🔔 Stay Updated!

Get instant alerts on breaking news, top stories, and updates from News EiSamay.

DigiYatra goes international, aims to simplify travel beyond borders

DigiYatra plans its first overseas rollout, testing digital travel IDs in countries with simpler visa rules while also exploring pilot opportunities with the European Union.

By Sarwesh Sri Bardhan

Jun 13, 2026 17:34 IST

DigiYatra is working on its first international expansion as it seeks to transform from an airport convenience platform into a cross-border digital travel identity network.

The foundation is evaluating Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka for early deployment while also exploring pilot opportunities with the European Union, DigiYatra Foundation chief executive Suresh Khadakbhavi told Financial Express.

Also Read | Who is Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth? India's next Army chief to succeed Gen Dwivedi

Testing the waters before setting sail

Khadakbhavi said the next six months will be used for technical validation, interoperability checks, and discussions with airlines, airports, immigration authorities, and governments.

“We are trying to see those countries where the visa norms are not very stringent. We could start there initially and then scale up,” he said.

At present, DigiYatra offers facial recognition-based airport processing at 38 airports in India. The international version is intended to let travelers use a trusted digital identity across borders, reducing document checks where possible.

The platform’s international test case builds on a proof-of-concept carried out on the Bengaluru-Doha route under the International Air Transport Association’s OneID framework, which examined whether identities created within the DigiYatra ecosystem could be recognised by overseas systems and used for digital credential sharing.

A careful dance with rules and regulations

For overseas use, DigiYatra will depend on electronic passports rather than Aadhaar, which is used for domestic enrollment. The company said the module for e-passport-based verification has already been developed and tested.

The expansion, however, is likely to depend on regulatory approvals and country-specific border controls. “Immigration is a sensitive subject. A lot of compliances have to be in place,” Khadakbhavi said.

DigiYatra said its decentralized architecture, in which credentials are stored on users’ devices instead of a central repository, could help it meet privacy obligations under overseas data frameworks, including the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Also Read | Why is India's first validated HPV test being seen as a major cancer-screening breakthrough?

A growing footprint and loftier designs

DigiYatra recently crossed 100 million users in India and continues to widen its domestic footprint.

The platform expects more airports, including upcoming greenfield facilities, to join during the current financial year as it prepares for a broader role in digital travel processing.

FAQs

Q1: What is DigiYatra's international expansion plan?

Ans: DigiYatra plans to pilot its digital travel identity platform in select countries and explore partnerships that could enable seamless identity verification across international airports.

Q2: Will DigiYatra use Aadhaar for international travel?

Ans: No, DigiYatra's international system is expected to rely on e-passports rather than Aadhaar for traveller identity verification.

Articles you may like: