NEW DELHI, November 1: Digi Yatra, the face-recognition boarding system used on domestic flights, has begun trials for international passengers at seven Indian airports, the Civil Aviation Ministry said on Sunday. The trials run from November to December 2026 for Indian nationals holding e-passports on selected Air India and IndiGo international flights, and feedback will shape a wider rollout planned for 2027.
Key highlights
- Trial airports: Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Cochin and Amritsar.
- Eligible: Indian nationals with e-passports flying on select international flights of Air India and IndiGo.
- Passengers create an e-passport-based credential in the Digi Yatra app by scanning the passport, reading its chip by NFC and taking a selfie.
- Digi Yatra can be used at terminal entry, security hold areas and boarding gates where equipment is available.
- It does not replace immigration or airline document checks; passengers must still carry their travel documents.
How the international trial works
| Step | What the passenger does |
|---|---|
| 1. Set up | Open the Digi Yatra app and choose to create an e-passport credential |
| 2. Scan | Scan the passport’s machine-readable zone (the two lines of text at the bottom of the photo page) |
| 3. Read the chip | Hold the e-passport to an NFC-capable phone so the app can read the embedded chip |
| 4. Selfie | Take a selfie, which is matched with the passport details |
| 5. Store | The verified credential is saved in the Digi Yatra wallet on the phone |
| 6. Travel | Use face recognition at entry, security and boarding where available — and still complete immigration and airline checks |
The ministry said the facility complements existing processes rather than replacing them. Because the credential depends on reading the passport chip, passengers need both an e-passport and a phone with NFC.
How big Digi Yatra already is
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Registered users | More than 26.5 million |
| Journeys processed | More than 110 million |
| Domestic airports using Digi Yatra | 39 |
| More domestic airports planned by 2027 | 25 |
| International trial airports (Nov–Dec 2026) | 7 |
Our calculation
- Repeat use: 110 million journeys across 26.5 million users works out to roughly four journeys per user.
- Network growth: 39 airports today plus 25 planned would take Digi Yatra to about 64 domestic airports by 2027.
- Trial reach: the seven trial airports are about 18% of today’s Digi Yatra airports, but they include the busiest international gateways.
What it means for travellers
For frequent flyers, the trial is the first step towards a quicker walk from the terminal door to the gate on international trips. But the time-consuming parts of an international departure — check-in for bags, immigration and security screening — remain. Travellers should treat Digi Yatra as an optional convenience during the trial, keep their passport and boarding pass ready, and check with Air India or IndiGo whether their flight is included.
The system relies on face images and passport data, so passengers who prefer not to use it can continue with manual checks. The ministry’s release says the credential is stored in the app’s wallet on the passenger’s phone.
What to watch
- Which international flights are included at each airport, and whether more airlines join.
- Results of the November–December trials and the ministry’s plan for a 2027 rollout.
- Expansion to the 25 additional domestic airports by 2027.
File photo: the international terminal at Mumbai airport, one of the seven trial airports; not a photograph of Digi Yatra gates. Image: A.Savin, Free Art Licence, via Wikimedia Commons. Photo source · Licence
Sources
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