Trials for the facial recognition scheme began on November 1 for select international flights at seven airports.
Chennai International Airport has started trial runs of the Digi Yatra scheme for international passengers, with a full rollout planned for 2027, according to reports by Deccan Chronicle and The New Indian Express.
The trials began on November 1 and will continue until December 31. Currently, the process is being tested for IndiGo Airlines passengers flying to Dubai and Colombo.
The Civil Aviation Ministry said on Sunday that trials for international passengers are being conducted at seven airports, including Chennai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Mumbai, and Amritsar. The facility is available to Indian nationals holding chip-enabled e-passports on select international flights operated by IndiGo and Air India.
To use the system, passengers must create a Verifiable Credential on the Digi Yatra mobile app by scanning their e-passport's machine-readable zone, reading the embedded chip using a smartphone's NFC feature, and taking a selfie. The digital identity is then stored in the passenger's Digi Yatra wallet.
The technology uses facial recognition to enable contactless movement through terminal entry, security hold areas, and boarding gates. The ministry stated the facility is intended to complement, not replace, existing travel processes, and passengers must still carry travel documents and complete immigration procedures.
Airport staff, referred to as Digi Buddies, will be appointed to guide passengers on using the system. Feedback from the current trials will be used to plan the wider rollout in 2027.
