Waiting to travel back home since COVID 19 struck? Been over a year since you visited your parents or hugged your children? Is the travel bug in you craving an exotic adventure?
Follow the latest guidelines issued by the Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and book your last-minute flights to India to travel while safeguarding yourself from the Omicron variant.
New Variant
The existing guidelines have been revised in view of reporting of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 (B.1.1.529; named Omicron) which has been now classified as a Variant of Concern by the World Health Organization.
The new guidelines have been valid w.e.f. 1st December 2021 (00.01 Hrs IST).
At-risk countries
List of Countries from where travelers would need to follow additional measures on arrival in India, including post-arrival testing (Countries at-risk)
- Countries in Europe including The United Kingdom
- South Africa
- Brazil
- Botswana
- China
- Ghana
- Mauritius
- New Zealand
- Zimbabwe
- Tanzania
- Hong Kong
- Israel
Travelers who have been in these countries in the last 14 days before arriving in India must follow extra steps after arrival
New Guidelines to be followed by all countries
- Submit self-declaration form on the online Air Suvidha portal
- Upload a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR report. This test should have been conducted within 72 hrs prior to undertaking the journey.
- Submit a declaration with respect to the authenticity of the report
- Submit a declaration that they would abide by the decision of the appropriate government authority to undergo home/institutional quarantine/ self-health monitoring, as warranted
- Travelers from Countries excluding those Countries at risk will be allowed to leave the airport and shall self-monitor their health for 14 days’ post-arrival. A sub-section (2% of the total flight passengers) shall undergo post-arrival testing at random at the airport on arrival.
- At the time of boarding the flight, only asymptomatic travelers will be allowed to board after the thermal screening.
New additional Guidelines to be followed while traveling from AT RISK countries
- Take a COVID 19 test at the airport in India upon arrival and wait for the test results before leaving the Airport.
- If the result is negative the passenger shall be home quarantined for 7 days and take another RTPCR test on the 8th day and only if it is negative can they end quarantine.
- If the test result is positive they shall be managed at a separate isolation facility.
- The state governments can impose additional rules.
The majority of travelers for the Christmas break are expected from the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia. Follow the latest guidelines mentioned above and book your last-minute flights from the USA to India with minimal restrictions.
Also Read: New guidelines issued by the CDC for International travel to USA
