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Flights & Airports 2 min read

Rajkot and Vadodara airports cleared for international immigration: what it means for flyers

The Home Ministry has notified Rajkot Hirasar and Vadodara airports as Category-1 immigration airports (9 November 2026), paving the way for international flights. Routes and dates yet to come.

· 13 Nov 2026 · 2 min read
13 Nov 2026
Last verified: 13 Nov 2026
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A modern Indian airport terminal exterior in evening light with an aircraft taking off
At a glance
Airports
Rajkot Hirasar, Vadodara
Status
Category-1 immigration airports
Notified
Gazette of India, 9 November 2026
Impact
Direct international flights now possible
Next
Immigration setup; routes and dates awaited
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International flights from Rajkot and Vadodara just came a step closer. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has cleared Rajkot's Hirasar airport and Vadodara airport for foreign immigration services, formally inducting both into the Category-1 list of immigration airports through a Gazette notification dated 9 November 2026. The move paves the way for direct international flights from both Gujarat cities, though launch dates and routes are yet to be announced.

What the notification says

Exercising powers under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, the ministry amended its original 1 September 2025 list to include Rajkot Hirasar at serial number 40 and Vadodara at serial number 41. The Category-1 designation gives both airports the regulatory standing to handle international border controls, setting the administrative groundwork for airlines and airport operators to establish customs and immigration infrastructure.

Why it matters for Gujarat travellers

Today, most international passengers from Saurashtra and central Gujarat drive or connect through Ahmedabad or Mumbai. Rajkot is the commercial, industrial and education hub of Saurashtra with substantial overseas traffic, and Vadodara serves a large industrial and student catchment. Once immigration counters are operational and airlines announce services, direct flights to Gulf destinations and beyond could cut hours of surface travel for families, business travellers and students from these regions.

What happens next

The clearance removes the regulatory hurdle, but it is not a flight schedule. Airport operators now need to set up immigration and customs infrastructure, and airlines must announce routes. Until then, continue booking international travel from Gujarat via Ahmedabad or Mumbai as usual. We will update this page when the first international services from Rajkot Hirasar or Vadodara are announced.

We track airport and connectivity changes that affect Indian travellers and report new services as they open. Last verified: 13 November 2026 against Gujarat Samachar (12 November) and the Gazette of India notification dated 9 November 2026.

Gujarat new international airportHirasar airport internationalRajkot airport international flightsVadodara airport immigration
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Cheshta Agarwal
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Questions on this article

asked by readers, answered by us

Can I fly internationally from Rajkot or Vadodara airport now?

Not yet. Rajkot Hirasar and Vadodara have been notified as Category-1 immigration airports through a Gazette notification dated 9 November 2026, which clears the ground for international operations. Immigration infrastructure and airline schedules come next; routes and start dates are yet to be announced.

What does Category-1 immigration airport status mean?

It means the airport is authorised to handle immigration clearance for international passengers, a legal prerequisite for operating direct international flights. It does not by itself start any flight; airlines must still announce routes and the airport must operationalise immigration facilities.

Which cities could get direct flights from Rajkot and Vadodara?

No routes have been announced. Gulf destinations such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Sharjah are the most demanded international sectors from Saurashtra and central Gujarat because of the large diaspora, but any route will depend on airline decisions after the clearance.

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