Delhi’s immigration now prefers a digital arrival form instead of the old paper slip. If you are a foreign national flying in, you complete the e Arrival Card online before departure and carry the confirmation with your passport. The information is the usual mix of identity, address in India, travel history and flight details. The benefit is real. Queues move faster because officers are not decoding handwriting and you are not hunting for a pen after a red-eye.
Who must fill it. Foreign nationals arriving in India through Delhi. Who does not. Indian passport holders and Overseas Citizen of India card holders are exempt. Airlines are already reminding travellers to complete the form before they check in so you are not stuck at the counter refreshing a slow page. If your itinerary changes mid journey, update the form with the new flight details so the barcode matches your arrival.
This shift is part of a larger modernisation of India’s entry process and other international gateways are likely to follow. For now, treat it like a boarding pass for immigration. Fill it early, keep a screenshot, and your first hour in the city feels less like a paperwork drill and more like the start of a trip.
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