Eight lanes with biometric e-gates to come up in the immigration area
In an effort to expedite the immigration clearance process, Cochin International Airport (CIAL) is set to launch smart gates for Indian nationals and foreign nationals holding Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards.
CIAL will become the second airport in India to implement state-of-the-art smart gates, following the programme’s successful introduction at Delhi International Airport in June.
As part of an infrastructure overhaul, CIAL is dedicating eight lanes to biometric e-gates in its immigration area, allowing international travelers to complete the entire immigration process in just 20 seconds. The Fast Track Immigration programme, initiated by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), is designed to expedite immigration clearance for eligible Indian nationals and OCI cardholders.
To access this fast-track service, applicants must complete a one-time registration on the MHA portal, upload the necessary documents, and enroll their biometrics—fingerprints and facial images—either at the Foreigner’s Regional Registration Office (FRRO) or at help desks set up in the immigration area.
Once registered and validated via mobile OTP, travelers can use the smart gates, bypassing long queues at the immigration counters. By simply self-scanning their passports and using the facial recognition system, travelers can complete the process without the need for human interaction or additional fact-checking.
CIAL Managing Director S. Suhas IAS highlighted the benefits of the programme, stating, “We are proud to collaborate with the Bureau of Immigration to introduce fast-track biometric smart travel at our immigration counters.”
CIAL, the fourth busiest airport in India for international passenger traffic, handles approximately 10 million passengers and 70,200 air traffic movements annually. The fast-track immigration gates are expected to be deployed in the very near future.
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