Fast Track Immigration Trusted Traveller Programme:
The Union Home Minister recently inaugurated the Fast Track Immigration Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP) at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport.
- Fast Track Immigration Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP) is an initiative by the Central Government, designed for faster, smoother, and safer immigration clearance.
- It is likely to help reduce congestion at airports by offering expedited emigration and immigration clearance for pre-verified travellers.
- The Ministry of Home Affairs collaborated with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Bureau of Immigration for the FTI-TTP.
- The FTI-TTP is similar to the Global Entry Program offered by the United States.
- It allows pre-approved and low-risk travellers to benefit from expedited immigration and security clearance upon arrival.
- Other than New Delhi, the FTI-TTP was launched in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Ahmedabad airports in the first phase.
- The FTI-TTP would run on e-gates or automated border gates that would minimise human intervention in the immigration clearance process and would be implemented in two phases.
- In the first phase, Indian citizens and OCI cardholders will be covered, and foreign travellers will be included in the second phase.
- The FTI-TTP will be implemented through an online portal, and the Bureau of Immigration will be the nodal agency.
- To enroll in the scheme, the applicant has to register online on the portal with details and documents.
- Once the application for FTI-TTP is approved, those individuals will not need to go through the arduous process of standing in long queues for immigration clearance while arriving in India.
- The FTI registration will be valid for a maximum of five years or until the validity of the passport, whichever comes first.