Smooth flying: India plans to simplify immigration checks for international trips

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

immigration rules as well as increase the number of officials at major airports to speed up the process of entering or leaving the country, said people with knowledge of the matter.

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The government wants to develop airports as transit hubs for South Asia. A key part of the strategy is a concept known as the confluence of flights. This is when people travelling overseas via connecting flights under the same ticket number, or PNR, will be able to complete customs and immigration checks at the first point while departing India and at the final destination when arriving — even if there's a layover.

For instance, those travelling from Bengaluru to San Francisco, with a halt in New Delhi, currently have to clear immigration at the latter airport. While returning too, they have to complete customs and immigration checks at the national capital and check in for the next leg of the journey to Bengaluru.

«This takes a lot of time and, hence, an airline has to keep a long connection time, which impacts efficient operations,» said an official. «The government is considering a proposal where a passenger will not need to do this at intermediary points, but at their first or final destinations.»

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This, he said, will also reduce the burden on