Indian e-passport holders can now use facial recognition for terminal entry, security, and boarding during select international flights.
Chennai airport has commenced trials for the Digi Yatra facility for international passengers, according to reports from The New Indian Express and The Hindu. The trials, which began on November 1, will run until December 31.
The facility uses facial recognition technology to allow Indian citizens holding chip-enabled e-passports to clear terminal entry, security checks, and boarding. Chennai is one of seven airports participating in the trials, alongside Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, and Amritsar.
The Civil Aviation Ministry said on Sunday that the trials cover select international flights operated by IndiGo and Air India. Initial flights include IndiGo’s Chennai-Dubai and Chennai-Colombo routes.
To use the system, passengers must create an e-passport-based Verifiable Credential on the Digi Yatra mobile application. This involves scanning the machine-readable zone of the passport, reading the embedded chip via Near Field Communication (NFC), and taking a selfie for verification.
The ministry stated that the facility is intended to complement rather than replace existing travel processes. Passengers must still carry travel documents and complete all mandatory airline document checks and immigration procedures.
Airports Authority of India (AAI) officials said the move aims to reduce congestion and ease passenger movement. Feedback from these trials will inform a wider rollout planned for 2027.
