From 1 October, international nationals travelling to India will likely be required to fill out a brand new digital e-arrival card earlier than boarding their flight. The system replaces bodily disembarkation playing cards and goals to ease congestion at immigration counters, in response to Indian authorities.

The web type — obtainable at https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival/ — requires solely primary particulars together with passport quantity, nationality, goal of go to, deal with in India, and make contact with info. No paperwork must be uploaded.

Travellers are suggested to finish the shape a minimum of 72 hours previous to arrival. The requirement applies to international guests arriving for work, research, tourism or enterprise. Indian residents and holders of Abroad Citizen of India (OCI) playing cards are exempt.

Officers say the measure will make visiting India “a smoother course of” by decreasing paperwork and reducing ready instances at airports. The transfer comes alongside the federal government’s wider adoption of expertise to hurry up entry procedures, together with the lately launched Quick Monitor Immigration – Trusted Traveller Programme for Indian and OCI passport holders.

Airports in main cities together with Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata are anticipated to see the largest discount in queues because the system takes impact.