TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indian government has made a significant transformation in its border control system by fully transitioning to a digital system across all international airports in the country. Starting April 1, 2026, all foreign visitors and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders are required to fill out a digital e-arrival card as a mandatory requirement for entry into the country.
This move marks the end of a six-month transition period that previously allowed the simultaneous use of physical and digital arrival cards since October 2025. The e-Arrival card is not a substitute for a visa, but rather a security instrument and data collection tool, as reported by Travel + Leisure.
Travelers are required to submit this digital form within 72 hours before their scheduled arrival in India. Required Information includes full name, nationality, passport details, phone number, email address, flight details, and purpose of visit. Upon successful submission, travelers will receive a scannable QR code to ensure a smoother and faster entry process at the immigration counter.
According to a report by Bhaskar English, this policy adopts best global practices that have been successfully implemented by neighboring countries such as Singapore and Malaysia. This technology aims to minimize manual data entry errors and reduce paper waste, in line with environmental sustainability commitments.
Although not filling out this form does not automatically bar someone from entry into India, authorities caution that such negligence will significantly slow down the immigration process due to additional checks and longer waiting times at the airport.
Since the digital arrival card is different from an electronic visa, international visitors still need to have a valid electronic or physical visa in addition to the digitally submitted arrival card. Submission can be done through three official channels: the Bureau of Immigration website, the online India Visa portal, or via the 'Su-Swagatam' mobile app.
Several airlines like Emirates, Air India, and Lufthansa have started reminding passengers to fill out the form before departure, including checking for confirmation during the check-in process. Passengers arriving at the airport without completing the card may be asked to do so on their mobile devices before receiving a boarding pass.
This system adds an extra step to the pre-flight checklist—aside from the passport and visa. But if done beforehand, it can expedite the arrival process. This system is expected to modernize services for the millions of international tourists who visit each year.
Imanda Zahwa contributed to the writing of this article
Read: UK Moves to Fully Digital e-Visa System by February 2026
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