The Union Home Ministry has directed international airports to increase the number of immigration counters and staff availability around the clock to reduce wait times during the peak tourist season. They are also promoting the Fast Track Immigration Trusted Traveller Programme for pre-verified Indian nationals and OCI cardholders to expedite immigration.
Ahead of the peak tourist and festive season, the Union Home Ministry has directed that an adequate number of immigration counters and officials be made available round the clock at all international airports to minimise waiting time, officials said on Monday. The directive was given to the Bureau of Immigration at a high-level meeting chaired by Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar here last week.
“Keeping in mind the peak tourist and festive season ahead, directions have been given to open and adequate immigration counters and deploy more officials 24x7 at all international airports to minimise waiting time,” an official said.
The home ministry has also stressed popularising the Fast Track Immigration Trusted Traveller Programme, under which the immigration process of pre-verified Indian nationals and Overseas Citizen of India OCI cardholders is fast-tracked.
According to Home Ministry statistics, over 32 lakh e-visas were issued in 2024 to foreign nationals visiting the country, with the majority coming as tourists. In 2024, as many as 4.7 lakh e-FRRO services were delivered by 114 functional check posts under 12 Foreigners Regional Registration Offices across the country. The government also granted 5.45 lakh OCI cards last year to Indian-origin foreign nationals. The Union Home Ministry has recently named 37 airports, 34 sea/river ports, 37 international land crossing points, and six railway stations as the designated immigration posts for entry and exit of international passengers.
The Home Ministry has also made the Fast Track Immigration Trusted Traveller Programme available in 13 major airports so far: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Cochin, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchirappalli, Kozhikode, and Amritsar. The programme ensures faster immigration clearance, and so far, around three lakhs people have registered under the programme. Out of them, 2.65 lakhs availed the facility, officials said.
The FTI TTP aims to facilitate international mobility with faster, smoother, and secure immigration clearance. Initially, it was offered to Indian nationals and OCI cardholders on a complimentary basis. The FTI TTP is similar to the Global Entry Program provided by the United States, which allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travellers upon arrival in America at select airports, another official said. The FTI TTP will eventually be launched at 21 major airports in the country.
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