(INDIA) India has expanded its Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Program (FTI-TTP) to cover 13 airports, promising quicker, biometric-based clearance for Indian citizens and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders. The Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed the latest phase rolled out in September 2025, adding Lucknow, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Tiruchirappalli, and Amritsar to the network.
This growth caps a 15‑month push to modernize border control and aligns with India’s newly passed Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, a major legislative overhaul aimed at digitizing and tightening immigration systems while improving passenger experience.
Where FTI-TTP now operates
- Existing airports: Delhi (Indira Gandhi International), Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Ahmedabad.
- New additions (Sept 2025): Lucknow, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Tiruchirappalli, Amritsar.
- Total coverage: 13 airports today; government aims to expand to 21 major airports (including Navi Mumbai and Jewar in future phases).
Officials say the effort aims to keep pace with India’s rising international travel volumes and reduce pressure on manual counters. Registered travellers using automated e‑gates can complete immigration in as little as 30 seconds, with the system reported to be up to 60% faster than traditional clearance for enrolled users.
Timeline and rollout
- June 2024: Launch at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.
- January 2025: Expanded to seven more hubs — Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Ahmedabad.
- September 2025: Extended to five additional airports, reaching 13 in total.
The government plans a phased expansion, adding airports based on readiness, available space for e‑gates, and passenger volumes. The stated vision is part of “Viksit Bharat @2047,” aimed at raising service standards across public systems.
How the system works (FTI-TTP process)
- Submit an online application with required details.
- Schedule and attend a biometric appointment (fingerprints and facial image) at designated airports or FRROs.
- The Bureau of Immigration conducts verification checks and links the traveller’s profile to their passport upon approval.
- At the airport: scan boarding pass and passport at the e‑gate, complete a quick biometric match (fingerprint + face), and proceed once the gate opens.
Key operational points:
– Membership validity: Up to five years or until passport expiry, whichever comes first.
– Fees: Authorities emphasize no additional fee in this initial phase (future phases could change this).
– Support: Help desk at [email protected].
Practical tip: If you renew your passport, update the FTI-TTP profile before travel. Membership is linked to the passport used at enrollment; carry the old passport if the new one is not yet updated.
Eligibility and usage
- Who can enroll (first phase): Indian citizens and OCI cardholders.
- Foreign nationals: Not included yet; may be added later after system stability and capacity growth.
- Adoption (Sept 2025 metrics): 300,000+ registrations and 260,000+ uses for inbound and outbound journeys.
The Ministry indicates that future inclusion of foreign nationals will depend on technical performance, security assessments, and coordination with partner governments.
Benefits and operational impact
Primary benefits reported by authorities and partners:
– Shorter and more predictable queues — clearance in as little as 30 seconds for pre‑verified travellers.
– Reduced document handling at counters, easing bottlenecks during spikes.
– Stronger identity assurance through biometric verification, decreasing impersonation and fraud risk.
– Frees officers to concentrate on high‑risk or complex cases, improving overall inspection quality.
Airlines and airports note advantages:
– Fewer missed connections and improved punctuality.
– Reduced need for expanding queueing infrastructure.
– Better handling of peak flows without major staffing increases.
Legal and privacy context
FTI-TTP is supported by the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, which:
– Replaces several colonial‑era statutes (e.g., Foreigners Act, 1946; Passport Act, 1920).
– Empowers the Bureau of Immigration to regulate entry, stay, and exit more efficiently.
– Mandates digitized systems for visas, registration, and compliance.
– Aims to improve tracking, deter overstays, and enable targeted, risk‑based screening.
Authorities assert that biometric data handling follows legal safeguards and existing privacy norms: biometric details are used only for identity checks and border control, with access restricted to authorized officers. Nevertheless, opposition parties and civil society groups have urged strong oversight, secure storage, and transparent audit trails as the system scales.
