Digi Yatra, the face-scan system that lets domestic flyers walk through Indian airports without showing a boarding pass and ID at every checkpoint, is now being tried out on international departures. Cochin International Airport processed its first overseas passenger this way on 27 October 2026, and reports say wider trials start from 1 November and run until December 2026. If you hold an Indian e-passport and are flying Air India or IndiGo abroad from a trial airport, you may be able to use it. But it does not replace immigration, and you still need your physical passport.
Here is what is confirmed so far, where the reports differ, and what you should do before your next international trip. All details are as of 29 October 2026.
What has actually happened
According to a PTI report carried by TravelBiz Monitor on 28 October 2026, Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) became the first airport in India to process an international passenger through Digi Yatra. The first passenger was flying to the Maldives on an IndiGo flight on Tuesday, 27 October. The facility is still being tested with select airlines, and CIAL says it runs on e-boarding software built by its own technology team.
Esquire India reported on 28 October 2026 that trials for international flights go live from 1 November and are scheduled to run through December 2026. It says the trial covers Indian nationals with e-passports flying overseas on Air India and IndiGo.
Earlier, on 25 September 2026, The Hindu reported (as summarised by SuperKalam) that an international pilot would run from October to December, with Air India and IndiGo expected to take part.
Which airports are in the trial?
This is where the reports do not fully agree, so treat the list as provisional until your airport or airline confirms it.
| Airport | Esquire India (28 Oct) | The Hindu (25 Sep) |
|---|---|---|
| Kochi (COK) | Yes, live from 27 Oct | Yes |
| Delhi (DEL) | Yes | Yes |
| Mumbai (BOM) | Yes | Yes |
| Bengaluru (BLR) | Yes | Yes |
| Hyderabad (HYD) | Yes | Yes |
| Chennai (MAA) | Yes | Not listed |
| Amritsar (ATQ) | Yes | Not listed |
Esquire India itself names seven airports in one place and five in another, so Chennai and Amritsar are the least certain. Kochi is the only airport with a confirmed live international passenger so far.
What Digi Yatra covers on international flights, and what it doesn’t
The reports agree on the basic scope. In the first phase, Digi Yatra on international departures is used at:
- Terminal entry gates
- Security check
- Boarding gates
It is not connected to immigration (passport control). The Hindu’s report says immigration is left out at first because it is a sensitive regulatory process. Esquire India is clear that travellers must still queue at immigration with a physical passport. So the time saved is at the entry gate, security and boarding, not at the immigration counter, which is often the longest queue.
Domestic vs international Digi Yatra at a glance
| Domestic Digi Yatra | International pilot (Oct–Dec 2026) | |
|---|---|---|
| ID used to enrol | Existing domestic process | E-passport plus selfie |
| Where face scan works | Entry, security, boarding | Entry, security, boarding (at trial airports) |
| Immigration | Not applicable | Not covered; physical passport needed |
| Airlines | Many domestic flights | Air India and IndiGo (as reported) |
| Scale | 39 airports, projected 64 by March 2027 (The Hindu) | Kochi live; more airports in trial |
Who is eligible?
Two conditions appear in every report: you need an e-passport, and you need to be on a participating flight. Esquire India describes the trial as open to Indian nationals with e-passports. The Hindu’s earlier report said both Indian and foreign nationals on international flights would be covered. Because these differ, check with your airline before you rely on it, especially if you are not an Indian passport holder.
If your passport is the older non-chip type, you cannot use the international option yet and should plan for the regular document checks.
How enrolment works
Official step-by-step instructions for the international option were not published in the reports we read. Based on how the pilot has been described (The Hindu via SuperKalam, and a travel explainer by Indian Eagle), the process looks like this:
- In the Digi Yatra app, start the e-passport-based enrolment (the method the international pilot uses).
- Scan the information page of your e-passport.
- Read the passport chip by holding the passport to an NFC-enabled smartphone.
- Take a selfie; the app compares it with your passport photo.
- Once verified, a digital travel credential is stored on your phone.
- Link your boarding pass (issued before you reach the airport) and use face scans at supported checkpoints.
The Hindu’s report says the credentials are stored on the passenger’s phone. Expect the exact screens to differ while it is in trial.
What to do now
- Check your passport type. Only e-passports work for the international option.
- Update the Digi Yatra app a few days before you fly, not at the airport gate.
- Ask your airline (Air India or IndiGo) whether your flight is in the trial. Other airlines are not part of it yet, as reported.
- Check in online so you have a boarding pass to link before reaching the airport.
- Keep your passport in hand. You will need it at immigration and possibly at check-in or the gate if the face scan fails.
- Don’t cut your buffer time. Immigration and baggage drop are unchanged, so keep arriving at the time your airline recommends.
- Have a fallback. In a trial, e-gates may not always work. Keep a printed or app boarding pass ready.
Planning a winter trip? See our guide to the Air India Express winter schedule, the new China visa application process for Indians, and our flight deals page.
Why this matters
At Kochi, about one in three domestic passengers already uses Digi Yatra, according to the PTI report. Extending it to international departures could shorten the entry and security queues at busy international terminals. The Hindu’s report also mentions plans to make Digi Yatra credentials work with the EU Digital Identity framework and with IATA’s One ID approach, which aims for contactless travel from one airport to another. Those are longer-term plans, not something you can use today.
FAQ
Can I skip immigration with Digi Yatra on an international flight?
No. In the current trial, immigration is not covered. You must clear immigration with your physical passport as usual.
Does Digi Yatra work on all international flights from India?
No. As reported, the trial is limited to Air India and IndiGo flights from selected airports, and Kochi is the only airport with a confirmed international passenger so far.
Is my old passport enough?
The international option is based on e-passports, which carry a chip that the app reads. Older passports without a chip are not supported in the pilot.
Bottom line
Digi Yatra for international flights is real but early. If you have an e-passport and are flying Air India or IndiGo from Kochi, or from one of the other trial airports after 1 November, try it, as it may save time at entry, security and boarding. Do not expect a faster immigration queue, keep your passport with you, and check with your airline first because the airport list and eligibility rules are still being finalised.
Sources
- TravelBiz Monitor (PTI): CIAL becomes India’s first airport to process overseas passengers through DigiYatra (28 October 2026)
- Esquire India: Digi Yatra international passenger trials to go live from Nov 1 (28 October 2026)
- SuperKalam summary of The Hindu: Digi Yatra to be available to passengers flying overseas (25 September 2026)
- Indian Eagle: Digi Yatra for international flights, e-passport and airports (21 September 2026)
