INTERNATIONAL travellers at Indian airports will have a simpler digital option for immigration clearance from September 1, as the Bureau of Immigration (BoI) begins accepting e-boarding passes displayed on smartphones.
The change means boarding passes will no longer need to be physically stamped during immigration clearance. The BoI, under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), described the move in an "important advisory" on its social media handle X as "less paper, fewer steps and smoother travel."
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PTI first reported on August 22 about the BoI's move to eliminate physical stamping of passenger boarding passes at international airports in the country.
The BoI said international travellers can "go digital" as e-boarding passes are now accepted.
"International travellers can use e-boarding passes displayed on their smartphones during immigration clearance.
"FTI-TTP (Fast Track Immigration-Trusted Traveller Program) enrolled travellers can also use them at e-gates," it said.
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The announcement added that "boarding passes will no longer be stamped during immigration clearance."
Physical boarding passes will continue to be accepted, the agency said.
A senior officer involved in airport security said the new e-boarding pass regime will also eliminate the need for stamping by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) before boarding.
(With inputs from agencies)
