Since the Customs and Border Protection of the United States of America launched the Trusted Traveller Programme / Global Entry over a decade ago, many countries have used various forms of biometrics or smart-card-enabled formats to enable their citizens and other low-risk travellers to enter their borders without having to wait for a border police/passport control officer to meet them and stamp their passport to waive them in. India launched a similar programme in June 2024, with enrolments open on June 22.

Signing up for the FTI-TTP programme

The Government of India has launched a Trusted Traveller Programme, which enables fast-track immigration for Indians and Overseas Indian Citizens (a perpetual Indian visa for those with a relationship with India). The Fast Track Immigration—Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP) is loosely modelled on the Global Entry programme of US Customs and Border Protection. However, the end game is that biometrics control smart gates, which allow you into the Indian borders without having to wait in line for someone to stamp you in.

Eligible individuals must apply online and submit their biometrics (fingerprint and facial image) and other required information as specified in the application form. The FTI registration is valid for a maximum of five years or until the validity of the passport, whichever comes first.

Approved applications would receive a message to schedule an appointment to provide their biometric details.

The applicant may provide their biometrics at a designated international airport in India or the nearest FRRO office as per the prior appointment schedule. Biometrics are compulsory for the application processing to be completed. While applying for FTI-TTP, the applicant must ensure a minimum passport validity of at least six months.

Registration under FTI will be completed after the necessary verifications and eligibility confirmation. While a price was initially attached to it, no money is currently being charged for the FTI-TTP service.

Registration for FTI-TTP

Here is the website where one can apply for FTI-TTP registration.

Step 1: You need to sign up for the website. You need an email address and a phone number (both need to be OTP validated).

Step 2: Once you’ve signed up, you’ll be in the protected area of the website, where you need to start a new application using the ‘apply online’ button.

Step 3: You have to choose if you are going to apply using an Indian Passport or an International Passport (along with an OCI Card). In my case, I used my Indian passport for this application.

Step 4: You need to fill in some details, as would be customary, for your application to be submitted. For an Indian passport, this information is not very detailed. Some more details flow under the screenshot, largely around the residential address.

Step 5: Applicants must upload one passport-sized photograph and the passport’s first and last pages containing the passport holder’s information. For OCIs, a scanned copy of documents like the OCI card is needed in case Indians settle overseas. Present Proof of address in PDF format is also required. It is important to note that the front and the back pages must be uploaded separately, and resizing it will take some effort to bring it to the appropriate size.

After all of that, you sign this declaration.

Step 6: Throughout the process, you receive a temporary application number; once you recap all the information and submit it, you receive an email with a permanent file number.

Step 7: You need to select the option where you sign up to submit your biometrics. This could be at the airport or one of the many FRRO offices across India.

Here are all the airports around India where you can submit your biometrics. While the preference is being recorded, you can submit your biometrics at any other airport in India, which would also work. You need to do this before departing from India.

Step 8: You will now receive your application number (via an SMS and email as well).

Finally, you need to wait for your application to be approved. This manual process cross-refers your submitted information (passport/OCI) and your photo with the one on the server. I applied on the day of the opening of the application system, and I got my approval the following week.

Step 9: You can enroll your biometrics at specific counters at passport control before departing India, or you can head to your nearest Foreigners Registration Office (FRRO) to submit them. A few weeks ago, I was passing by the Delhi FRRO, so I walked in and submitted my biometrics. I did not have my passport; all I needed to show them was the application number. A picture and fingerprints were taken.

By the time I got home, I had confirmation that my biometrics were updated, and I could now use the e-gates to depart or arrive in India.

Using the e-gates to depart and arrive in India

At the moment, the e-gates are only installed at Delhi Airport, but the process to introduce them at other airports, such as Mumbai, Bengaluru, and so on, is underway, and they should soon be arriving at other Indian airports.

On a recent trip out of India, I was departing from Delhi, and I tried using the e-gates over the standard “stamp” procedure. There was no queue at the e-gate, and the regular passport control counters were full, as happens for late-night departures out of Delhi. On my first attempt, I was told to see an officer, and the machine seemed to “reject” me.

The officer came over and tried to help me. A couple of machines could not do anything useful with my boarding pass and passport pairing, telling me to meet an immigration officer. Still, the third machine/gate worked and opened the glass turnstile for me to go in and give my finger impression and picture. The turnstile on the other side opened, and I had “exited” the borders of India. Even with the two or three tries, I completed the process within a couple of minutes.

On return to India, while the passport control counters were open, I headed to the e-gates again, and this time, within one attempt, I was able to get the process done. It hardly took seconds.

Bottomline

India has launched a biometric system to allow Indian citizens and OCIs to enter the country on their return without waiting to go through manual immigration/passport control. The system was inaugurated on June 22, 2024, and the Fast Track Immigration—Trusted Traveller Programme is open for registration. It works very well at Delhi Airport, and will soon be extended to other airports across the country as well.

What has been your experience with the Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Programme of India?

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