India to stop stamping boarding passes for international departures from September 1: What changes for flyers

International passengers departing from India will no longer need to get their boarding passes stamped by immigration officials from September 1, 2026, in a move aimed at simplifying the departure process at airports.

The Bureau of Immigration is set to discontinue the practice of stamping boarding passes during immigration clearance for passengers travelling abroad. Travellers will be able to use either physical or electronic boarding passes, making the process more convenient for those using digital check-in and mobile boarding passes.

What will change?

At present, international passengers may receive an immigration stamp on their boarding pass after completing immigration formalities. From September 1, this additional step will no longer be required.

Passengers will still have to complete the mandatory immigration checks and present their passport and other required travel documents. The change applies specifically to the boarding-pass stamping procedure and does not remove immigration clearance requirements.

Why is the change being introduced?

The move is part of efforts to make airport immigration procedures more efficient and reduce paperwork and processing time. Greater acceptance of electronic boarding passes is also expected to support India’s broader push towards digital and contactless airport services.

For passengers, the change means fewer manual formalities before reaching the departure gates. Travellers should nevertheless continue to carry all documents required for their destination, including passports, visas where applicable and other supporting documents.

The new system is expected to make international departures smoother while reducing dependence on physical documentation at immigration counters.