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 1st December 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.
** 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 10. Singapore 11. Hong Kong 12. Israel
2) Before boarding
-
- Travellers originating or transiting from at-risk countries shall be informed by the airlines that they will undergo post arrival testing, quarantine if tested negative, stringent isolation protocols if tested positive etc.
- 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.
- At the time of boarding the flight, only asymptomatic travellers will be allowed to board after thermal screening.
- All travellers should download Aarogya Setu app on their mobile devices.
3) On arrival
-
- De-boarding should be done ensuring physical distancing.
- Thermal screening would be carried out in respect of all the passengers at the airport.
- The self-declaration form filled online shall be shown to the airport health staff.
- 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.
- Travellers from specified Countries at risk will follow the protocol as detailed below:
i) Submission of sample for post-arrival COVID-19 test at the point of arrival (self-paid)
ii) If tested negative they will follow home quarantine for 7 days. Re-test on the 8th day of arrival in India and if negative, further self-monitor of their health for next 7 days.
iii) If tested positive, their samples will be sent for genomic testing at INSACOG laboratory network.
iv) They shall be managed at a separate isolation facility and treated as per laid down standard protocol including contact tracing.
v) The contacts of such positive case shall be kept under institutional quarantine or at home quarantine monitored strictly by the concerned State Government as per laid down protocol.
f. Travellers 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 (5% of the total f light passengers) shall undergo post-arrival testing at random at the airport on arrival.
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:
Guidelines for international arrival GuidelinesforInternationalarrival28112021.pdf (mohfw.gov.in)
List of countries
Algorithm: Guidelines for International Arrivals
Bureau of Immigration
Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) for travel on Vande Bharat and Air Transport Bubble flights
- 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.
- 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
Immigration Manager-India
Santa Fe Relocation
Mumbai, India
D: +91 22 450 24527
E: roshni.ramachandran@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@santaferelo.com
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