Immigration update: India | Revised guidelines for international arrivals
Indian Government has reviewed the existing guidelines for international arrivals, in view with the increasing vaccination coverage across the globe and the changing nature of the pandemic.
Who will be affected?
– All residents in India
– Regular visa, e-visa or stay stipulation (All foreign nationals)
Implementation
– The revised Standard Operating Procedure shall be applicable from the 25th October 2021 (00.00 Hrs IST) till further orders. The SOP shall be reviewed based on risk assessment.
– International Travellers travelling to India should:
1) Before travel
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
d) Submit an undertaking on the portal to undergo home quarantine/ self-health monitoring, as warranted.
e) The travellers from Category A Countries should upload their fully vaccinated certificate on the Air Suvidha portal.
*Category A: List of countries with which Government of India has agreement for mutual recognition vaccination certificate for individuals fully vaccinated with Nationally recognized or WHO recognized COVID-19 vaccine and those exempting Indian citizens fully vaccinated with Nationally recognized or WHO recognised vaccines 1. The United Kingdom 2. France 3. Germany 4. Nepal 5. Belarus 6. Lebanon 7. Armenia 8. Ukraine 9. Belgium 10. Hungary 11. Serbia
** List of Countries from where travellers would need to follow additional measures on arrival in India, including post-arrival testing (Countries at-risk) 1. Countries in Europe including The United Kingdom 2. South Africa 3. Brazil 4. Bangladesh 5. Botswana 6. China 7. Mauritius 8. New Zealand 9. Zimbabwe
2) Before boarding
a) Airlines will allow boarding to those travellers who have filled in the Self Declaration Form on the Air Suvidha portal and uploaded the negative RT-PCR test report.
b) At the time of boarding the flight, only asymptomatic travellers will be allowed to board after thermal screening.
c) All travellers should download Aarogya Setu app on their mobile devices.
3) On arrival
a) If traveller is coming from Category A countries:
i) If fully vaccinated: They shall be allowed to leave the airport and shall self-monitor their health for 14 days’ post arrival.
ii) If partially/not vaccinated: The travellers need to undertake the following measures:
(1) Submission of sample for post-arrival COVID-19 test at the point of arrival after which they will be allowed to leave the airport,
(2) Home quarantine for 7 days,
(3) Re-test on the 8th day of arrival in India and if negative, further self-monitor of their health for next 7 days.
b) If traveller is coming from a Country excluding those covered under Category A, they would be required to undergo the additional measures irrespective of their COVID-19 vaccination status.
c) Travellers from Countries excluding from Countries at risk, will be allowed to leave the airport and should 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.
– Foreign nationals intending to visit India for Tourism are allowed to enter India on e-Tourist Visa/ Tourist Visa through chartered flights as individual tourist from November 15, 2021.
– These instructions are in addition to the travel restrictions/ advisories already issued and under implementation.
For additional details regarding arrival procedures when entering India, please check:
MoHFW | Home
GuidelinesforInternationalArrival20thOctober2021.pdf (mohfw.gov.in)
Algorithm: Guidelines for International Arrivals (Dated ___ October 2021) (mohfw.gov.in)
Advisory: Travel and visa restrictions related to COVID-19 (boi.gov.in)
Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) for travel on Vande Bharat and Air Transport Bubble flights
1. Persons keen to travel to India on Vande Bharat flights, will register themselves with the Indian Missions in the country where they are stranded/ residing, along with necessary details as prescribed by MEA.
2. Registration may not be required on flights operating under Air Transport Bubbles arrangements.
• Vande Bharat Mission
• Air Transport Bubbles Arrangement
• SOP for travel on Vande Bharat Scheme and Air Transport Bubble Arrangement
Santa Fe Analysis
Santa Fe will update any relevant immigration development considering the situation is continuously changing.
For employers, it is advised to keep assignment start dates flexible for affected travellers.
Check in with your closest Indian Mission for guidance on travel to India
Santa Fe Relocation provides full range of Immigration Services.
Should you have any questions, please contact the following:
Roshni Ramachandran
India Immigration Manager
Santa Fe Relocation
Mumbai, India
D: +91 22 450 24527
E: roshni.ramachandran@staging.santaferelo.com
Paolo Longo
Regional Immigration Director – India, Middle East & Africa
Santa Fe Relocation
Johannesburg, South Africa
D: +27 (0) 10 595 2337
M: +27 (0) 83 677 7949
E: paolo.longo@staging.santaferelo.com
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