Starting September 1, 2026, the Bureau of Immigration will streamline airport immigration procedures for international travelers flying from India to destinations including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman.
- Passengers flying from India to the Gulf will use e-boarding passes starting September 1, 2026.
- Physical stamps at immigration counters will no longer be required.
- Travelers must still carry their original passports and valid visas.
Under the new regulations,
passengers will no longer be required to obtain a physical stamp on their boarding passes at immigration counters. Travelers may present an e-boarding pass issued by their airline on their smartphones to complete the immigration clearance process. While printed boarding passes will remain acceptable, they will no longer be marked with an immigration stamp. This transition is intended to benefit expatriate workers, families, and frequent flyers by removing a physical step from the international departure process.
Participants enrolled in the Bureau of Immigration’s Fast Track Immigration–Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP) will also be permitted to utilize e-boarding passes at e-gates.
Despite this digital shift, travelers must continue to carry their original passports, valid visas or residence permits, and other mandatory airline travel documents. The new protocol will be effective across all Indian international airports. Passengers traveling to cities such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Riyadh, Jeddah, Doha, Kuwait City, Bahrain, or Muscat are advised to ensure their mobile devices remain charged and their e-boarding passes are readily accessible, though physical copies will continue to be recognized as valid.
