Guidelines for International Arrivals

The COVID-19 pandemic is worldwide and the Indian development trend is continuing, with regional variations. As a result, it’s critical to keep an eye on the virus’s ever-changing nature and the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs). Existing standards for overseas arrivals in India are still being developed on a risk-based basis. In the interim, current recommendations must be revised in light of the new scenario and new guidelines published by MOHFW, particularly on home isolation.

Planning to Travel

• All travelers should 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 the last 14 days travel details.
• Upload a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR report”. The test should have been conducted within 72 hrs before undertaking the journey. 
• They should also give an undertaking on the portal or otherwise to the 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 to undergo home/institutional quarantine/ self-health monitoring, as warranted. 
• Continuing with the earlier approach, travelers from certain specified Countries (based on the epidemiological situation of COVID-19 in those Countries) are identified for follow-up. The listing of such specified Countries is a dynamic exercise based the on evolving situation of COVID-19 across the world and will be made available on the websites of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, (mohfw.gov.in) and the link of the same will be available at the website of Ministry of External Affairs and Air Suvidha Portal.
• All travelers who need to undertake to test on arrival should preferably pre-book the test online on Air Suvidha Portal, to facilitate timely testing

Before Boarding

• Travelers flying from or passing through at-risk countries must be advised that they will be subjected to post-arrival testing, quarantine if negative, and strict isolation protocols. If it is positive as mentioned in para.
• Do’s and Don’ts shall be provided along with tickets to the travelers by the airlines/agencies concerned. 
• 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 uploaded the negative RT-PCR test report.
• At the time of boarding the flight, only asymptomatic travelers will be allowed to board after the thermal screening. 
• All passengers shall be advised to download the Aarogya Setu app on their mobile devices.

During Travel

• In-flight announcements about COVID-19 including precautionary measures to be followed shall be made at airports in flights and during transit.
• During in-flight crew shall ensure that COVID appropriate behavior is followed at all times. If any passenger reports symptoms of COVID-19 during flight, he/she shall be isolated as per protocol.
• 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.

On arrival

De-boarding should be done to ensure physical distance.

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 out online shall be shown to the airport health staff. 

The passengers found to be symptomatic during screening shall be immediately isolated and taken to the medical facility as per health protocol. If tested positive, their contacts shall be identified and managed as per laid down protocol”.

Travelers from specified Countries at risk will follow the protocol as detailed below:

• Submission of sample for post-arrival COVID-19 test at the point of arrival (self-paid). Such travelers will be required to wait for their test results at the arrival airport before leaving or taking a connecting flight. 
• If tested negative they will follow home quarantine for 7 days and shall undertake RT PCR test on the 8th day of arrival in India. 
• Travelers shall also be required to upload results of repeat RT-PCR test for COVID-19 done on the 8th day on the Air Suvidha portal (to be monitored by the respective States/UTs). 
• if negative, they will further self-monitor their health for the next 7 days. However, if such travelers are tested positive, their samples should be further sent for genomic testing at the INSACOG laboratory network. 
• They shall be treated/isolated as per laid down standard protocol. 
• The contacts of such positive cases should be kept under home quarantine and monitored strictly by the concerned State Government as per laid down protocol.