International travel for Indian citizens and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) is entering a new era of convenience. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), in collaboration with the Government of India, has officially rolled out the Fast Track Immigration, Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP), enabling travellers to clear immigration in seconds using biometric verification.
Under this initiative, passengers no longer have to stand in long queues or face manual document checks. Instead, their face and fingerprint scans are matched instantly through an advanced biometric database, allowing smooth passage through automated e-gates.
Travellers who wish to use this facility must first register online at ftittp.mha.gov.in. After filling out basic details and uploading documents, they must visit an immigration office once for biometric verification.
Once approved, their biometric data—linked to the passport—is securely stored in the system. During subsequent travels, passengers can simply scan their passport and boarding pass at the e-gate, where biometric authentication takes seconds. If verified, the gate opens automatically, granting immigration clearance without human intervention.
The registration and approval process typically takes 15 to 30 days, so travellers are advised to register well ahead of their travel dates.
Currently, the FTI-TTP is available at seven airports across India:
Bengaluru (Kempegowda International Airport Terminal 2)
Hyderabad (Rajiv Gandhi International Airport)
Cochin International Airport
Chennai International Airport
Mumbai (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport)
Kolkata (Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport)
Ahmedabad (Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport)
The pilot version was launched last year at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Terminal 3, New Delhi. The government plans to expand the facility to 21 major airports nationwide under the Viksit Bharat @2047 vision.
The introduction of FTI-TTP marks India’s step toward global standards in airport modernization and passenger facilitation. According to a Press Information Bureau (PIB) release, the programme is designed to provide world-class, secure, and efficient immigration facilities for frequent travellers.
The biometric technology behind the system ensures that each traveller’s identity is verified precisely, thereby reducing crowding, minimizing paperwork, and maintaining high security standards.
For now, the registration and usage of the programme are free of cost for both Indian citizens and OCI cardholders.
Airport officials highlight that this system could cut immigration wait times by up to 90%. It allows travellers to reach the boarding gate faster and reduces the stress associated with traditional queues.
Passengers must still complete check-in as per airline requirements, but the new process ensures that once they arrive at immigration, clearance is nearly instantaneous.
As one senior aviation official described, “This programme will revolutionize the way Indians travel abroad. The days of long immigration queues are finally over.”
The FTI-TTP is part of India’s broader ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’ initiative aimed at modernizing infrastructure and digital governance systems by 2047, the centenary of India’s independence.
By adopting automated, technology-driven systems at airports, India is aligning itself with advanced global practices followed in the U.S., U.K., Singapore, and other major aviation hubs.
For millions of Indians who travel abroad each year, the hassle of waiting in immigration lines may soon become a thing of the past, replaced by a smooth, smart, and swift digital experience.
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