From 1 October, foreign nationals travelling to India will be required to fill out a new digital e-arrival card before boarding their flight. The system replaces physical disembarkation cards and aims to ease congestion at immigration counters, according to Indian authorities.
The online form — available at https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival/ — requires only basic details including passport number, nationality, purpose of visit, address in India, and contact information. No documents need to be uploaded.
Travellers are advised to complete the form at least 72 hours prior to arrival. The requirement applies to foreign visitors arriving for work, study, tourism or business. Indian citizens are exempt. Holders of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards, who were previously exempted from filling physical forms, will now also need to complete the e‑Arrival Card for entry.
Officials say the measure will make visiting India “a smoother process” by reducing paperwork and cutting waiting times at airports. The move comes alongside the government’s wider adoption of technology to speed up entry procedures, including the recently launched Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Programme for Indian and OCI passport holders.
Airports in major cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata are expected to see the biggest reduction in queues as the system takes effect.
