Come February 14, international arrivals to India gets a big relief. Under the new guidelines the government will allow passengers to upload their certificate of completing full primary Covid-19 vaccination schedule in 82 countries on a mutually accepted basis.
The Union health ministry has also struck the list of at-risk countries and replaced it with another list of countries in respect of which primary vaccination schedule completion certificate is allowed to be uploaded. These include Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Maldives, New Zealand, Netherlands, Qatar, Singapore, Switzerland, UK and USA.
New International Arrivals Guidelines – List of Countries
China and UAE are among those not on the list of 82 countries as of now. The requirement of seven-day home quarantine and a Covid test on day 8 of International arrivals also goes from February 14.
Under planning to travel, travel guidelines say: “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) Upload a negative Covid-19 RT-PCR report* (The test should have been conducted within 72 hrs prior to undertaking the journey) or certificate of completing full primary vaccination schedule of Covid-19 vaccination**.”
With at-risk categorisation gone, international arrival process becomes simpler. “Thermal screening would be carried out in respect of all passengers.. passengers found 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,” the revised rules says.
