Dated the 2nd September 2022

Government of India

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Guidelines for International Arrivals

(in supersession of guidelines issued on the subject on 10th February 2022)

Introduction

The global and Indian growth trajectory of COVID-19 pandemic continues with regional variations. The need to monitor the continuously changing nature of virus and evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) thus, must still remain in focus. The extant guidelines for international arrivals in India continue being formulated taking a risk-based approach. While monitoring the nature and spread of infection in the country and across the globe, cognizance is also given to the fact that economic activities need to be taken up in an unhindered manner.

Scope

This document provides protocols to be complied by international travellers as well as those to be followed by airlines and all points of entry (airports, seaports and land border). This Standard Operating Procedure shall be valid w.e.f. 3rd September 2022 (00.01 Hrs IST) till further orders. Based on the risk assessment, this document shall be reviewed from time to time.

A.1. Planning for Travel

• i. All travellers should
      a. Submit complete and factual information in self-declaration form on the online Air Suvidha portal (https://www.newdelhiairport.in/airsuvidha/apho-   registration) before the scheduled travel, including last 14 days travel details.
      b. Submit details of negative COVID-19 RT-PCR report* (The test should have been conducted within 72 hrs prior to undertaking the journey)    
  or
      Submit details of full primary vaccination schedule of COVID-19 vaccination**.
      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.
• ii. 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 any post arrival requirement to undergo home/institutional quarantine/ self-health monitoring, as warranted.

A.2. Before Boarding

• iii. Do’s and Don'ts shall be provided along with ticket to the travellers by the airlines/agencies concerned.
• iv. Airlines to allow boarding by only those passengers who have filled in all the information in the Self Declaration Form on the Air Suvidha portal and submitted details of negative RT-PCR test report or completed Covid -19 vaccination **.
• v. At the time of boarding the flight, only asymptomatic travellers will be allowed to board after thermal screening.
• vi. All passengers shall be advised to download Aarogya Setu app on their mobile devices.

A.3. During Travel

• vii. In-flight announcement about COVID-19 including precautionary measures to be followed shall be made at airports and in flights and during transit.
• viii. During in-flight crew shall ensure that COVID appropriate behaviour is followed at all times.
• ix. If any passenger reports symptoms of COVID-19 during flight, he/she shall be isolated as per protocol.
• x. Proper in-flight announcements should be made by the airlines regarding the testing requirements and people who need to undergo such testing to avoid any congestion at the arrival airports.

A.4. On arrival

• xi. De-boarding should be done ensuring physical distancing.
• xii. Thermal screening would be carried out in respect of all the passengers by the health officials present at the airport. The self-declaration form filled online shall be shown to the airport health staff.
• xiii. The passengers found to be symptomatic during screening shall be immediately isolated and taken to medical facility as per health protocol. If tested positive, their contacts shall be identified and managed as per laid down protocol#.
• xiv. The following protocol post arrival shall also be followed:
  • a. A sub-section (2% of the total passengers in the flight) shall undergo random post- arrival testing at the airport on arrival.
  • 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.
  • c. If such travellers 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.
• xv. All travellers will self-monitor their health for next 14 days of arrival.
• xvi. If travellers under self-health monitoring, develop signs and symptoms suggestive of COVID- 19, they will immediately self-isolate and report to their nearest health facility or call National helpline number (1075)/ State Helpline Number.

International travellers arriving at seaports/land ports

• xvii. International travellers arriving through seaports/land ports will also have to undergo the same protocol as above, except that facility for online registration is not available for such passengers currently.
• xviii. Such travellers shall submit the self-declaration form to the concerned authorities of Government of India at seaports/land ports on arrival.

* Children under 5 years of age are exempted from both pre- and post-arrival 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.

** There are Countries which have agreement with India on mutual recognition of vaccination certificates of Nationally recognised or WHO recognised vaccines. Similarly, there are Countries which presently do not have such an agreement with India, but they exempt Indian citizens fully vaccinated with Nationally recognised or WHO recognised vaccines. On the basis of reciprocity, the travellers from only such Countries which provide quarantine-free entry to Indians will be allowed for relaxation under Certificate of completing full primary vaccination schedule of COVID-19 vaccination. The listing of such Countries is available on website of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (mohfw.gov.in) and the link of the same will be available at website of Ministry of External Affairs and Air Suvidha Portal. This is also a dynamic list and will be updated from time to time. The travellers from such countries only are considered for allowing entry based on vaccination certificate & shall submit details of their completed primary vaccination against COVID-19 on the Air Suvidha portal.




# Contacts of the suspect case are the co-passengers seated in the same row, 3 rows in front and 3 rows behind along with identified Cabin Crew.




For more information/updates on International arrivals, the website of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of the Govt of India may be visited on the link: www.mohfw.gov.in




List of Countries/Regions in respect of which primary vaccination schedule completion certificate is allowed to be considered




As on 9th September 2022




1	Albania
2	Algeria
3	Andorra
4	Angola
5	Antigua & Barbuda
6	Argentina
7	Armenia
8	Australia
9	Austria
10	Azerbaijan
11	Bahamas
12	Bangladesh
13	Bahrain
14	Belarus
15	Belgium
16	Bhutan
17	Brazil
18	British Virgin Islands
19	Brunei Darussalam
20	Botswana
21	Bulgaria
22	Canada
23	Cambodia
24	Cayman Islands
25	Chad
26	Chile
27	Colombia
28	Commonwealth of Dominica
29	Costa Rica
30	Cote d'Ivoire
31	Croatia
32	Cuba
33	Cyprus
34	Czech Republic
35	Denmark
36	Dominican Republic
37	Ecuador
38	Egypt
39	El Salvador
40	Estonia
41	Eswatini
42	Finland
43	France
44	Gabon
45	Georgia
46	Germany
47	Grenada
48	Guatemala
49	Guyana
50	Honduras
51	Hong Kong
52	Hungary
53	Iceland
54	Indonesia
55	Iran
56	Iraq
57	Ireland
58	Israel
59	Italy
60	Jamaica
61	Japan
62	Kazakhstan
63	Kenya
64	Kingdom of Morocco
65	Kuwait
66	Kyrgyzstan
67	Lao PDR
68	Latvia
69	Lebanon
70	Liberia
71	Liechtenstein
72	Lithuania
73	Malaysia
74	Maldives
75	Mali
76	Mauritius
77	Mexico
78	Moldova
79	Mongolia
80	Mozambique
81	Myanmar
82	Namibia
83	Nauru
84	Nepal
85	New Zealand
86	Netherlands
87	Nicaragua
88	Nigeria
89	North Macedonia
90	Norway
91	Oman
92	Paraguay
93	Panama
94	Papua New Guinea
95	Peru
96	Poland
97	Portugal
98	Philippines
99	Qatar
100	Republic of Fiji
101	Republic of Korea
102	Romania
103	Rwanda
104	St. Kitts and Nevis
105	San Marino
106	Saudi Arabia
107	Serbia
108	Seychelles
109	Sierra Leone
110	Singapore
111	Slovak Republic
112	Slovenia
113	South Africa
114	Spain
115	Sri Lanka
116	State of Palestine
117	Sudan
118	Suriname
119	Sweden
120	Switzerland
121	Syria
122	Taiwan
123	Thailand
124	The United Kingdom
125	Trinidad & Tobago
126	Türkiye
127	Turks & Caicos Islands
128	UAE
129	Uganda
130	Ukraine
131	United States of America
132	Uruguay
133	Uzbekistan
134	Venezuela
135	Vietnam
136	Zimbabwe