UAE-based travellers heading to India’s capital just got a major upgrade. Starting today, passengers can skip the paper forms and complete their arrival details online before boarding their Delhi flight.

Three-day head start

The new E-Arrival Card system lets you submit immigration details up to 72 hours before landing. No more scrambling to fill forms on the plane or standing in long queues at Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Four ways to register

Choose your preferred platform:

• Bureau of Immigration portal (boi.gov.in)
• Indian Visa website (indianvisaonline.gov.in)
• Su-Swagatam mobile app
• Delhi airport website (newdelhiairport.in)

Complete the form, arrive in Delhi, and breeze through immigration while others are still hunting for pens.

Perfect timing for peak season

With the UAE-India corridor being one of the world’s busiest routes, the timing couldn’t be better. School holidays, Eid breaks, and India’s festive season typically create bottlenecks at Delhi immigration.

“This will be a game-changer during Diwali and year-end travel,” said one frequent UAE-India flyer. Thousands of Gulf-based professionals, families, and tourists make this journey daily.

Catching up with global standards

Delhi joins the digital immigration club alongside Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, South Korea and Malaysia, all of which already offer similar systems.

The move brings India’s busiest airport in line with international best practices, particularly important given the massive volume of traffic it handles.

What about Indian passport holders?

Indian citizens and OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cardholders already have access to the Fast Track Immigration–Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP), launched in June 2024, which offers expedited clearance.

Starting October 1, UAE-based travellers flying to Delhi can save time and hassle by going digital. Fill your form online, land in India, and get on with your trip faster.