Flying abroad from India? You won’t need a stamped boarding pass from September 1

International passengers flying out of India will no longer have to get their boarding passes stamped at immigration counters from September 1, in a move that could make airport clearance simpler for travellers.

According to Hindustan Times, the Bureau of Immigration has decided to discontinue the mandatory requirement of producing a physical boarding pass and getting it stamped during immigration clearance at international airports across the country. The change will take effect on Tuesday, September 1.

What changes for passengers?

For international flyers, the biggest change is that a boarding pass will no longer need an immigration stamp.

Passengers can present their e-boarding passes at immigration counters for clearance. Those who have a physical boarding pass can still use it, but immigration officials will no longer stamp it.

This means travellers who are used to keeping a stamped boarding pass after immigration will no longer need to do so.

The change is intended to make the immigration process more convenient and reduce issues linked to physical boarding passes.

According to the internal communication reviewed by Hindustan Times, the existing process had led to inconvenience for passengers. There had also been instances where boarding passes were difficult to read because of improper or incorrect stamping.

Will physical boarding passes still be accepted?

Yes. Travellers who have a physical boarding pass will still be allowed to present it at immigration.

The difference is that it will not be stamped.

Passengers using digital boarding passes will also be able to show their e-boarding pass at the immigration counter.

The change will apply at all international airports

The Bureau of Immigration has communicated the decision to airport operators, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and other aviation stakeholders.

Airport and aviation staff have been asked to make passengers aware of the revised procedure before it comes into effect.

The move is therefore less about removing boarding passes altogether and more about doing away with the stamping requirement during immigration — a small change that international travellers from India are likely to notice during their next trip.