The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India has issued revised guidelines (Covid-19) for international arrivals, removing the category of ‘At Risk’ countries – introduced when the Omicron Covid variant emerged.
The new guidelines recommending self-monitoring of 14 days for symptoms against the current seven days of home quarantine.
Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr Mansukh Mandavia tweeted “The @MoHFW_INDIA has issued revised guidelines for International Arrivals. These guidelines will come in effect from 14th February. Follow these diligently, stay safe & strengthen India’s hands in the fight against COVID19.”
The ministry stressed the need to monitor the continuously changing COVID-19 virus but also acknowledged that economic activities need to be taken up in an unhindered manner.
According to the revised guidelines, all foreign arrivals must fill a self-declaration form online (available at the Air Suvidha web portal), including a travel history of the past 14 days. They must also upload a negative RT-PCR test that was conducted within 72 hours of the travel date.
The statement released by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare says “Airlines will allow boarding of only those passengers who have filled in all the information in the self-declaration form and uploaded the negative RT-PCR test report or COVID-19 vaccination certificate.”
Alternatively, they can also upload a certificate confirming they have received both vaccine doses.
This option, however, is only available for passengers arriving from 72 countries whose vaccination programmes the Indian government recognises as part of a reciprocal programme.
These countries include Canada, Hong Kong, the United States, the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Qatar, Australia, New Zealand, and some European nations.
