e-arrival card: From October 1, today international passengers arriving in India will find immigration clearance much faster, as the government rolls out
digital arrival cards for foreign travellers. Until now, passengers were required to fill physical disembarkation cards at immigration counters, often causing long queues and delays. The new facility will allow foreign nationals to complete the process online by submitting an e-arrival card before reaching the airport. The digital form will seek standard travel details such as passport number, nationality, purpose of visit, address in India and contact information. Officials clarified that no supporting documents need to be uploaded. The system is applicable to foreigners travelling for work, study, business or tourism. Indian citizens and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card holders will not be required to fill these forms. The initiative is part of the Union Home Ministry’s broader effort to make immigration faster and more efficient through technology. Earlier this month, Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Fast Track Immigration–Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP) at five more airports, including Lucknow, Thiruvananthapuram, Trichy, Kozhikode and Amritsar. The FTI-TTP, introduced in Delhi in 2024 and later expanded to Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Kochi and Ahmedabad, is available to Indian citizens and OCI card holders. With the latest additions, the facility now covers 13 airports across the country. It will also be installed at the upcoming Navi Mumbai and Greater Noida airports. According to a government statement issued on September 11, nearly three lakh travellers have registered for the programme, and around 2.65 lakh have already used it during their journeys. Authorities say the facility has cut waiting times dramatically, with immigration clearance now taking as little as 30 seconds per passenger. Officials believe the introduction of e-arrival cards for foreigners, combined with the FTI-TTP for Indian travellers, will significantly improve the airport experience and reduce congestion at immigration counters during peak travel seasons.
