The Bureau of Immigration (BoI) kicked off 2026 by releasing social-media videos of Bollywood stars Sushmita Sen and Rani Mukerji enrolling in the Fast Track Immigration–Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP). The publicity blitz, published at 04:00 IST on 1 January, aims to raise awareness of the scheme that lets pre-vetted travellers clear passport control at 13 Indian airports in under 30 seconds via dedicated e-gates.
Launched quietly in 2024, FTI-TTP mirrors programmes such as U.S. Global Entry. Applicants upload documents on ftittp.mha.gov.in and then record biometrics at an FRRO office or designated airport. Once approved, membership is valid for five years and comes at no charge—a point the BoI is emphasising after reports of agents charging ₹5,000 for “express” registration.
![India promotes Fast Track Immigration programme as celebrities showcase e-gate experience]()
The government says more than 150,000 people have enrolled, including 18,000 Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card-holders. Expansion to Goa, Jaipur and Varanasi airports is slated for mid-2026. Stakeholders in the meetings-and-events sector believe the programme could significantly cut arrival bottlenecks for large inbound conferences.
Travel-management companies are urging corporates to add FTI-TTP signup to pre-trip checklists, noting that employees who clear immigration quickly also beat airport-exit congestion and reduce duty-of-care exposure. However, privacy advocates want clearer data-retention timelines for facial images captured at e-gates.
For returning expatriates and frequent flyers, the message is clear: early enrollment will save time as uptake grows and queue lengths at manual counters rebound after the holiday lull.
Launched quietly in 2024, FTI-TTP mirrors programmes such as U.S. Global Entry. Applicants upload documents on ftittp.mha.gov.in and then record biometrics at an FRRO office or designated airport. Once approved, membership is valid for five years and comes at no charge—a point the BoI is emphasising after reports of agents charging ₹5,000 for “express” registration.
The government says more than 150,000 people have enrolled, including 18,000 Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card-holders. Expansion to Goa, Jaipur and Varanasi airports is slated for mid-2026. Stakeholders in the meetings-and-events sector believe the programme could significantly cut arrival bottlenecks for large inbound conferences.
Travel-management companies are urging corporates to add FTI-TTP signup to pre-trip checklists, noting that employees who clear immigration quickly also beat airport-exit congestion and reduce duty-of-care exposure. However, privacy advocates want clearer data-retention timelines for facial images captured at e-gates.
For returning expatriates and frequent flyers, the message is clear: early enrollment will save time as uptake grows and queue lengths at manual counters rebound after the holiday lull.
Source: Indulgexpress
