As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare issued 'Guidelines for International Arrivals' and regularly updated them. Globally, COVID-19 cases are on the rise, resulting in revisions to the current guidelines.

Scope 

For flights landing in India from 1st January, 2023 (10.00 IST) until further orders, this document provides protocols to be followed by international travellers and points of entry (airports, seaports, and land borders).

A.1. Planning for Travel 

1. Travelers should preferably be fully vaccinated as per the country's primary schedule of vaccination against COVID-19.

2. A set of additional requirements applies to all international flights from certain high-risk countries Travelers of this type would need to:

a. Submit complete and factual information in self-declaration form on the online Air Suvidha portal (www.newdelhiairport.in) before the scheduled travel, including last 14 days’ travel details.

b. Upload negative COVID-19 RT-PCR report on the Air Suvidha portal (The 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.

d. They should also give an undertaking on the portal or otherwise to Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, through concerned airlines before they are allowed to undertake the journey that they would abide by the decision of the appropriate government authority for any post arrival requirement including home/institutional quarantine/ self-health monitoring, as warranted.

A.2. During Travel 

3. In-flight announcement about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic including precautionary measures to be followed (preferable use of masks and following physical distancing) shall be made in flights/travel and at all points of entry.

4. Passengers with symptoms of COVID-19 during travel shall be isolated as per standard protocol i.e. wearing masks, being isolated and segregated from other passengers throughout flight/travel, and being shifted to an isolation facility for further treatment.

A.3. On arrival 

5. De-boarding should be done ensuring physical distancing.

6. The health officials at the point of entry should conduct thermal screenings on all passengers.

7. The passengers found to be symptomatic during screening shall be immediately isolated, taken to a designated medical facility as per health protocol (as above).

8. The following protocol post arrival shall also be followed:

a. A sub-section (2% of the total passengers  in all incoming international flights) shall undergo random post arrival testing at the airport on arrival, irrespective of port of departure.

b. Such travellers in each flight shall be identified by the concerned airlines (preferably from different countries). They will submit the samples and shall be allowed to leave the airport thereafter.

c. If such travellers samples are tested positive, their samples should be further sent for genomic testing at INSACOG laboratory network.

d. They shall be treated/isolated as per laid down standard protocol.

9. All travellers should self-monitor their health post arrival also shall report to their nearest health facility or call National helpline number (1075)/ State Helpline Number in case they have any symptoms suggestive of COVID-19.

* China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Thailand and Japan

* Children under 12 years of age are exempted from both pre-departure and post-arrival random testing. However, if found symptomatic for COVID-19 on arrival or during the period of self-monitoring period, they shall undergo testing and treated as per laid down protocol.