What is the Fast Track Immigration Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP)?

About Fast Track Immigration Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP):

• It is an initiative by the Central Government, designed for faster, smoother, and safer immigration clearance.
• It is likely to help reduce congestion at airports by offering expedited emigration and immigration clearance for pre-verified travellers.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs collaborated with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Bureau of Immigration for the FTI-TTP.
• The FTI-TTP is similar to the Global Entry Program offered by the United States.
  • It allows pre-approved and low-risk travellers to benefit from expedited immigration and security clearance upon arrival.
• Other than New Delhi, the FTI-TTP was launched in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Ahmedabad airports in the first phase.
• The FTI-TTP would run on e-gates or automated border gates that would minimise human intervention in the immigration clearance process and would be implemented in two phases.
  • In the first phase, Indian citizens and OCI cardholders will be covered, and foreign travellers will be included in the second phase.
• The FTI-TTP will be implemented through an online portal, and the Bureau of Immigration will be the nodal agency.
• To enroll in the scheme, the applicant has to register online on the portal with details and documents.
• Once the application for FTI-TTP is approved, those individuals will not need to go through the arduous process of standing in long queues for immigration clearance while arriving in India.
• The FTI registration will be valid for a maximum of five years or until the validity of the passport, whichever comes first.
• Process:
  • Under the process, as soon as the registered passenger reaches the e-gate, he/she will scan his/her boarding pass issued by the airlines at the e-gates to get the details of his/her flight.
  • The passport will be scanned, and the biometrics of the passenger will be authenticated at the e-gates.
  • Once the identity of the passenger is established and biometric authentication is done, the e-gate will open, and immigration clearance will be deemed to have been granted.