All You Need to Know About the Trusted Travellers’ Programme

Moneylife Digital Team 01 August 2025

Life

The Indian government has launched a trusted travellers’ programme (FTI-TTP) that promises a fast-track immigration process for a period of 10 years, subject to certain procedures. This option of simple and fast immigration is only available to low-risk, pre-approved Indian citizens and foreign nationals holding overseas citizen of India (OCI) cards.

Once approved, eligible travellers can bypass regular immigration queues at major international airports in India by using dedicated e-Gates, ensuring a smooth and contactless clearance process. Applicants must undergo biometric registration, which includes fingerprinting and facial recognition, along with submitting their demographic and travel details.

In a recent awareness campaign, the Mumbai Police tweeted about the programme:

Dear Mumbaikars,
Do you know?

You can now skip immigration lines at airports by using Fast Track Immigration!

Indian citizens and OCI cardholders can register for free online, verify via OTP, and submit fingerprints + face photo either at designated airports or FRRO offices.… pic.twitter.com/l0kJNV5njb
— - Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) July 31, 2025

To enrol, applicants must apply online and verify their identity through a one-time password (OTP) sent to their registered mobile number and email ID. Only individuals with a passport valid for at least six months are eligible. Once approved, the membership is valid for 10 years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.

Applicants need to upload a passport-size photo (white background, face clearly visible), scanned passport copies (front and back pages), proof of residential address, and their OCI card (if applicable). All documents must follow specific file and size requirements. For example, the photo must be in JPEG format between 10 KB and 1 MB, while passport pages and OCI card must be in PDF or JPEG under 1 MB. Incomplete or false information, unclear scans, or missing details may lead to rejection.

Once the application is accepted, the applicant must book a biometric appointment at a designated international airport or the nearest FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office). Biometric verification is compulsory and the process may take up to a month to complete. If biometrics cannot be captured, the registration will not proceed. In case of a lost, expired, or damaged passport, applicants must reapply with the new passport and repeat the biometric process.

There are restrictions on who can apply. Children below 7 years of age and those with ECR (Emigration Check Required) passports are not eligible. For applicants aged 7 to 18, parents or guardians must use their own credentials during registration. Each email ID and mobile number can support a maximum of six registrations.

Authorities also caution that individuals under investigation or facing court cases may be suspended from the programme even after approval.

The FTI-TTP is seen as a forward-looking step that brings India in line with global best practices in border management. With awareness drives by agencies like the Mumbai police, officials hope more travellers will benefit from this secure and efficient system.

For more details (https://ftittp.mha.gov.in/fti/#pil_inst )

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