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India launches e-Arrival Card for travellers from Oct. 1
The new system saves time and anxiety as the current system of filling the paper disembarkation form is being scrapped.
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Staff Reporter - Sun, 28, Sep 2025
- 23:48 EDT
- 24
Representative image / AI generated
Flying into India will be a digital experience from Oct. 1 as travelers have the option of submitting digital e-Arrival Cards online instead of the cumbersome exercise of filling disembarkation cards at immigration.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) says the new e-Arrival Card will ease bottlenecks at airport counters and cut down wait times for travellers.
A release said “The shift to digital arrival cards has now reached India! The Indian Government just announced that it is set to scrap its old-school paper disembarkation form and replace it with an e-Arrival Card.”
It announced when the changeover begins: “Starting Oct. 1, 2025, all foreign travellers entering India will be able to submit their details online before reaching immigration.”
This move aligns India with a growing global trend to simplify border control, cut paperwork, and reduce long queues at immigration counters.
The government has already launched a dedicated portal for the upcoming system: indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival
An advisory says: Currently, the site hosts a beta version of the form. It is available for testing but is not yet mandatory. Once the system officially goes live, travellers will be required to fill it out within five days before arriving in India.
The e-Arrival card will request details similar to the old paper form. Here’s what you’ll need to provide: Full name, Nationality, Passport number, Date of arrival in India, Purpose of visit (tourism, business, study, medical, AYUSH, employment, research, or conference), Countries visited in the past six days, Address in India, Email address, Contact number, Emergency contact details.
Once submitted, travellers will receive a preview of their e-Arrival Card that can be presented on arrival if requested.
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