Travel and Tour World reported on 2 November that Washington’s 26 December 2025 deadline for full biometric exit-entry capture has prompted several Asian partners—including India—to align procedures. Under the plan, travellers flying to or from the United States will face mandatory facial-recognition and fingerprint scans both on departure and arrival.
India already uses biometric e-gates for certain categories of foreign visitors, but officials told the publication that the Bureau of Immigration is upgrading systems at Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru to ensure seamless data exchange with US Customs and Border Protection. Airlines will also have to transmit passenger manifests in near-real time, adding pre-departure compliance tasks.
![US biometric exit-entry deadline sparks policy shifts across Asia, India included]()
The move dovetails with India’s own push towards paperless processing: from 1 October foreign nationals must file an e-arrival card before landing. However, carriers warn that simultaneous roll-outs could confuse passengers over which portal to use. Travel managers should circulate clear pre-trip checklists: US-bound staff must complete ESTA or visa formalities, upload the Indian e-arrival card for the return leg, and be prepared for biometric scans in both directions.
For global-mobility teams, the broader trend is unmistakable: inter-operable biometrics are becoming the price of international travel. Companies may need to audit data-retention policies and vendor contracts to ensure compliance with multiple jurisdictions’ privacy regimes.
India already uses biometric e-gates for certain categories of foreign visitors, but officials told the publication that the Bureau of Immigration is upgrading systems at Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru to ensure seamless data exchange with US Customs and Border Protection. Airlines will also have to transmit passenger manifests in near-real time, adding pre-departure compliance tasks.
The move dovetails with India’s own push towards paperless processing: from 1 October foreign nationals must file an e-arrival card before landing. However, carriers warn that simultaneous roll-outs could confuse passengers over which portal to use. Travel managers should circulate clear pre-trip checklists: US-bound staff must complete ESTA or visa formalities, upload the Indian e-arrival card for the return leg, and be prepared for biometric scans in both directions.
For global-mobility teams, the broader trend is unmistakable: inter-operable biometrics are becoming the price of international travel. Companies may need to audit data-retention policies and vendor contracts to ensure compliance with multiple jurisdictions’ privacy regimes.
