Updated India Travel Guidelines [March 2024]

The COVID-19 pandemic has separated families over the past year in many different ways including visa bans and travel restrictions. If you are an Indian foreign national and you were hoping to go visit your family back in India soon, you might be interested in the latest updates to India travel guidelines***.

Just when the world thought it had a handle on traveling-during-a-pandemic protocols, a new mutation of the COVID-19 virus was discovered. Unfortunately, this new strain has also been proven to be a lot more contagious than the first.

As a result, many countries have updated their travel guidelines to prevent the new strain from spreading within their borders. India is no exception. As of February 22, 2021, India has a list of updated travel guidelines aimed at dealing with the new threat. These guidelines apply to all international visitors traveling to India.

If you’re planning to travel to India take a look at these new guidelines so you can plan your trip ahead.

Why Has India Updated Its Travel Guidelines?

Following the detection of the new mutation of the COVID-19 virus spreading from the UK, Brazil, and South Africa, the Indian Aviation Ministry has announced new guidelines for international travelers to India.

The new travel guidelines for India strengthen the existing precautions that are in place to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

What are the New Requirements for International Travelers to India?

The same primary requirements for all international travelers to India remain in place, no matter which country you are traveling from.

These primary requirements include downloading the Air Suvidha app so you can upload all of the required documentation. The required documentation includes a self-declaration form and a negative COVID-19 test (taken no more than 72 hours before departure). At the airport, your temperature will be taken, and if you display COVID-19 symptoms, you will not be allowed to board the flight.

You will also be required to maintain 6 feet social distance in the airport and on the airplane. Of course, it’s best to bring your own sanitizer, and wearing a mask is compulsory.

When you arrive in India, you will be free to move on to your destination. No quarantine is required if you are not traveling from the UK, Brazil, or South Africa, you tested negative in your COVID-19 test, and you display no symptoms. The Indian government still encourages you to self-monitor and check for symptoms for 14 days after you arrive in India. If you show any symptoms, you will be isolated and taken to a medical facility for quarantine at your own expense.  

But these are only the primary requirements applicable to all travelers. If you’re traveling from the UK, Brazil, or South Africa, additional requirements will apply.

Special Requirements for Certain Countries

The Indian Aviation Ministry is taking the pandemic seriously and doing all it can to curb the spread of the virus. If you are arriving from a high-risk destination where the new COVID-19 mutation is prevalent, you will need to adhere to further, special requirements.

Which Countries Have Special Requirements?

The new, more contagious mutation of the COVID-19 virus is most prevalent in the UK, Brazil, and South Africa. So, the special travel requirements are aimed at travelers who are traveling from, or through, these countries.

Since there are no direct flights between India, Brazil, and South Africa, the Indian Aviation Ministry has also flagged flight routes from Europe and the Middle East.

What Are the Special Requirements?

In addition to the primary requirements we unpacked above, if you are traveling from the UK, Brazil, or South Africa, you will need to adhere to the following special requirements.

Firstly, the self-declaration form you need to fill in will be more rigorous. It will need to include your travel itinerary for the past 14 days, and details about the place where you’ll stay while in India. During the flight, there will also be additional protocols. If you are traveling from the UK, Europe, or the Middle East, you may be segregated from other passengers during the journey and while deboarding.

When you arrive at the Indian airport or port of entry, you will need to undergo special molecular tests before exiting the airport. You need to pay for the cost of these tests, and that can set you back anywhere between INR 500 – INR 4200. If you are trying to catch a connecting flight, you should plan for an 8-hour lag between transiting flights to account for the testing procedures before you can board the next flight.

If you’re staying in India, you have to agree to undergo a mandatory 7-day quarantine. This quarantine will happen at a medical institution, and another COVID-19 test will be conducted around the 5th to 7th day of the quarantine. After that, you still have to isolate yourself for an additional 7 days at home, self-monitoring your health. You, as the passenger, have to cover the cost of staying at the quarantine institution, and the cost of the additional COVID-19 test.

If you’re lucky, you might be able to avoid the mandatory 7-day institutional quarantine, depending on your circumstances. This information will be communicated to you on the online portal. However, this is subject to the all-clear from the medical officers at the airport. Even if you are exempt from the 7-day institutional quarantine, you will still have to self-isolate at home for 14 days.

If at any stage you test positive for COVID-19, you will have to undergo treatment as per standard Indian national health protocol***.

Requirements for Indian Citizens Returning from Abroad

The good news is that, as of October 22, 2020, India changed its travel restrictions and is allowing all Indian nationals (including OCI and PIO cardholders) to travel to India, and all existing visas are restored. This includes travel for business, conferences, employment, studies, research, and medical purposes, although authorities are advising Indian citizens to delay all nonessential travel.

The bad news is unfortunately that any Indian citizens returning from abroad will have to follow the same procedures outlined above. This includes the special requirements if you’re returning to India from or via the UK, Brazil, or South Africa.

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Conclusion

The new requirements for international travelers traveling to India are certainly robust. If you will be traveling from or through the UK, Brazil, and South Africa make sure you take special note of the additional requirements that will apply to you.

To make the travel process as smooth as possible, you should do everything you can to prove compliance. This includes keeping hard copies of all the required COVID-19 documentation on you while traveling. Additionally, you must make sure you have all of your finances and other plans in place for the required 14-day quarantine and isolation.

The additional requirements may be burdensome but at least you can still travel to visit your family while knowing the precautions are keeping them safe.

Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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