DigiYatra international flights are now in trial at seven Indian airports, and a wider go live is scheduled for 1 November 2026. Eligible Indian passengers can use digital identity credentials at designated touchpoints. The trial covers Air India and IndiGo international flights, according to Trav Talk India.

Quick answer

  • Airports: Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Chennai and Amritsar.
  • Airlines: Air India and IndiGo, on international flights only.
  • Who can use it: Indian nationals who hold e-passports.
  • What is tested: terminal entry, security and boarding gates, where the airport has the infrastructure.

How DigiYatra international flights are meant to work

The trial builds on DigiYatra, the face recognition system that many Indian travellers already use on domestic trips. For international flights, the system needs a passport based identity first. A September report on the plan described the process in six steps.

  1. Scan the information page of your e-passport.
  2. Read the passport chip with an NFC enabled phone.
  3. Take a selfie for facial verification.
  4. The system compares the selfie with the passport photo.
  5. DigiYatra then creates a digital travel credential.
  6. You use face recognition at supported checkpoints.

However, that report described the plan before the trial began. So the final app flow may differ, and the airlines have not published steps in the sources we read.

What stays the same for now

The same September report said immigration would stay separate in the initial phase. Passports are still required, and airlines, immigration officers or the destination country may still ask for them. So carry your passport exactly as you do today.

Also, the trial depends on infrastructure at each airport. Not every gate or lane may support it yet, so keep your usual time buffer.

Why it matters for Indian travellers

DigiYatra has over 26.5 million users and has handled more than 110 million journeys. Those trips span 39 domestic airports and 11 domestic airlines. International travel is the harder next step, because passports and border rules add layers.

If you fly abroad often from one of the seven airports, check whether your passport is an e-passport. Then ask your airline whether your flight is part of the trial. Meanwhile, keep using the normal process until you are sure.

FAQ

Which airports offer DigiYatra international flights?

The trial covers Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Chennai and Amritsar. It is limited to international flights.

Which airlines are part of the DigiYatra trial?

Air India and IndiGo are named for international flights. Other airlines were not mentioned in the report we read.

Do I need an e-passport for DigiYatra?

Yes, the trial is for Indian nationals who hold e-passports. Others should continue with the usual document checks.

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Sources