Operational design and user experience
Design choices and field learnings:
– Trials before go-live helped reduce false rejects and prepared officers for edge cases (bandaged fingers, worn passport MRZs, family groups).
– Clear lane signage, staff deployment near e‑gates, and fallback manual counters improved first‑time user experience.
– Staff training and procedures for manual override are in place for cases where matches fail after multiple attempts.
User guidance:
– Remove masks, caps, sunglasses during the facial scan.
– Keep fingers clean and dry for fingerprint capture.
– Children who can stand and place fingers on scanners may use e‑gates once enrolled; attendants are available for assistance.
Selection of new airports
The five newly added airports were chosen based on:
– International traffic patterns and route networks.
– Readiness to host biometric e‑gates and ability to handle peak seasonal flows.
– Potential to absorb surges without needing large physical expansions.
Future plans and performance monitoring
Ministry plans and KPIs:
– Expansion to 21 airports will follow a measured, airport‑readiness approach.
– Each phase includes live testing, staff training, and procedures for quick switchover to manual processing if needed.
– Key performance indicators to watch: average clearance time per traveller, share of travellers handled by e‑gates, false reject rates, and mean time to resolve exceptions.
Expected technical updates:
– Software refinements to improve fingerprint/face match rates.
– Better error messages, improved gate signage, and optimized lane layouts.
– Continuous staff training to reduce resolution times for exceptions.
Summary of policy changes (quick reference)
- Program expanded to 13 airports: Latest additions — Lucknow, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Tiruchirappalli, Amritsar.
- Eligibility in first phase: Indian citizens and OCI cardholders (foreign nationals may follow later).
- Speed gains: Clearance in as little as 30 seconds; up to 60% faster than traditional counters.
- Membership validity: Up to five years or until passport expiry.
- Scale and usage: 300,000+ registrations, 260,000+ uses as of September 2025.
- Legal framework: Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 supports digitization and expanded BI authority.
- Future plan: Expansion planned to 21 airports.
Impact on travellers and airports
For travellers:
– Fewer lines, predictable processing, and faster turnarounds.
– Frequent flyers (business, family, study) benefit most; families can enroll individually and travel together through e‑gates.
– Enrolled travellers can use e‑gates for both outbound and inbound journeys, subject to gate availability and airport prioritization.
For airports and airlines:
– Smoother peak‑hour flows without major terminal alterations.
– Improved on‑time performance for carriers and reduced rebooking costs from missed connections.
– Operational savings in space and staff allocation.
How to apply and get help
- Apply online, check status, and schedule appointments at the official portal: https://www.ftittp.mha.gov.in
- For support or queries, contact [email protected].
- Authorities recommend applying well before travel—especially during holiday seasons—to avoid last‑minute crowding at manual counters.
Final takeaways
- The FTI-TTP expansion to 13 airports demonstrates a practical move toward layered, biometric-driven border checks combined with human oversight.
- Early metrics are encouraging — 300,000+ registrations, 260,000+ uses, and time savings up to 60% — but ongoing monitoring, stakeholder engagement, and robust privacy safeguards will be critical as the system scales.
- For Indian citizens and OCI cardholders: enroll once, update your passport details when necessary, and enjoy faster processing at participating airports.
This Article in a Nutshell
India’s Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Program (FTI-TTP) expanded in September 2025 to five new airports—Lucknow, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Tiruchirappalli and Amritsar—bringing total coverage to 13 airports. Launched in June 2024 at Delhi and expanded in January 2025 to seven hubs, the program allows Indian citizens and OCI cardholders to enroll via online application and biometric appointment, then use automated e‑gates for immigration clearance in as little as 30 seconds. Authorities report 300,000+ registrations and 260,000+ uses, with processing speeds up to 60% faster than manual counters. The program is supported by the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, which digitizes immigration processes. Privacy safeguards are claimed but civil society demands strong oversight. Future plans include phased expansion to 21 airports and potential inclusion of foreign nationals after performance and security reviews.
