Dated the 29 th December 2022
Government of India
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Guidelines for International Arrivals
(in supersession of guidelines issued on the subject on 22 nd December 2022)
Introduction
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has issued ‘Guidelines for International Arrivals’ in context of COVID-19 pandemic and updated the same from time to time. The present guidelines are being revised in light of increasing trajectory of COVID-19 cases being noted in some countries across the world.
Scope
This document provides protocols to be complied by international travellers as well as points of entry (airports, seaports and land border) and shall be valid for all flights landing in India w.e.f. 1 st January, 2023 (10.00 Hrs IST) till further orders.
A.1. Planning for Travel
i. All travellers should preferably be fully vaccinated as per the approved primary schedule of vaccination against COVID-19 in their Country.
ii. Additional requirements apply to passengers in all international flights from certain high risk countries*. Such travellers would be required to:
a. Submit complete and factual information in self-declaration form on the online Air Suvidha portal (newdelhiairport.in) before the scheduled travel, including last 14 days’ travel details.
b. Upload negative COVID-19 RT-PCR report** on the Air Suvidha portal (The 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. 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 for any post arrival requirement including home/institutional quarantine/ self-health monitoring, as warranted.
A.2. During Travel
iii. In-flight announcement about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic including precautionary measures to be followed (preferable use of masks and following physical distancing) shall be made in flights/travel and at all points of entry.
iv. Any passenger having symptoms of COVID-19 during travel shall be isolated as per standard protocol i.e. the said passenger should be wearing mask, isolated and segregated from other passengers in flight/travel and shifted to an isolation facility subsequently for follow up treatment.
A.3. On arrival
v. De-boarding should be done ensuring physical distancing.
vi. Thermal screening should be done in respect of all the passengers by the health officials present at the point of entry.
vii. The passengers found to be symptomatic during screening shall be immediately isolated, taken to a designated medical facility as per health protocol (as above).
viii. The following protocol post arrival shall also be followed:
a) A sub-section (2% of the total passengers** in all incoming international flights) shall undergo random post arrival testing at the airport on arrival, irrespective of port of departure.
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 thereafter.
c) If such travellers’ samples 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.
ix. All travellers should self-monitor their health post arrival also shall report to their nearest health facility or call National helpline number (1075)/ State Helpline Number in case they have any symptoms suggestive of COVID-19.
* China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Thailand and Japan
** Children under 12 years of age are exempted from both pre-departure and post-arrival random 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.