From September 1, passengers at all international airports in the country can show their e-boarding passes at immigration counters. The physical boarding pass will no longer have to be stamped by immigration officials.
“The matter has been examined by the Bureau of Immigration, and it has now been decided to do away with the mandatory requirement of physical boarding passes and the stamping of boarding passes at immigration counters at all international airports in the country,” according to the internal document reviewed by HT.
The decision has been taken by the Bureau of Immigration and communicated to international airport operators, the CISF and other aviation stakeholders. The move is expected to reduce paperwork and make immigration clearance more convenient for passengers travelling abroad.
Currently, passengers are generally required to show a physical boarding pass at immigration and get it stamped. The Bureau of Immigration said the process had led to inconvenience for travellers.
Officials have also reported cases where boarding passes could not be read properly because of incorrect or improper stamping. Following a review, the Bureau of Immigration has now decided to end the mandatory requirement of producing and stamping physical boarding passes at immigration counters.
Passengers can instead show their e-boarding passes for clearance. These can be displayed on their mobile phones or other electronic devices.
Those carrying a physical boarding pass will also be allowed to use it. However, immigration officials will not stamp the physical document from September 1. The new system will apply at all international airports in India.
“Passengers may produce their e-boarding passes at the Immigration counters for clearance. It may, however, be clarified that physical boarding passes will continue to be accepted at the Immigration counters, however, these will not be stamped,” the document read.
The Bureau of Immigration has also asked airport operators and other aviation agencies to brief their staff about the new procedure before it comes into effect.
