Like many other nations, India has imposed travel restrictions to stop the COVID-19 virus from spreading. As the pandemic situation changes, the authorities adjust these limitations, affecting both domestic and international travel. This article will cover the current state of India’s travel restrictions and what visitors should be aware of.
USA to India Travel Restrictions
International travelers can now visit India in its entirety. International visitors can now enter India without being quarantined, regardless of their vaccination status. However, India has now put some travel restrictions for visitors from abroad due to a sudden increase in the covid-19 trajectory in the nation.
Additionally, authorities have removed the requirement for arriving international passengers to present a negative PCR test report, and they have eliminated the Air Suvidha requirements as well.
Latest Guidelines for International Travel to India
February 13 at 11 a.m., travelers to India from or via Thailand, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, and China won’t need to upload a self-health declaration to the “air suvidha” portal or provide a favorable report from a pre-departure Covid test.
Regardless of the origin country, the 2% random testing will continue upon arrival in India. Following a “sustained and significant decline in the trajectory of Covid-19 cases” in these six locations over the past four weeks, the Union Health Ministry revised the regulations for people traveling to or through them.
“The current exercise is random testing of 2% of visitors to India (regardless of country of origin) upon arrival in India to monitor infections due to mutated variants of ARS-CoV-2 among international visitors to India.”
Travel to India Covid Requirements
The information provided regarding travel requirements summarizes the laws in the nations and regions where our flights operate. The information provided below occasionally may need to be updated. It may be out of date when you are viewing it because travel regulations worldwide continue to change.
Therefore, we strongly advise all travelers to check the travel restrictions with the relevant governments of their destination. And arrive country/state directly before traveling with us to get more dependable, up-to-date, and verified information about their goals.
- The Indian government’s visa regulations must be followed by travelers. Holders of foreign passports must have an Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) Card or a valid Indian visa to enter India.
- Travelers must make sure their passports are valid for at least six months.
- Chinese nationals can only obtain visas.
- The following nations can obtain an e-Visa further: China, Macau, Hong Kong, Qatar, Iran, and Saudi Arabia.
India Travel Requirements
India travel restrictions and foreign visitors to India must follow the guidelines issued by India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). And adhere to the following requirements.
Ideally, all visitors should receive full vaccination as per their country’s authorized primary vaccination schedule against COVID-19. If any passenger shows symptoms of COVID-19 during travel, authorities shall isolate them as per the standard protocol.
Which requires that the said passenger be wearing a mask, isolated and segregated from other passengers in flight/travel, and shifted to an isolation facility. The authorities mandate that airlines make in-flight announcements about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including preventive measures such as wearing masks and maintaining a physical distance.
travel and at all points of entry.
De-boarding should take place to ensure physical separation. At the point of entry, the health officials on duty should conduct thermal screening on every passenger. If passengers show symptoms during screening, the previously mentioned health protocol requires authorities to immediately isolate and transport them to a designated medical facility.
The following protocol post arrival shall also be followed:
- Regardless of the port of departure, a subset (2% of the total passengers on all incoming international flights) must submit to random post-arrival testing at the airport upon arrival.
- The concerned airlines shall identify passengers on each flight (preferably from different countries). After submitting the samples, they will be permitted to leave the airport.
- If these travelers’ samples test positive, they should be sent to the INSACOG laboratory network for additional genomic testing.
- According to the established standard protocol, they must be handled or isolated.
All travelers should keep track of their health after arriving and go to the closest medical facility or call the national helpline number (1075). Or state the helpline number if they experience any symptoms that might be COVID-19.
Travel to India From USA Covid Requirements
Are you considering visiting India but concerned about the new travel regulations following COVID-19? Let us go over all the COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines you must know before visiting India.
India has a lot to offer visitors, from breathtaking scenery and stunning architecture to various cultures and religious sites. During the COVID-19 pandemic, local authorities in India tightened travel and visa requirements to make residents and visitors feel safer.
Authorities no longer require travelers, including both Indian citizens and foreigners, to present a self-declaration form, vaccination documentation, or a negative RT-PCR test to enter India. However, individuals who show symptoms must report immediately to a designated quarantine facility to receive follow-up care.
Travelers must keep track of their health after arriving. During COVID-19 symptoms, travelers must contact the local or national helpline or the nearest medical facility.
- Random post-arrival testing will take place when you arrive at the airport. Post-arrival random testing is not required for children under the age of 12.
- Pre-departure testing is no longer required for travelers from China, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, and Hong Kong.
India Travel Covid Test Requirement
It is generally possible to enter India without being fully vaccinated. Moreover, according to the new guidelines released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), presenting a vaccination certificate is NO longer mandatory.
The authorities recommend that travelers adhere to their country’s authorized preliminary vaccination schedule against COVID-19 and receive full vaccination if feasible.
Authorities currently accept vaccine certificates from 145 countries in India. You can get a complete list of the eligible countries from here.
List of approved COVID-19 vaccines
The following four vaccines have received approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for use in the nation during an emergency:
- Covishield/AstraZeneca
- Oxford/AstraZeneca: Vaxzevria
- Covaxin
- Sputnik V
- Sputnik Light
- Moderna
- Corbevax
- Covovax
- ZyCoV-D
- GEMCOVAC-19
- CiNOVAC
- Janssen
Traveling to India From the USA
Are there any U.S. entry requirements for COVID? Citizens? No. Travel restrictions are subject to sudden and unforeseen changes. For the most recent information regarding the Guidelines for International Arrivals, please visit the website of the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The Indian government strongly advises any American citizen considering a visit to India to carefully review the information provided. If Indian ports of entry deny entry to travelers, the authorities will probably reboard and send them back on flights to their last port of departure since the U.S. Embassy has limited ability to act on their behalf. Embassy has limited ability to act on their behalf.
Is entry contingent upon a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology)? No. Do airports and other ports of entry conduct health screenings? When visitors arrive, authorities will conduct thermal screening on all of them. They will randomly select two percent (2%) of all travelers, regardless of vaccination status, for testing upon arrival.
The authorities will isolate and retest symptomatic travelers. Authorities permit travelers who opt for an arrival test to leave the airport after collecting their sample and do not obligate them to wait for the test results. All travelers must self-regulate for 14 days following arrival.
In conclusion, authorities have put in place travel restrictions to stop the spread of COVID-19 and protect public health. Authorities restrict domestic travel in regions with high infection rates, and they mandate screening and quarantine procedures for international travelers.
These measures not only had a significant impact on the economy and tourism industry but also significantly slowed the virus’s spread.
The Indian government must evaluate the situation with the pandemic and modify its travel restrictions as necessary.
Regulators may need to relax regulations in areas with lower infection rates or tighten them in regions with increased cases to achieve this.
Anyone planning a trip to India should remember the most recent travel restrictions and requirements, including testing and quarantine requirements. To help stop the spread of COVID-19, they should also abide by all health and safety regulations, such as wearing masks and engaging in social seclusion.
It’s essential to frequently check the websites of the Indian government and local health authorities to stay updated on any changes to the country’s travel restrictions. To ensure a safe and easy journey, travelers planning to visit India should carefully review the most recent travel requirements and guidelines.
