Now, immigration clearance in 30 seconds at Thiruvananthapuram airport

Passengers at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport can now complete immigration clearance within 30 seconds with the launch of the state-of-the-art e-gate facility.

The Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP), implemented by the Bureau of Immigration under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, was virtually inaugurated by Union Minister for Home Amit Shah on Thursday. Kerala now has e-gate facilities at the Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, and Kozhikode airports.

Speaking after inaugurating the facility, Mr. Shah said the new system would enhance passenger convenience and familiarise travellers with the technological advancements in the country. He emphasised the need for ensuring that the maximum number of people benefitted from this initiative and urged officials to explore all possible technological solutions to make it more accessible. The Minister also suggested enabling registration for the programme at the time of issuing passports and OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cards, thereby streamlining the enrolment process.

Along with Thiruvananthapuram, the FTI-TTP service was also launched at the Kozhikode, Lucknow, Tiruchirappalli, and Amritsar airports on the day. The e-gate facility is already operational at the Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Kochi airports. The programme is managed through the dedicated online portal https://ftittp.mha.gov.in. Interested travellers may register online, fill in their details, and upload the required documents. Biometrics will be collected either at a Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) or while passing through the airport.

To use the facility, registered passengers need to scan their boarding pass and passport at the e-gate. The system will then verify their biometrics at the arrival or departure point. Once the verification is successful, the e-gate will open automatically, completing the immigration clearance process within 30 seconds. This initiative marks a significant step towards streamlining immigration processes in India and improving the overall travel experience for passengers.

Aravind Menon, Foreigners Regional Registration Office, and Rahul Bhatkoti, Chief Airport Officer, Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, addressed the gathering at the inaugural event in Thiruvananthapuram.