New Delhi, Dec 30: Starting April 1, 2025, airlines will be required to share information about foreign passengers with Indian Customs authorities, with penalties for non-compliance.
Join Daily Excelsior on WhatsApp to receive the latest news
All air service operators with flights to and from India must register with the National Customs Targeting Centre-Passenger (NCTC-Pax) by January 10, 2025, to meet this requirement, according to a notice from the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).
The details that need to be provided include mobile numbers, payment methods, and travel itineraries, which must be submitted to the authorities 24 hours prior to the departure of international flights.
On August 8, 2022, the CBIC brought forth the ‘Passenger Name Record Information Regulations, 2022,’ mandating airlines to send passenger name record (PNR) details of foreign passengers to the Customs department.
This system aims to improve the enforcement capabilities of authorities and enhance the risk assessment of travelers.
If an airline does not comply with data sharing requirements, the Customs department is authorized to impose fines ranging from ₹25,000 to ₹50,000 per instance of non-compliance, according to the regulations.
In a recent communication, the CBIC indicated that the system for enforcing these regulations is being developed by NCTC-Pax, with a phased implementation beginning in January 2025.
Additionally, the Customs department announced that the PNRGOV system, designed to gather necessary passenger information, will be piloted with selected airlines that have shown interest in participating.
“The pilot phase is slated for implementation by February 10, 2025. Following this, full-scale operations are intended to begin on April 1, 2025, for individual airlines and from June 1, 2025, for airlines using global distribution systems (GDS),” the CBIC stated.
Under the ‘Passenger Name Record Information Regulations, 2022,’ airlines must provide Customs authorities with data for all international travelers at least 24 hours before a flight’s departure.
The information that airlines are required to share for both inbound and outbound international flights includes passenger names, billing/payment details (credit card information), ticket issue dates, intended travel dates, and the names of other passengers included in the same PNR. Additionally, travel itineraries, as well as contact information such as email addresses, mobile numbers, travel agency details, baggage information, and codeshare information (when one airline sells seats on another carrier’s flight) must be reported. (Agencies)
