India Requires Mandatory E-Arrival Card for Air and Sea Arrivals

(NEW DELHI, INDIA) — India’s immigration authorities began full enforcement on April 1, 2026 of the mandatory e-Arrival Card for all non-Indian passport holders and Overseas Citizens of India cardholders arriving by air or sea, ending the use of paper disembarkation forms after March 31, 2026.

The Bureau of Immigration rolled out the digital system on October 1, 2025, and gave travelers a six-month transition period before making the online form the sole method for air and sea arrivals. Carriers now audit submissions at check-in and deny boarding if travelers cannot show QR code proof.

The change affects all foreign nationals and OCI cardholders, while Indian passport holders remain exempt. Authorities said the e-Arrival Card does not replace a visa and serves as an arrival declaration alongside existing visa requirements.

Digital Border Processing and Clearance Improvements

India introduced the system as part of a wider move to digitize border processing and reduce manual entry from paper forms. Recent operational data showed average clearance times fell by 40% at pilot airports including Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International and Bengaluru.

Officials also found that pre-loaded data and QR scans saved 15-20 minutes per passenger during peak periods at those hubs. The digital form lets officers verify identity, travel route and purpose of visit before passengers reach immigration counters.

The system now covers more than 10 million foreign arrivals processed annually in India. By moving the declaration online, authorities cut handwritten errors, reduced paper use and gave officers a way to review entries before travelers land.

Submission Window and Required Details

Travelers must submit the form within the exact 72-hour window before scheduled arrival. Authorities said earlier submission can trigger system errors.

The form is fee-free and does not require document uploads. Applicants enter personal details including full name as shown on the passport, nationality and passport number, along with travel details such as airline or vessel, flight number, arrival date and time, and recent countries visited.

They must also declare the purpose of visit, choosing among tourism, business, study, medical or “other.” For accommodation, the form requires the first night’s address in India, whether that is a hotel, corporate office or a contact person’s address.

Immigration authorities said travelers should match every detail to their passport and visa because mismatches can trigger re-checks or delays. If travel plans change after submission, passengers can resubmit with updated flight details if they remain inside the 72-hour window.

If the window has passed, travelers can carry proof of the changes, such as a new itinerary, along with the original QR code. Authorities send that QR code by email or through the app after submission, and both digital and printed versions are accepted.

Family Filing, OCI Guidance and Enforcement

Families of up to five can file jointly on one form and receive a single QR code covering the group. That option applies to spouses and children and gives guardians a way to submit for minors.

India clarified on October 4, 2025 that OCI cardholders must also file the form. That ended earlier uncertainty over whether some OCI travelers might be exempt and aligned them with other non-Indian passport holders.

The six-month grace period ended on March 31, 2026, with no extension. From April 1, 2026, immigration officers at key ports reject paper forms outright and process QR-verified entries instead.

Airlines have tightened checks along routes from the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Check-in staff now ask for QR proof before departure, making mandatory digital submission part of the boarding process rather than a step left for arrival halls in India.

That shift has immediate consequences for travelers who do not file in time. Without the QR code, passengers can face boarding denials at departure airports or delays after landing if they reach a point where immigration clearance is required.

Transit passengers also fall under the system if they clear immigration, including cases where they need to collect bags. Those who remain airside are exempt, though travelers are told to confirm arrangements with their airline.

How to File and Which Channels to Use

Authorities offer three channels for filing the e-Arrival Card: the primary portal, the Bureau of Immigration website, and the Indian Visa Su-Swagatam app. The app also supports status checks, emergency contacts and city guides.

Diplomatic missions in London and the United States issued advisories early in the rollout urging travelers to use the Bureau of Immigration portal, the e-Arrival Card site or the app. The push began soon after the October 1, 2025 launch, when paper forms were still available during the transition phase.

Third-party services cannot submit the form on a traveler’s behalf. Authorities directed passengers to use official platforms to avoid fake services and invalid submissions.

The app has drawn attention from frequent travelers because it combines e-Arrival filing with visa tracking. Authorities also indicated that late-2026 API access could allow corporate auto-fills from human resources systems.

Airport Operations, Biometrics and Broader Impact

At airports, the digital declaration now works alongside other technology already in use. Delhi and Bengaluru pair DigiYatra biometrics with the e-Arrival Card for e-gates, reducing processing times further for enrolled users.

The government’s pilot testing centered on busy airports where large passenger volumes can create bottlenecks. With more than 10 million annual arrivals, hubs such as Mumbai and Chennai stand to see much of the benefit from shorter processing times and reduced manual entry.

The system also gives officers a way to screen forms before the traveler appears at the counter. Authorities said that helps them spot errors earlier and focus more time on cases that need a closer look.

For travelers, the process adds another pre-departure requirement. They must now treat the QR code like a passport and visa checkpoint item, especially on trips with tight connections or group travel.

Students and medical visitors are among those urged to check the declared purpose carefully before submitting. OCI students are included in the filing requirement, and travelers using the “other” category can do so for OCI family visits.

Business travelers could see some of the fastest gains because weekday peaks often create heavy lines at major airports. The group filing option also offers a practical advantage for families, especially those traveling with children.

Authorities advise travelers to save the QR code immediately after submission. They can keep it on a phone, in a wallet app, or as a printout, and they can check email spam folders if the confirmation does not appear quickly.

Officials also told passengers with poor internet access to use hotel or airport Wi-Fi and complete the form as early as possible within the 72-hour window. They recommended aiming for 24-48 hours before departure to avoid congestion close to check-in.

The e-Arrival Card remains separate from India’s visa system. Travelers must still hold a valid visa or e-visa where required, because the arrival declaration does not substitute for entry permission.

That distinction matters for OCI cardholders as well. Even though OCI status can change visa requirements, it does not remove the need to complete the arrival declaration under the new rules.

India’s move follows a broader international shift toward digital pre-arrival declarations. Authorities said the system mirrors steps taken in Singapore, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand and Japan to move border formalities online.

The transition period had given leeway to older travelers, people with weak connectivity and those less comfortable with digital systems. That fallback has now ended nationwide, and paper Disembarkation cards have become obsolete.

For organizations that send people to India, the rule change means updating travel checklists and reminders. Companies and universities now need to include the QR requirement in pre-departure guidance, particularly for first-time travelers and group bookings.

The same applies to families who assume that one traveler can handle airport formalities after landing. Under the current system, every party member must be covered through the QR code, either individually or under a joint family filing of up to five people.

Authorities framed the change as a gain for both security and speed. Pre-arrival checks give officers a chance to review identities and travel histories earlier, while travelers face fewer questions and shorter waits once they reach immigration counters.

That combination now defines India’s entry process for foreign visitors and OCI cardholders. After March 31, 2026, the paper fallback disappeared, and the e-Arrival Card became the sole path for air and sea arrivals.