India : Digi Yatra, India’s decentralised digital identity platform and a Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI)-based ecosystem for contactless and seamless passenger processing at airports has commenced its International Passenger Trials across seven Indian airports, marking a significant step in extending its digital passenger facilitation platform beyond domestic air travel. Commencing in October and running through December 2026, the trials will enable Indian nationals holding e-passports and travelling on international flights operated by Air India and IndiGo to use Digi Yatra at designated airports and airport touchpoints. The BETA programme is currently underway, with the trials scheduled to go live on 1 November 2026.
The International Passenger Trials will be conducted at Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Mumbai, Chennai and Amritsar airports. Eligible passengers, i.e., Indian Nationals with e-passports travelling on international flights operated by Air India and IndiGo, can use Digi Yatra at enabled airport touchpoints, including terminal entry, the Security Hold Area (SHA) and boarding gates, subject to infrastructure availability. The trials cover all international destinations served by Air India and select destinations by IndiGo.
Eligible Indian nationals with e-passports can create an e-passport-based Verifiable Credential (VC) through the Digi Yatra app. The process involves scanning the e-passport’s Machine Readable Zone (MRZ), reading the embedded chip using a compatible smartphone’s Near Field Communication (NFC) capability, capturing a selfie and verifying the details. Once created, the credential is stored in the passenger’s Digi Yatra wallet on their device and can be used at enabled airport touchpoints during the trials. Passengers must carry their travel documents and complete mandatory airline doc-checks, immigration and other travel formalities as usual.
Suresh Khadakbhavi, CEO, Digi Yatra Foundation, said, “Digi Yatra has demonstrated how digital identity can simplify domestic air travel. With the start of international passenger trials, we are taking an important step towards extending this experience to eligible Indian nationals travelling internationally. Interoperability with global frameworks such as IATA’s One ID and ICAO’s Public Key Directory (PKD) will be an important part of this journey, helping explore how e-passport-based digital credentials can enable more seamless and secure passenger journeys across borders, while keeping passenger consent, privacy and security central to the experience.”
Alongside the international passenger trial, Digi Yatra has introduced a redesigned mobile application with a cleaner interface, improved boarding pass display featuring airline-mapped colours, intuitive navigation and a more structured credential wallet. The update also introduces clearer indicators for guardian and minor credentials and a redesigned consent screen to help users better understand what information is shared, with whom and for what purpose. These enhancements aim to simplify navigation, improve clarity and accessibility, and strengthen the overall user experience.
The two initiatives build on Digi Yatra’s growing adoption across India’s aviation network. The platform currently has more than 26.5 million users and has enabled over 110 million journeys. It operates across 39 domestic airports and serves 11 domestic airlines, with an average airport adoption level of approximately 30%. The app is available in 11 regional languages, with expansion to all 22 scheduled by 2027. Another 25 domestic airports are planned to be covered by 2027. Together, the app refresh and international passenger trial reflect Digi Yatra’s efforts to improve the current user experience while preparing its technology and services for wider adoption.
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