Digi Yatra goes international: facial-recognition airport checks start at seven Indian airports
India’s Digi Yatra system is going international from Sunday, 1 November 2026. The facial-recognition airport system, used until now for domestic flights, will begin trials for international passengers at seven airports: Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Mumbai, Chennai and Amritsar.
The trial is limited to Indian nationals holding e-passports and travelling on international flights operated by Air India or IndiGo. It covers all international destinations served by Air India and selected destinations served by IndiGo.
Eligible travellers create an e-passport-based Verifiable Credential in the Digi Yatra app by scanning the passport’s machine-readable zone, reading its electronic chip with a compatible phone’s NFC feature, and taking a selfie to verify the details. The credential is stored in the passenger’s Digi Yatra wallet on their own device and can be used at enabled touchpoints, including terminal entry, the security hold area and boarding gates, subject to the infrastructure at each airport.
The system does not replace a passport, a visa or immigration checks. Passengers must still carry their original travel documents and complete all mandatory airline document checks, immigration procedures and other travel formalities as usual.
Why it matters
Digi Yatra is one of the world’s largest airport identity systems. According to the Digi Yatra Foundation, it already has more than 26.5 million users, has enabled over 110 million journeys, and operates across 39 domestic airports. Taking it international is the first real test of whether the same digital credential can work across borders.
The trial is also testing how India’s system fits with global standards. Digi Yatra Foundation chief executive Suresh Khadakbhavi said interoperability with the International Air Transport Association’s One ID initiative and the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Public Key Directory would be an important part of the work, adding that passenger consent, privacy and security would remain central.
What happens next
The trial runs through December 2026. Feedback from passengers is expected to inform plans for a wider rollout in 2027, although the Foundation has not confirmed a date for that rollout or the criteria it will use to judge the trial. A redesigned Digi Yatra app is being introduced alongside it, with a clearer consent screen explaining what information is shared, with whom and for what purpose.
This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.
Sources
- https://www.expresscomputer.in/news/digi-yatra-to-launch-international-passenger-trials-at-seven-indian-airports-from-november-1/140541/ (Express Computer, 27 October 2026)
- https://www.pninews.com/digi-yatra-begins-international-passenger-trials-across-seven-airports/ (Press Network of India, 28 October 2026)
- https://www.travelandleisureasia.com/in/news/digi-yatra-begins-international-departure-trials-at-seven-indian-airports/ (Travel + Leisure Asia, 28 October 2026)
- https://idtechwire.com/digi-yatra-opens-international-passenger-trials-at-seven-indian-airports/ (ID Tech Wire, 28 October 2026)
