Starting April 1, 2025, airlines operating international flights to and from India, including those from the UAE, will need to share detailed passenger information with Indian Customs. This new rule, issued by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), aims to enhance border security and strengthen risk analysis.

Under the ‘Passenger Name Record Information Regulations, 2022,’ airlines must register with India’s National Customs Targeting Centre-Passenger (NCTC-Pax) by January 10, 2025. The required data includes passengers’ names, mobile numbers, payment details, travel itineraries, and other related information. Airlines must submit this data at least 24 hours before departure or at the time of takeoff.

Non-compliance could result in fines ranging from INR 25,000 to 50,000 (Dh1,070 to Dh2,140.9) for each violation, according to reporting by Gulf Today. The system will first be tested in a pilot phase starting February 10, 2025, with full implementation planned from April 1, 2025.

The CBIC clarified that sensitive information, such as race, religion, or political views, will not be processed, and strict measures are in place to ensure data privacy. Passenger records will be stored securely for up to five years, after which the information will be anonymized unless needed for investigations or security purposes.

The new regulation will impact airlines flying between the UAE and India, requiring them to comply with these rules to avoid penalties.