Immigration

India | Introduction of e-Arrival Card for foreign nationals

Summary

Effective October 1, 2025, foreign nationals entering India will be required to complete an online e-Arrival Card, replacing the traditional paper disembarkation card. As per the Bureau of Immigration website, the e-Arrival Card process may be completed up to 72 hours prior to arrival, through the Indian Visa Online portal or the Indian Visa Su-Swagatam mobile app. Physical disembarkation cards which were in use, will remain available for up to six months during a transition period, though travelers are encouraged to use the digital option for faster processing. Indian citizens and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders remain exempt from the e-arrival card process.

The detail

Background

This initiative is part of the Government of India’s efforts to:

• Reduce airport delays and congestion through digitization;
• Strengthen border management with enhanced traveler data collection; and
• Integrate arrival data into India’s Immigration Management Systems, enabling real-time tracking of foreign arrivals.

Process Change

• Foreign nationals traveling to India must submit the e-Arrival Card online up to 72 hours (3 days) prior to arrival.
• Currently, the window for submission of e-Arrival card allows data submission online up to 120 hours (5 days) prior to arrival.
• The form is accessible using the Indian Visa Online website link or the Su-Swagatam mobile app.
• Details such as passport information, contact details, purpose of visit, and address in India among others, need to be filled.
• Upon submission, a digital confirmation will be generated.
• The foreign national travelers are advised to print the digital confirmation and carry the same during travel.
• Paper disembarkation cards too will remain available for up to six months during this transitionary period, though the digital option is strongly recommended for smoother entry.

Before	Now	Benefit
Foreign travelers filled out a physical paper-based disembarkation card, causing long queues and delays at immigration counters.	e-Arrival Card allows travelers to submit arrival information online, replacing manual paper cards.	Travelers experience faster clearance with immigration processing, reducing queues and delays.

Exemptions

• Indian citizens and OCI cardholders are not required to comply with the e-arrival card process.

Impact on Organizations and Institutions

• Employers should ensure that foreign employees and business travelers are aware of this requirement and complete the e-Arrival Card process before traveling.
• Organizations may need to update their India pre-travel checklists to incorporate this new process.
• Failure to complete the e-Arrival Card in advance may cause delays at entry and potentially disrupt their schedules.

Looking Ahead

• Increased use of biometrics, identity cross-checks, and government database integration for traveler verification and risk profiling are expected.
• It is likely that after the transition period, entry may not be allowed without the e-Arrival Card. Further guidance is awaited.
• Vialto will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as additional rules and procedures are issued.

Contact us

For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:

Ishita Sengupta
India Lead / Mumbai

Sundeep Agarwal
Mumbai

Ravi Jain
Bengaluru / Kolkata

Anand Dhelia
India Immigration Lead, Bengaluru / Hyderabad

Chander Talreja
Delhi NCR

Hitesh Sharma
Mumbai / Pune

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