Overseas visitors to India must now submit details online before they arrive in the country, under new rules that came into force this month.
As of 1 October, the online e-Arrival Card system replaces the previous requirement for visitors to fill in a physical disembarkation card.
India’s Bureau of Immigration said the system has been introduced to ‘streamline immigration clearance and enhance passenger convenience’.
The e-Arrival Card is compulsory and should be completed within 72 hours prior to arrival. It requires details including passport number, nationality, purpose of visit, address in India and length of stay.
Authorities say a digital copy of the form is sufficient but recommend visitors have a printed version ‘for ease during inspection’.
Indian nationals and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card holders won’t need to fill in an e-Arrival Card.
Visitors will still require a valid visa.
Click here for the e-Arrival Card.
