No more boarding pass stamping at immigration from September 1

The Bureau of Immigration announced that international travellers can use e-boarding passes on smartphones for immigration clearance at Indian airports from September 1. Physical stamping of boarding passes will end, while paper passes remain valid and FTI-TTP travellers can use e-gates

New Delhi: The Bureau of Immigration (BoI) on Monday announced that beginning September 1, international travellers can use e-boarding passes displayed on their smartphones during immigration clearance at Indian airports, as the procedure of physically stamping these documents has been eliminated.

The agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued the “important advisory” on its social media handle X, saying the move meant “less paper, fewer steps and smoother travel.” 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.

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The BoI said in its post that starting September 1, 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. The announcement added that “boarding passes will no longer be stamped during immigration clearance.” The agency said physical boarding passes will, however, continue to be accepted. 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.