In a bid to modernise immigration procedures, India's Bureau of Immigration has introduced a compulsory digital e-Arrival Card for all non-Indian nationals arriving in the country, effective from October 1. The paperless system, currently live at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, requires travellers to submit the form online between 72 and 24 hours before their flight departure.
This initiative, overseen by the GMR Aero-led Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), aims to expedite clearance, reduce congestion at immigration counters, and align with global digital standards adopted by airports in Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Emirates Airlines, a major carrier connecting the UAE to India, promptly issued an advisory on September 30, urging passengers to comply to avoid delays.
The e-Arrival Card replaces traditional paper disembarkation forms, eliminating the need for physical submissions upon landing and promising quicker processing for compliant travellers. Submission is free and straightforward, taking just a few minutes without requiring any document uploads. Key details to provide include the traveller's full name, nationality, passport number, flight information, travel dates, purpose of visit (such as tourism, business, study, or medical treatment), intended duration of stay, Indian residential address, contact number, email, and a list of countries visited in the preceding six days.
Upon completion, a confirmation email is generated, which passengers can display digitally at immigration—though a printed copy is recommended for reliability. The form is accessible through official government portals, ensuring secure and seamless integration into India's digital infrastructure.
Emirates, which operates hundreds of weekly flights between the UAE and India—catering to families, business professionals, and medical tourists—highlighted the requirement in a dedicated section on its website. "Starting October 1, all non-Indian nationals travelling to India would be required to complete the e-Arrival Card before boarding," the airline stated, advising users to update their contact details via the 'Manage Your Booking' portal for ongoing alerts.
Non-compliance could lead to extended wait times and rerouting to manual counters, potentially disrupting travel plans amid peak seasons. Indian passport holders and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders are exempt, instead benefiting from the Fast Track Immigration–Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP) launched at Delhi Airport in June 2024.
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The rollout reflects India's push toward efficient, tech-driven public services, building on initiatives like the Aarogya Setu app during the COVID-19 era. While praised for its user-friendliness, the mandate has prompted reminders from carriers like Emirates to ensure broad awareness, especially among frequent UAE-India commuters. As the system expands to other major airports, travellers are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the process to enjoy smoother entries and contribute to swifter national border management.
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