New Delhi: The Digi Yatra international passenger trials have commenced at seven airports across India, marking another step in the adoption of digital technology in the country’s aviation sector.
Scheduled to run from November to December 2026, the Digi Yatra international passenger trials will enable eligible Indian nationals holding e-passports to use Digi Yatra at designated airport touchpoints while travelling on select international flights operated by Air India and IndiGo.
The Digi Yatra international passenger trials are being conducted at Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Mumbai, Chennai and Amritsar airports.
Eligible passengers will be able to use the facility at terminal entry points, Security Hold Areas (SHA) and boarding gates, wherever the required infrastructure is available.
The feedback collected during the Digi Yatra international passenger trials will be used to inform the planning of a wider rollout in 2027.
How to Access Digi Yatra for International Travel
Eligible passengers can leverage this seamless biometric ecosystem at major enabled touchpoints, including terminal entry, Security Hold Areas (SHA), and boarding gates.
To participate, travellers can securely generate an international digital ID directly from their smartphones via the Digi Yatra app by scanning their e-passport’s Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) and using Near Field Communication (NFC) to read the embedded chip.
Passengers must then capture a selfie and verify their details.
Following the quick biometric verification, a secure Verifiable Credential (VC) is saved locally in the passenger’s smartphone wallet, ensuring their personal data remains completely private, decentralized, and entirely under their control.
Passengers can upload their boarding pass to the Digi Yatra app to enjoy seamless entry into the airport terminal.
After completing mandatory document verification at the airline check-in counter, travelers can proceed smoothly through the security hold area and boarding gates using Digi Yatra’s biometric face authentication.
Existing Travel Processes to Continue
The Digi Yatra international passenger trials are intended to complement, and not replace, existing travel processes.
Passengers participating in the trials must continue to carry their travel documents and complete all mandatory airline document checks, immigration procedures and other applicable travel formalities.
The introduction of the Digi Yatra international passenger trials therefore allows eligible passengers to use the digital facility at designated airport touchpoints while continuing to follow the required procedures for international travel.
Digi Yatra Adoption Expands Across India
Digi Yatra’s adoption continues to expand across India’s aviation network.
The platform currently has more than 26.5 million users and has enabled more than 110 million journeys across 39 domestic airports, serving domestic airlines.
The Digi Yatra international passenger trials represent an expansion of the platform to international passenger travel, with the current trials being used to gather passenger feedback ahead of a wider rollout planned for 2027.
A further 25 domestic airports are also planned to be covered by 2027.
Neetan Chopra, Chief Digital and Information Officer, IndiGo said “Having been a key part of the technical Proof of Concept earlier this year, we are pleased to partner with Digi Yatra for the launch of these international passenger trials. Expanding secure digital identity and biometric technologies to international departures is a significant step forward for Indian aviation.
The successful deployment of this technology marks an important step in reimagining the airport experience, combining enhanced security, convenience and operational efficiency. As the aviation industry continues to evolve, such innovations will play a key role in shaping the future of passenger travel.”
Suresh Khadakbhavi, CEO, Digi Yatra Foundation, said, “Digi Yatra has demonstrated how digital identity can simplify domestic air travel. With the start of international passenger trials, we are taking an important step towards extending this experience to eligible Indian nationals travelling internationally.
Interoperability with global frameworks such as IATA’s One ID and ICAO’s Public Key Directory (PKD) will be an important part of this journey, helping explore how e-passport-based digital credentials can enable more seamless and secure passenger journeys across borders, while keeping passenger consent, privacy and security central to the experience.”
