India has again made new changes in its international travel policy for travellers visiting India. The decision was taken in the view of increasing vaccination coverage and as the global trajectory of COVID-19 pandemic continues to decline across the globe.
India has formulated the existing guidelines in supersession of all guidelines issued on the subject on and after 20th October 2021. The new protocols is to be complied with international travellers as well those to be followed by airlines, points of entry (airports, seaports and land border) for risk profiling of passengers.
The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) shall be valid from November 12 till further orders.
The global trajectory of COVID-19 pandemic continues to decline with certain regional variations.
Planning for Travel
- All travellers should
a. Submit self-declaration form on the online Air Suvidha portal (www.newdelhiairport.in) before the scheduled travel
b. Upload a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR report. This test should have been conducted within 72 hrs prior to undertaking the journey.
c. Each passenger shall also submit a declaration with respect to authenticity of the report and will be liable for criminal prosecution, if found otherwise
- Pasangers are requested to give an undertaking that they would abide by the decision of the appropriate government authority to undergo home quarantine/ self-health monitoring, as warranted.
- The travellers from Category A Countries shall upload their fully vaccinated certificate on the Air Suvidha portal. The list of such countries is available on websites of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (mohfw.gov.in) and the link of the same will be available at website of Ministry of External Affairs and Air Suvidha Portal.
On arrival
- Ensure physical distancing
- Thermal screening would be carried out of all the passengers. The self-declaration form filled online shall be shown to the airport health staff.
- The passengers found to be symptomatic during screening shall be immediately isolated and taken to medical facility as per health protocol. If tested positive, their contacts shall be identified and managed as per laid down protocol
- Travellers from specified Countries at risk will follow the protocol as detailed below:
- If traveller is coming from a Country with which India has reciprocal arrangements for mutual acceptance of WHO approved COVID-19 vaccines (Category A):
- If fully vaccinated: They shall be allowed to leave the airport and shall selfmonitor their health for 14 days’ post arrival.
- If partially/not vaccinated: The travellers need to undertake the following measures-
- Submission of sample for post-arrival COVID-19 test at the point of arrival after which they will be allowed to leave the airport
- Home quarantine for 7 days,
- Re-test on the 8th day of arrival in India* and if negative, further selfmonitor o their health for next 7 days
- Travellers from Countries excluding those Countries at risk, will be allowed to leave the airport and shall self-monitor their health for 14 days’ post arrival. This is applicable to travellers from all Countries including Countries with which reciprocal arrangements for mutual acceptance of WHO approved COVID-19 vaccines also exist.
- Travellers under home quarantine or self-health monitoring, if develop signs and symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 or test positive for COVID-19 on re-testing, they will immediately selfisolate and report to their nearest health facility or call National helpline number (1075)/ State Helpline Number
International travellers arriving at seaports/land ports
- International travellers arriving through seaports/land ports will also have to undergo the same protocol as above, except that facility for online registration is not available for such passengers currently.
- Such travellers shall submit the self-declaration form to the concerned authorities of Government of India at seaports/land ports on arrival
Important Note
- Children under 5 years of age are exempted from both pre- and post-arrival testing. However, if found symptomatic for COVID-19 on arrival or during home quarantine period, they shall undergo testing and treated as per laid down protocol.
- 15 days must have elapsed since completion of COVID-19 vaccination schedule
Contacts of the suspect case are the co-passengers seated in the same row, 3 rows in front and 3 rows behind along with identified Cabin Crew. Also, all the community contacts of those travelers who have tested positive (during home quarantine period) would be subjected to quarantine for 14 days and tested as per ICMR protocol.