Launch · Mobility & Logistics

Digi Yatra launches international travel pilot

By Startup Enthusiast · 24 September 2026

What they do

Digi Yatra provides facial‑recognition based, paperless airport entry and security for passengers using a mobile app

The startup will trial its system for international departures at five Indian airports from October to December 2026

If successful, the pilot could extend Digi Yatra to foreign travelers and enable cross‑border credential sharing with the EU

Pilot of Digi Yatra’s facial‑recognition system for international departures will run at five Indian airports from October to December 2026.
Passengers will scan their e‑passport and a selfie to create a digital travel credential stored on their phone.
The credential links to a boarding pass issued before arrival, allowing terminal entry and security checks without physical documents.
Air India and IndiGo are expected to participate, covering both Indian and foreign nationals on international flights.
Immigration checks will remain separate in this phase, with integration planned for later stages.
Digi Yatra is working on interoperability with the EU Digital Identity framework to enable cross‑border credential sharing.
The trial will collect passenger feedback to inform a wider rollout, potentially extending the system to foreign travelers for domestic flights.

The pilot tests a new electronic passport‑based enrolment method, differing from the domestic Aadhaar‑based system.
Security audits by CERT‑In, STQC, and MeitY will be conducted before launch, ensuring robustness.
Successful implementation could position Digi Yatra as a cross‑border travel stack, aligning with IATA’s One ID initiative.

Digi Yatra offers a mobile platform that uses facial recognition to verify passenger identity at airport checkpoints.
The system creates a digital credential linked to a boarding pass, enabling paperless and contactless processing.
Currently active at 39 Indian airports, the service aims to expand to 64 airports by March 2027.
Airlines such as Air India and IndiGo integrate the platform to streamline terminal entry and security for their passengers.
Digi Yatra plans to extend usage beyond aviation to hotels and train stations, pending regulatory approvals.
The platform stores data on the passenger’s phone and follows a 24‑hour data purge policy to address privacy concerns.
It collaborates with the APTITUDE consortium to develop cross‑border identity sharing capabilities.

Work on integrating with EU Digital Identity to allow cross‑border credential sharing within 3‑6 months.
Extend the system to foreign nationals for domestic travel in India.
Pursue regulatory clearance to add immigration checks to the platform.
Expand the “travel stack” to hotels and train stations.