India Issues New Entry Guidelines – Eases Travel Curbs

India Entry requirement

The government of India released revised guidelines for International Arrivals. Fully vaccinated travelers coming from the countries with which India have reciprocal arrangements for mutual acceptance of WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccines. Travelers from these countries don’t need to undergo home quarantine and testing. The new rule is effective from October 25 till further orders. The Document shall be reviewed from time to time based on the risk assessment as made clear by Ministry.

The Ministry said, “The existing guidelines for International arrivals in India have been reviewed in the view of increasing vaccination coverage across the globe and changing nature of the Pandemic”.

The new documents provide protocols to be complied with by International Travelers as well those to be followed by Airlines, Points of entry (airports, seaports and land borders) for risk profiling of passengers.

India has signed agreements with 11 countries for mutual recognition of nationality or WHO-recognized COVID-19 vaccines. These countries are the UK, France, Germany, Nepal, Belarus, Lebanon, Armenia, Ukraine, Belgium, Hungary and Serbia. Fully vaccinated visitors from these countries shall be allowed to leave the airport and monitor their own health for 14 days post-arrival.

Travelers are required to submit a self-declaration form on the Air Suvidha portal before scheduled travel and upload a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR report taken within 72 hours prior to Journey.

Travelers visiting from the countries (except above Category A of 11 countries) are required to undergo measures such as submission of sample for a post-arrival test at the point of arrival and home quarantine for seven days, re-test on 8th day of arrival, and further self-monitor health for next seven days.

Travelers from South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe and countries in Europe including the UK need to follow additional measures on arrival in India, including post-arrival testing.

Travelers under home quarantine or self-monitoring will need to self-isolate and report to their nearest health facility or call the national helpline number (1075) or state helpline number in case they develop signs and symptoms of COVID-19 or test positive for COVID-19 on re-testing.

International Arrivals through the Seaports/ Land ports will also have to undergo the same protocol except for that facility for online registration is not available for those passengers currently. Those Travelers will need to Submit the self-declaration form to the concerned authorities of the government of India at seaports/ land ports on arrivals.

Read the official document here.

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