What is the Fast Track Immigration Trusted Traveller Program
The Government of India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has launched the visionary Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Program (FTI-TTP). This program aims to provide enhanced facilities and faster, smoother, and safer immigration clearance for Indian citizens and OCI cardholders arriving from abroad. The first phase of the program will be implemented at 21 major airports across the country, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Ahmedabad. This initiative, free of cost to all travelers, aligns with the Modi Government’s commitment to improving travel convenience and efficiency as part of its Viksit Bharat @2047 agenda.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, inaugurated the ‘Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Program’ at Terminal-3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi on June 22nd, 2024. You can read about this here.
How does the Fast Track Immigration Trusted Traveller Program work?
The Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Program (FTI-TTP) will streamline immigration procedures using e-gates, reducing the need for human intervention. The program’s initial phase will focus on Indian citizens and OCI cardholders, followed by an expansion to include foreign travelers. The overarching goal is to enhance both convenience and security for international travelers by implementing world-class immigration facilities and expediting immigration clearance through automated e-Gates.
Are you eligible for the Fast Track Immigration Trusted Traveller Program?
- Eligibility:
- Indian Nationals
- Foreign Nationals holding OCI Cards
- Requirements:
- Biometric data (fingerprints and facial images)
- Information as per the application form ( Information below)
- Successful verification and meeting eligibility criteria
- Suspension:
- Travelers may be suspended from the program if required to participate in investigations by law enforcement agencies or courts.
Fast Track Immigration Trusted Traveller Program Registration Process
- Things to keep handy
- Passport-size photograph (matching the specifications used for Indian passports).
- The applicant’s face, including ears, should cover 75% of the photograph’s area.
- The photograph must be no older than six months and the background should be plain white.
- Scanned copy of passport with at least 6 months of validity: include the front page (with photo and personal details) and the last page (with family details).
- Proof of current address. For the list of acceptable documents, click here.
- Scanned copy of OCI card: provide separate scans of both the first page (biographic details) and the last page (family and address details).
The FTI-TTP will be managed through an online portal, with the Bureau of Immigration acting as the central agency for expedited processing of various traveler categories under this program. To participate, applicants must register online, providing their details and necessary documents. Following verification, a White List of ‘Trusted Travelers’ will be created and used with e-Gates. Biometric data of the ‘Trusted Traveler’ will be collected either at the FRRO office or during the traveler’s airport passage.
TTP registration will be valid until the passport expires or for five years, whichever is sooner, and must be renewed thereafter. Upon arrival at the e-gates, the passenger will scan their airline-issued boarding pass to access flight information. Their passport will also be scanned, and biometric authentication will be performed at the e-gates. Once the passenger’s identity is confirmed and biometric verification is complete, the e-gate will automatically open, allowing immigration clearance.
How much time does the Fast Track Immigration Trusted Traveller Program Registration Process take?
To my surprise, this process takes only 24-48 hours if the uploaded documents are in order. If there are any issues with the documents, the team will contact you so that you can re-upload and submit them. In either case, the process may take 24-48 hours.
On the other note, in case you are looking at a great cover for your passport, here is an interesting product.
Arjun Naik