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MHA to scrap paper arrival cards for foreigners from October 1
Business Standard
|September 26, 2025
The government has decided to discontinue the physical disembarkation form, which foreigners must fill in on arrival in India, in a bid to "smooth" the immigration process and "avoid delays" at airport-immigration counters, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has told aviation stakeholders.
With this move, India will join countries such as the United Kingdom (UK), Singapore, and Taiwan, which have scrapped this.
Starting October 1, foreigners in India have the option to submit a "digital arrival card" online instead of the paper card, the MHA said. Business Standard has reviewed the MHA order dated September 22.
The physical disembarkation card provides the personal, travel, and immigration information on a traveller such as the full name, passport number, nationality, flight details, the purpose of visit, the address in the country, and goods or the currency the person is carrying. The card is shown at the immigration counter before entry is granted.
This story is from the September 26, 2025 edition of Business Standard.
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