Indians flying abroad won't require physical boarding passes from September
What's the story
Starting September 1, passengers flying out of Indian airports will no longer need a physical boarding pass. The Bureau of Immigration (BOI), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has issued an official directive to this effect. Instead, travelers going abroad will now have to show an e-boarding pass on their smartphones for immigration clearance.
Passenger convenience
Why was the change introduced?
The BOI's decision comes after reports that the physical stamping of boarding passes for immigration purposes was causing "inconvenience" to passengers.
There were also cases where boarding passes were misread due to "improper or incorrect" stamping.
The new rule is aimed at eliminating these issues and making the process smoother for international travelers from India.
Acceptance policy
Will physical boarding passes still be accepted?
While the new rule does away with the requirement for a physical boarding pass, it doesn't mean that these documents will no longer be accepted.
From September 1, physical boarding passes will continue to be accepted but they won't be stamped by immigration authorities.
This change is likely to further reduce any potential confusion or errors associated with incorrect or improper stamping.
Security measures
CISF has also stopped stamping boarding passes
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has also stopped stamping boarding passes of international travelers during individual frisking.
These documents were only meant to be produced for clearance by immigration authorities.
The new rule is in line with this practice, further simplifying the process for passengers flying out of India.
Future plans
Plans for pilot project to eliminate immigration stamping
The officials have also revealed plans for a pilot project to eliminate the stamping of immigration entry and exit for Indian passport holders.
This will be done after a pilot exercise in this context is completed.
The measure is expected to be implemented soon across Indian airports, further streamlining the travel experience for international passengers.