New Delhi, June 2026 – In a significant push towards digital and paperless air travel, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has made DigiYatra biometric transit mandatory for international transfer passengers at India’s four busiest airports starting June 1, 2026.
The airports covered under this new rule are Delhi (DEL), Mumbai (BOM), Bengaluru (BLR), and Hyderabad (HYD). The initiative forms part of a “Hub-and-Spoke” pilot project designed to streamline international transit procedures and position Indian airports as more efficient global transit hubs.
Who Does This Apply To?
The mandate primarily targets Indian nationals holding Aadhaar-linked DigiYatra profiles who are on international transit or transfer journeys. This includes passengers arriving on a domestic flight and connecting to an international flight (or vice versa) under a single ticket or Passenger Name Record (PNR).
Transit passengers will now use dedicated biometric e-gates and seamless transfer corridors where their face serves as the boarding pass and identity token, eliminating the need for repeated document checks and physical boarding pass scans.
Key Benefits
- Significant reduction in transfer time (estimated 35–50 minutes saved per connection)
- Smoother, contactless passenger movement
- Reduced congestion at busy international terminals
- Enhanced competitiveness of Indian airports against major global transit hubs like Dubai and Singapore
DigiYatra has already processed over 10 crore journeys across domestic routes, demonstrating its reliability and scalability.
How to Prepare
Travellers must complete the following steps before their journey:
- Download the official DigiYatra app and register using Aadhaar.
- Complete facial biometric registration.
- Upload both domestic and international boarding passes at least 4 to 48 hours before departure (as per airline-specific guidelines).
Note: While the system is highly effective for Indian nationals, foreign passport holders will continue to use manual processing lanes for the time being. Children below 12 years and certain senior citizens may also require assisted or manual clearance.
Important Travel Tips
Passengers are advised to:
- Carry their physical passport and all necessary documents as backup.
- Check with their airline (Air India, IndiGo, etc.) for specific transit instructions.
- Register on the DigiYatra app well in advance to avoid last-minute issues.
This move marks another milestone in India’s digital aviation transformation, aiming to deliver a world-class, frictionless travel experience for millions of international transit passengers.
For detailed registration guidance or airport-specific procedures, travellers can visit the official DigiYatra website or contact their airline directly.
About The Author
