Archive · 16 Sep 2026
India Announces Five Airport and Immigration Updates for Travellers
India has introduced several digital tools to make international travel easier.
OCI cardholders can keep an electronic OCI card on their phones.
Their passport and some personal details can also be updated online.
Travellers can show a boarding pass on their phone at immigration.
Some registered travellers can use biometric gates instead of regular immigration queues.
This programme uses fingerprints and a face scan.
Foreign visitors must complete an online arrival form shortly before coming to India.
Indian passport holders do not need to complete that form.
OCI cardholders can download a digital e-OCI while physical cards remain valid.
OCI details can be updated online, with passport changes due within 90 days.
Travellers may show digital boarding passes at immigration counters instead of printed copies.
The free FTI-TTP offers biometric e-gate access at 14 international airports.
Foreign nationals and OCI cardholders must submit an online e-Arrival Card within 72 hours before arrival.
- Who
- The Bureau of Immigration, Government of India, international travellers, OCI cardholders and foreign nationals.
- What
- Five updates cover digital OCI cards, online OCI changes, digital boarding passes, biometric e-gates and online arrival cards.
- When
- Passport details must be updated within 90 days of receiving a new passport; foreign nationals must submit the e-Arrival Card within 72 hours before arrival.
- Where
- The measures apply to Indian immigration processes, participating airlines and 14 international airports in India.
- Why
- The updates are intended to reduce paperwork and make airport and immigration processes faster and more digital.
- Digital OCI card
- OCI cardholders can download an e-OCI and present it with their passport at Immigration Check Posts and participating airlines.
- OCI update deadline
- Passport details must be updated online within 90 days of receiving a new passport.
- Late penalty
- A US$25 penalty applies when passport details are updated after the 90-day deadline.
- Digital boarding pass
- Boarding passes displayed on phones can be used for immigration clearance; printed copies remain allowed but are not stamped at the gates.
- FTI-TTP
- The free programme provides registered travellers access to biometric e-gates at 14 international airports.
- Membership validity
- FTI-TTP membership lasts 10 years or until the traveller’s passport expires.
- Arrival card
- Foreign nationals and OCI cardholders entering India must complete the e-Arrival Card within 72 hours before scheduled arrival; Indian passport holders are exempt.