Travel Documents

For domestic air travel in India, you must present one original, valid, government-issued photo ID at check-in. The acceptable documents are: Aadhaar card (physical or m-Aadhaar on UIDAI app), passport, PAN card with photograph, Voter ID (Election Photo Identity Card / EPIC), driving licence, and employee identity cards issued by Central or State Government ministries.

A photocopy of any ID is not accepted, nor are unofficial identity documents, bank passbooks, or student IDs from private institutions. The ID must be original. DigiLocker documents are increasingly being accepted at many airports — Aadhaar linked via DigiLocker is explicitly accepted — but check with your airline before relying on a digital version.

Children below 2 years of age (infants) do not require a photo ID for domestic travel. Children aged 2–12 travelling with an adult may travel on the adult's booking without a separate ID in most cases, though airlines may ask for a birth certificate as supporting proof of age for infants.

For any international departure from an Indian airport, a valid passport is mandatory — no exceptions. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended date of return for most destinations, though some countries only require 3 months validity. Check the specific requirements of your destination country.

In addition to a valid passport, most travellers require a visa for the destination country. Some destinations offer e-Visa or visa on arrival for Indian passport holders. Always confirm visa requirements with the destination country's embassy or official government website — third-party sites may carry outdated information.

If your passport is damaged, has flood-damaged pages, or has unofficial markings, it may be flagged at immigration. Apply for a new passport well in advance of travel — Tatkal (urgent) passports are available through the Passport Seva portal for a higher fee and reduced processing time.

Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) card holders are treated as foreign nationals for immigration purposes but enjoy many privileges equivalent to Indian citizens for domestic travel. An OCI card holder travelling on a domestic route must carry their OCI card together with their foreign passport.

For international travel, OCI card holders must carry their OCI card and their current foreign passport. If the OCI booklet was issued on an old (expired) passport, they must also carry the old passport to which the OCI card is linked — immigration officers need to verify the cross-reference.

OCI cards issued after 2015 no longer require a separate visa sticker for long-term stays. However, certain restricted areas in India (border regions, tribal areas) still require a Protected Area Permit (PAP) or Restricted Area Permit (RAP) even for OCI card holders.

Children (under 18) travelling internationally without both parents face stricter scrutiny at immigration. Indian immigration officers may ask for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the absent parent(s), particularly if the child's surname differs from the accompanying adult's. While no law mandates this document for Indian passport holders, carrying a notarised NOC significantly reduces the risk of being held at the gate.

Airlines have their own Unaccompanied Minor (UM) policies for children travelling alone. Most carriers allow children aged 5 and above to fly as unaccompanied minors with a paid UM service. Children under 5 cannot travel alone on any commercial airline. UM charges vary but typically range from ₹1,500 to ₹3,000 per sector.

For domestic travel, a child travelling with a grandparent or relative (not the legal guardian) should carry a birth certificate and, if possible, a signed permission letter from the parents. This is not a legal requirement but avoids complications at check-in.

If your passport is lost or stolen abroad, contact the nearest Indian embassy or consulate immediately. They can issue an Emergency Certificate (EC) — a single-journey travel document valid for direct return to India. EC holders may be questioned at Indian immigration but will be allowed to enter.

Emergency certificates are not valid for transit through third countries in most cases. If your itinerary requires a transit stop, confirm with the airline and the transit country's immigration authority before booking. Some countries, including the UAE and Singapore, have specific rules about transit on an EC.

Within India, if you have lost your passport and need to travel urgently, a Tatkal passport can be issued within 1 to 3 working days at most Passport Seva Kendras with appropriate documentation. Police verification may be waived at the officer's discretion for Tatkal applications in genuine emergencies.