At a Glance
- On June 21, 2024, the government of India announced that the "Fast Track Immigration- Trusted Travelers' Program" (FTI-TTP) has been launched to speed up the immigration clearance process for Indian nationals and foreign nationals holding Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cards.
- The FTI-TTP allows Indian nationals and OCI card holders who are registered with the program to utilize e-gates and bypass regular immigration lines free of charge.
- The FTI-TTP will be implemented in phases at airports in India, with the program already open, since June 21, 2024, at the following eight airports: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata and Mumbai.
The situation
On June 21, 2024, the government of India announced that the "Fast Track Immigration- Trusted Travelers' Program" (FTI-TTP) has been launched to speed up the immigration clearance process for Indian nationals and foreign nationals holding Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cards.
A closer look
- FTI-TTP program. The FTI-TTP allows Indian nationals and OCI card holders who are registered with the program to utilize e-gates and bypass regular immigration lines free of charge. Specifically, registered individuals scan their boarding pass and passport and have their biometrics authenticated at the e-gate. Upon verification, which should happen in seconds, immigration clearance will automatically be granted.
- Application process. In order to use the FTI-TTP program, eligible individuals must first apply online. The processing time is generally 30 days and, once approved, the applicant will receive a message to schedule their biometrics (fingerprints and a facial image). Foreign nationals with criminal records will likely be denied use of the program.
- Validity. The FTI-TTP registration is valid for a maximum of five years or until the passport they applied with expires, whichever comes first.
- Phased implementation. The FTI-TTP is being implemented in phases, with the first phase being rolled out at eight major airports in India: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata and Mumbai. It will eventually be extended to a total of 21 airports in India.
- Regular immigration clearance policy. Indian nationals and OCI card holders who are not registered with the FTI-TTP program, along with all other foreign nationals, are required to follow the regular immigration clearance process at airports.
Impact
The FTI-TTP will allow eligible individuals to obtain immigration clearances at select airports more quickly.
Background
The FTI-TTP program was modeled off of the United States Global Entry Program which allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low risk travelers.
Looking ahead
Fragomen will provide further updates on the implementation of the FTI-TTP once they are available.
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