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Why Aadhaar can’t be used as proof
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Fast-track immigration now available at 13 airports, including three in Kerala
Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) travelling through 13 Indian airports can now skip long immigration queues by registering for the government’s new e-Gate facility. However, there’s one important detail — Aadhaar cards are not accepted as address proof during registration, reported gulfnews.com.
The Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP), launched by the Bureau of Immigration under the Ministry of Home Affairs, enables verified travellers to pass through automated gates using self-service kiosks. The system lets passengers scan their passports, verify biometrics, and walk straight through — similar to e-Gates used at major global airports such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Who is eligible?
The e-Gate programme can be used by Indian nationals and foreign nationals holding an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card.
Aadhaar not accepted as address proof
While Aadhaar is widely used for identification in India, it does not qualify as valid address proof for e-Gate registration, particularly for NRIs. The official portal clearly mentions: “Aadhaar card is not admissible as proof of address.”
Instead, NRIs and OCI holders can submit the passport page showing their address as valid proof.
Accepted documents for address proof include:
- Election photo identity card
- Recent electricity or telephone bill (landline or postpaid mobile)
- Driving licence
- Spouse’s passport copy (if addresses match)
- Parent’s passport copy (for minors)
- For residents abroad: a government-issued ID showing the current foreign address
The facility is currently available at 13 airports — Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Amritsar, Kochi, Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram, and Trichy.
How NRIs can register for e-Gate
- Visit the official portal: https://ftittp.mha.gov.in/fti/
- Sign up using a verified email ID and captcha code. Confirm registration via OTP and email.
- Enter personal details as per the passport, including name, date of birth, and address.
- Upload:
o Recent passport-size photo (JPEG, white background, under six months old)
o Scanned passport (front and back pages in PDF format)
o OCI card copies (first and last pages, if applicable)
- Submit biometrics (fingerprint and facial image) at designated international airports or FRRO offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, and Kochi.
- After verification, approval and acknowledgment will be sent via email and SMS.
Membership validity and eligibility
Once approved, membership remains valid for 10 years or until passport expiry, whichever comes first.
Applicants holding Emigration Check Required (ECR) passports or those below seven years of age are not eligible. For applicants aged 7–18, parents’ or guardians’ contact details can be used for registration.
The e-Gate system is part of India’s digital immigration push — offering faster, paperless, and more efficient entry for NRIs and OCI holders — but it still requires traditional address proofs instead of Aadhaar.
