India Expands 24/7 Immigration Counters at Airports Ahead of Festive Season

First, the detected resources in order of appearance:
1. Bureau of Immigration
2. biometric kiosks
3. Fast Track Immigration
4. Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP)
5. biometric kiosks (second mention)
6. Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP) (later mentions)
7. Fast Track Immigration (later mentions)
8. Trusted Traveller Programme (later mentions)
9. Bureau of Immigration (later mentions)
10. Trusted Traveller Programme (later mentions)
11. biometric kiosks (later mentions)
12. Bureau of Immigration (final mention)

I have added up to five official .gov links (only the first mention of each resource) per your rules. No other content or formatting was changed.

(INDIA) India has opened new Immigration Counters at major international airports ahead of the Festive Season, with the Union Home Ministry directing round-the-clock operations to cut long lines and speed up arrivals and departures. The Bureau of Immigration has been told to keep enough counters open 24/7 and deploy extra staff so airports can handle the sharp rise in international traffic expected through year-end.

The steps follow a review led in early September 2025 by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, who pushed for quicker processing and stronger staffing to keep passenger flow steady during peak travel. Officials confirmed that the expanded counters and staffing plans are already in place and will remain active through the busy period.

Airports have also begun installing advanced biometric kiosks to move travelers through checks faster. These changes are part of a broader shift toward digital, risk-based screening that reduces wait times without lowering security standards.

Policy Measures at Airports

• All international airports have been told to run sufficient Immigration Counters around the clock. The goal is simple: keep queues short during the Festive Season, when traffic often surges.
• The government is promoting Fast Track Immigration through the Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP), which gives pre-verified Indian nationals and Overseas Citizen of India cardholders quicker immigration checks.
  • The program currently runs at 13 major airports, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Amritsar.
  • About 300,000 people have enrolled, and 265,000 have already used the faster lanes.
• Airports are rolling out new biometric kiosks and better infrastructure to handle large crowds. These systems support faster identity checks and help reduce bottlenecks at control points.
• Oversight from the Home Ministry, guided by Minister of State Bandi Sanjay Kumar, focuses on manpower, process flow, and technology upgrades to manage the expected passenger wave.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, India’s push mirrors a global move toward trusted traveler pathways and smarter border tools that sort low-risk travelers quickly while keeping a firm focus on safety.

For example:
– The United States has expanded preclearance locations and invested in new screening tools to speed up checks before planes land on American soil.
– India’s approach follows the same logic: give known, low-risk travelers a faster path, and free up officers to focus on cases that need closer review.

What Travelers Can Expect This Festive Season

International travelers should see shorter lines as more counters open and new kiosks come online. If you’re a member of the Trusted Traveller Programme, you’ll be able to use dedicated lanes and finish checks faster than standard queues.

Even for those not enrolled, the extra staffing and improved layouts should bring down waiting times.

To help your trip go smoothly:
– Arrive early, especially during late-night and early-morning banked arrivals.
– Keep passports, visas, and return/onward tickets ready for inspection.
– For OCI cardholders, have your OCI card and passport together for quick verification.
– Follow airport guidance to the correct lane—standard or Fast Track Immigration for FTI-TTP members.
– If you’re switching flights, check terminal transfers and time buffers in case immigration checks occur between connections.

While biometric kiosks will speed things up, officers may still ask questions about travel purpose, stay address, and funds. Clear answers and complete paperwork keep the process quick.

Next Steps and Broader Context

Officials say the Trusted Traveller Programme will expand beyond the current 13 airports so that more travelers can access Fast Track Immigration in the months ahead. Continued investment in biometrics and digital systems is meant to build a smoother flow that holds up under heavy passenger loads and helps airports serve growing tourism and business travel.

This is not just about speed. It also supports smarter security by flagging cases that need attention while letting known travelers move quickly.

Benefits by group:
– Families: faster processing makes a real difference during crowded holiday trips, especially with children or seniors.
– Business travelers: shorter queues reduce missed meetings and provide more time for connections.
– Airlines & airport operators: fewer bottlenecks at Immigration Counters mean better on-time performance and improved coordination across baggage and customs areas.

The Union Home Ministry’s direction to keep adequate counters open 24/7 reflects lessons from past peak seasons, when long lines led to missed connections and complaints. With early planning, stronger staffing, and more tech on the ground, airports aim to keep queues moving even when several wide-body flights arrive at once.

Travelers considering FTI-TTP enrollment should look out for official updates from the Bureau of Immigration as availability grows. The program is designed for low-risk, pre-verified travelers, which helps officers focus on cases that need manual review. That balance—speed for low-risk travelers and careful checks where needed—is the heart of the current policy push.

Passengers should also watch for airport notices on lane assignments and kiosk use. Some terminals may direct FTI-TTP members to separate access points, while others integrate the lanes near standard immigration booths. Either way, signage and staff will guide you to the right place.

Wider Trend and Official Sources

India’s steps sit within a wider trend: many countries are moving toward stronger identity tools and smarter ways to process high volumes of travelers. The aim is the same everywhere: keep borders secure while making the airport experience smoother.

India’s current wave of upgrades—more counters, better staffing, and biometric kiosks—follows that path.

The Bureau of Immigration is the official source for program details and operational updates. For the latest on counter availability, enrollment instructions for the Trusted Traveller Programme, and airport-specific guidance, check the Bureau of Immigration. Travelers should also follow notices from airport operators and the Ministry of Home Affairs for any last-minute advisories during the Festive Season.

As the holiday rush builds, the success of these measures will be measured in minutes saved at the border and trips that start on time.

With more Immigration Counters open, dedicated Fast Track Immigration lanes in place, and clear direction from the Home Ministry, India’s international airports are better positioned to handle the surge—and to make the journey a little easier for everyone.