Starting October 1, foreign passengers flying from the UAE to Delhi can skip the hassle of filling out paper forms on arrival. Instead, travellers can complete their arrival details online before even stepping on the plane, thanks to Delhi airport’s brand-new E-Arrival Card system. Every day, thousands of people from the UAE fly to India for work, family visits, or quick getaways. With this new system, immigration queues at Delhi airport are expected to move much faster, saving travellers precious time and making arrivals a lot less stressful. Keep reading to find out all the important details you need to know.
Also read: Carrying Gold To India: What’s Allowed & What’s Not
How The E-Arrival Card Works
The E-Arrival Card completely replaces paper slips with an easy online process. Travellers can submit their details up to three days before landing in Delhi using:
- The Bureau of Immigration portal (boi.gov.in)
- The Indian Visa website (indianvisaonline.gov.in)
- The Su-Swagatam mobile app
- The Delhi airport website (newdelhiairport.in)
Once you land, there’s no more fumbling with pens or paper forms. Immigration officers will already have your details.
Perfect Timing For Busy Travel Seasons
The UAE–India air route is among the busiest in the world, especially during Eid breaks, school holidays, and the festive season. Since Delhi airport usually sees long queues at these times, the E-Arrival Card is expected to be a real game-changer for smoother travel.
This update also puts Delhi airport in line with top international hubs like Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, South Korea, and Malaysia. All of which already have similar systems in place.
Who Needs To Use It?
The E-Arrival Card is for foreign nationals only. Indian citizens and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders won’t need it either. Now that they already have access to the Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP).
So, if you’re making your make to India for the first time, buckle-up for a smooth sailing journey!
