For Those Coming to India from Abroad

Things are changing fast. All coming to India after 23:59 (11:59PM) IST 22 FEB 2021 must fill online Self Reporting Form (Also called Self declaration form) and upload Negative RT PCR test report online before boarding. This is now Compulsory in India also. Please refer attached circular date 17 FEB 2021

Below Information is written as per Old Circular dated 05 NOV 2020 by Government of India - Ministry of Health for some information. However above referred latest circular will be final now and must be adhered. Also Please Refer official website of your Airline for Airline Specific Information.

Special Note: Persons coming to India from UK, Europe and Gulf have new restrictions now effective 01 Jan 2021. Please refer your Airline. 

You are now allowed to quarantine yourself at your home if you come with Covid 19 RT-PCR Negative Report within 72 hours of International Departure Flight Local Time of your Last Flight to India.

Quarantine for 14 Days is Compulsory in India at present. You have Two Options,

Option 1) Come with Negative RT PCR test report and be in home quarantine OR self monitoring  at your home for 14 Days 

OR 

Option 2) Come Without Report and be under Quarantine for 7 days at Govt Specified Hotel/Govt Approved Religious-Social Organization's place and then further 7 Days at your Home. Most of the States in India now allow you to take test at Hotel (Instead of living full 7 days at Hotel) and allow you to go to home isolation if you get Negative RT-PCR Report while you are in Hotel. Some Major Airports like Delhi and Mumbai also have a facility to test you on arrival right at the Airport itself (And you can do test there, wait till you get result and go home direct after you get Negative report)

When to take Covid Test

Effective 05 NOV 2020. Test report within 72 hours (Earlier it was 96 hours) of undertaking journey. Please refer attached circular of Govt of India dated 05 NOV 2020.

The Sample must not be given to Laboratory before 72 hours of International flight departure local time. If you have a flight Departing EWR 11:45AM 03 Feb 2021 directly coming to India, Please give sample after 11:45 AM EWR time 31 Jan 2021. 72 hours limit is maximum, if your laboratory assures you to give report on same day or next day, please give sample late, this will ensure to cover any delay in flight departure from Origin. We strongly recommend that you give sample within 60 hours timeframe before your flight departure if possible. Health authorities are not concerned with flight delays or disruptions. If you live in a city other than your Departure Airport and both are in different time zone consider that difference also. In our Example above if you live in DFW and your fight is from EWR. DFW and EWR have 1 hour difference so give sample in DFW after 12:45 PM 31 Jan 2021.

The test report must have time and date sample was collected.

It is our observation that some Passengers give Sample little early 3 to 4 hours (more than 72 hours) in fear that they will not get report in time. And Think that Indian Authorities will allow small 3 to 4 hours margin. But it is of no use as 72 hours limit is rigid as per WHO. It is also OK if you give test before start of travel and you get it later in email before reaching India. (Some Airports require Print and but that is better than giving early sample and can be managed at Indian Airport) 

Also Departure time is considered flight departure time of International Flight from your country. For Example: If you have United Airways Domestic Flight form Bakersfield BFL California USA to San Francisco SFO, at 6:30 AM 03OCT to drop you at SFO at 07:40 AM and onward United Airways International Flight from SFO to Delhi DEL departing at 7:45 PM 03OCT, then you must give sample after 7:45 PM 30SEP SFO Local Time.  

Uploading Negative Test Report or filling Exemption form (More detail of filling forms below) is not compulsory. You may fill Exemption form online but we do not recommend to fill Exemption form and upload test report. Most important thing is that you must come with Original test report or Print clearly mentioning date and time of sample collection. If you are not able to get print you can also show email (That you have received after you started your travel while you are in flight) In this case also bring all evidence related to test, like receipt of payment, receipt of appointment booked etc. If question is raised about the authenticity of report received in Email you can defend by presenting additional evidences.

It is ideal if you come with Negative RT PCR test report print and can show to health counter when you arrive at Indian Airport to save time.

"Arogya Setu" Application in your mobile phone is Compulsory, when you start travel to India.

Filling Self Reporting Online Form (Filling Self Reporting form is not a Compulsory Requirement as per Official Circular below, but most of the Airlines Insist that you fill SRF online)

Form Filling Link (There are Two Forms Self Reporting form and Exemption Form.)(New Delhi Airport Air Suvidha Page link is Common website even if you are coming to Mumbai or any other airport of India)

https://www.newdelhiairport.in/airsuvidha/allairports

Common Questions and Answer Link

https://www.newdelhiairport.in/covid19

Fill Self Reporting Form on above link. No need to fill exemption form. This Self Reporting Form (SRF form) should ideally be filled 72 hours before flight, but it is not necessary and you can fill anytime before before start of travel from Abroad. Air India Gives Printed Form (To those passengers who have not filled online) in Flight or at Airport and you have to fill Two Copies if you did not fill online. We have also enclosed Manual form below in download section.

The Online SRF form will require a copy of your passport to upload, keep JPG or PDF copy of First Page of Passport Ready. Other Details are Airline PNR number, Flight No, Seat No (Take Seat on airline website or ask your travel agent), Indian Address of Final Destination, Mobile Number, Email etc. If Family is travelling together add them in one form. Once you fill all details and press submit, a reference number will be shown, please note down this number. PDF file of the form filled by you will be sent to your Email ID given in form. Please print a Hard Copy and carry when you come to India. Hard copy is not compulsory but strongly recommended by us. Also have Softcopy in your Mobile.

Good News. Delhi Airport has now a Covid 19 Laboratory, to test you for Covid 19 on arrival. Many other Airports will also have this facility.

Ideally please come with a Report as explained above. But if that is not possible somehow, please buy a ticket with a layover of 10 to 12 hours at Delhi between your International flight arrival time and onward domestic flight. This facility is available only to those coming to India at Delhi and taking onward Domestic Flight. Please refer link for further information and pre-book, presently they charge INR5000 with lounge facility. Mumbai now has this facility. There is no such Facility at Ahmedabad yet.

https://www.newdelhiairport.in/covid19-rtpcr-test-appointment-booking

Who is eligible for Home Quarantine without Test Report?

>Other categories who can go to home without such reports are, Pregnant Women, Those coming due to death of immediate family member (Grandfather/Grandmother/Father/Mother/Brother/Sister/Husband/Wife/Son/Daughter), Passengers with serious medical condition, Parents when coming with a child below 10 years.

> If you are claiming to go to home under these other categories then filling Exemption form is compulsory 72 hours before unless you had to buy ticket immediately and had travel due to emergency reasons and you had no time.

What if I need to go back to my home country before 14 days?

Those who are under quarantine can travel back before quarantine period of 14 days is over on the basis of a fresh Negative RT-PCR test report taken in India within 72 hours of flight time.

Those having high temperature because of other reasons.

Body Temperature is measured at all airports all over the world, and if it is above prescribed limit you will not be allowed boarding. If you have temperature due to other reasons, say other non-covid fever, please take a medical certificate to such reason. You will be allowed to travel. You may be cross checked or seen by health authorities at airport.