Move Effective September 1; Passengers Can Now Use E-Boarding Passes via Smartphones

NEW DELHI: In a major relief for international passengers flying out of India, immigration authorities will no longer physically stamp boarding passes starting September 1. The decision was taken by the Bureau of Immigration (BOI) under the Ministry of Home Affairs to streamline the process and reduce travel friction.

Instead of carrying printed paper passes, passengers travelling abroad can now simply present an e-boarding pass on their smartphones at immigration counters to obtain clearance.

The Bureau of Immigration issued the directive after observing that physical stamping frequently caused inconvenience and delays for passengers. Official sources noted that improper or unclear ink stamping occasionally led to reading errors during verification, prompting the shift to a digital-first approach.

Passengers who still prefer carrying physical paper boarding passes may continue to do so; however, these documents will no longer receive a physical stamp from immigration officers.

Security agencies clarified that the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) had already discontinued the practice of stamping boarding passes during security frisking for both domestic and international travelers several years ago.

Additionally, authorities revealed plans to eliminate the practice of stamping entry and exit seals on Indian passports. A pilot project testing this initiative is currently underway and is expected to be rolled out across major international airports in India soon.