-readable zone (MRZ) of your passport.
3. Read the passport chip: Turn on your phone’s Near Field Communication (NFC) feature and follow the instructions to read the electronic chip in your passport.
4. Take a selfie: Complete the photo verification process to confirm your identity.
5. Create your digital credential: The app will create an e-passport-based Verifiable Credential (VC) and store it in your Digi Yatra wallet.
6. Use Digi Yatra at the airport: Follow the signs and use facial recognition at enabled checkpoints, subject to trial availability and airport infrastructure.

Once you complete these steps, you may not need to show your identity documents repeatedly at participating checkpoints where the facility is enabled.

However, you must still carry your passport and complete the usual airline and immigration procedures.

Will Digi Yatra Replace Passport and Immigration Checks?

No. Even with Digi Yatra, international passengers must carry their passports, visas and any other documents required for their journey. Airlines will continue checking travel documents, and immigration officers will follow the regular verification process.

Digi Yatra is intended to simplify identity verification at participating airport checkpoints. For example, eligible travellers may be able to enter the terminal using facial recognition instead of repeatedly presenting documents at enabled entry checkpoints.

This does not mean passengers can skip immigration or other mandatory airport checks.

How Will International Digi Yatra Benefit Passengers?

International travel involves several document checks, from entering the airport to reaching the boarding gate. Bengaluru Airport is preparing to trial Digi Yatra to make some of these steps easier. With facial recognition, passengers may not need to show their passports and boarding passes as often at participating checkpoints.

Here’s how the new facility could help travellers:

• Passengers may have fewer document checks at certain points in the airport.
• Facial recognition could simplify terminal entry.
• Travellers will be able to use their digital credentials at enabled checkpoints during the trial.
• The new system could help reduce waiting times at participating airport entry points, although the actual impact remains to be assessed.
• Passengers may not need to take out their passports and boarding passes for every identity check at enabled touchpoints.

The trial will assess how well the system works for international passengers. The results will help assess whether the system saves time and improves the passenger experience.

Bengaluru Airport’s Digi Yatra trials could be a welcome change for travellers, especially those who want to reduce repeated document checks. If the trials go well, the findings could inform a wider rollout in 2027.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Digi Yatra available for international flights at Bengaluru Airport?

Bengaluru Airport has announced international Digi Yatra trials for selected flights operated by Air India and IndiGo, with the programme scheduled to go live on November 1, 2026. Eligibility depends on the airline, route and participating airport touchpoints.

Can I use Digi Yatra for international flights without an e-passport?

No. The international trial is intended for eligible Indian nationals holding valid e-passports with electronic chips.

Which terminal offers international Digi Yatra at Bengaluru Airport?

The official trial announcement does not specify Terminal 2 as the exclusive terminal for international Digi Yatra. Check the airport’s instructions for the participating touchpoints before travelling.

Is Digi Yatra mandatory for international passengers?

No. Using Digi Yatra is optional. Passengers who do not use the facility can continue with the regular airport procedures.

Will Digi Yatra replace immigration checks?

No. Passengers must still carry their passports and complete all required immigration and airline document checks.

When will Digi Yatra be available for more international flights?

The international passenger trials are scheduled to go live on November 1, 2026, and are expected to continue through December 2026. Feedback from the trials could inform a wider rollout in 2027. A confirmed date for a wider rollout has not been announced.

The post Bengaluru Airport to Start Digi Yatra Trials for International Flights appeared first on Travel Blog | Travel Inspiration, Tips and News | Travel Diary.

India is preparing to expand Digi Yatra beyond domestic travel. The government plans to test the system for international departures, allowing eligible passengers to use facial recognition and e-passport verification at selected airport checkpoints. Here is what the proposed system could mean for international travellers, how e-passports may work with Digi Yatra, and what passengers can expect during the trial phase.

What is Digi Yatra?

Digi Yatra is a digital airport system that uses facial recognition technology to verify a passenger’s identity. Instead of repeatedly showing a boarding pass or identity document at participating checkpoints, registered passengers can use facial verification to move through certain parts of the airport more smoothly.

What is changing for international passengers?

The international version will work differently from the current domestic process. For overseas travel, authorities plan to use an electronic passport, or e-passport, as an important part of identity verification. International journeys involve passport and border-control requirements that do not apply to domestic flights. The first phase is expected to focus mainly on departures. Passengers could use the system for:

• Terminal entry
• Identity verification at selected checkpoints
• Access around the security process
• Boarding gates, depending on the trial setup

Immigration will remain separate during the initial phase. Arriving passengers are unlikely to see immediate changes under the proposed trial.

Which airports will take part in the trial?

Five major Indian airports are expected to participate.

How will Digi Yatra work with an e-passport?

One of the biggest changes involves e-passport verification. A passenger may scan the information page of an e-passport and then use an NFC-enabled smartphone to read the electronic chip inside it. NFC stands for Near Field Communication. The system could then compare the photograph stored in the passport with a live selfie taken by the traveller. The process could work like this:

• Step 1: Scan the information page of the e-passport.
• Step 2: Use an NFC-enabled phone to read the passport chip.
• Step 3: Take a selfie for facial verification.
• Step 4: The system compares the selfie with the passport photograph.
• Step 5: After successful verification, Digi Yatra creates a digital travel credential.
• Step 6: The passenger uses facial recognition at supported airport checkpoints.

What is an e-passport in India?

An Indian e-passport looks similar to a regular passport but includes an embedded electronic chip. The chip stores key passport information in digital form and helps authorities verify both the document and the passenger’s identity. An e-passport can also work with compatible systems such as e-gates and electronic passport readers. This feature could support future digital travel processes.

Will passengers still need to carry their passports?

Yes. Digi Yatra will not allow passengers to travel internationally without a valid passport. Airlines, immigration authorities, and destination countries may still require travellers to present their passports at different stages of the journey. The proposed system aims to reduce repeated identity checks at selected airport touchpoints. In simple terms, it may make identity verification faster inside the airport, but it will not replace your passport.

What could this mean for international travellers?

If the trials work well, passengers may enjoy a more convenient airport experience. International journeys often require travellers to show the same passport and boarding details several times before departure. A well-integrated digital system could reduce some of these repeated checks. Possible benefits include:

• Faster terminal entry
• Fewer repeated document checks
• Quicker identity verification
• Shorter queues at selected checkpoints
• More contactless airport processing
• Easier use of e-passports and digital travel credentials

However, the actual passenger experience will depend on how well airlines, airports, security agencies, and government departments connect their systems. The proposed Digi Yatra expansion marks another step in India’s move toward digital air travel. Authorities plan to test the system at Bengaluru, Cochin, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi airports. If the trials succeed, passengers could spend less time presenting the same documents at multiple checkpoints.

However, the first phase will not replace passport or immigration requirements. Travellers will still need to carry their passports and complete the required immigration process.

Passengers should continue checking official updates before their journey. Those planning a trip to the USA from India can also explore Indian Eagle deals to compare airfare options for upcoming international flights. As airport technology continues to evolve, overseas travel from India could become more convenient and efficient.

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