International air travel guidelines: Who all can fly abroad, and where to? Check quarantine rules in Delhi, Covid test guidelines, cost at IGI Airport, Majority people want suspension of flights from countries with new virus strain: Survey, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Share Price, This website follows the DNPA’s code of conduct. India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation has collated guidelines for air travel arrangements with 10 countries – Afghanistan, Bahrain, Canada, France, Germany, Maldives, Qatar, the UAE, UK, and USA on its website – https://www.civilaviation.gov.in/en/about-air-transport-bubbles. Phase 6 of the Vande Bharat Mission will begin September 1 and is currently scheduled till October 24 as per the civil aviation ministry. It must be known that while the home ministry’s health protocols apply, India’s respective state governments can develop their own protocol with regards to quarantine and isolation as per their assessment after arrival of passengers. It depends on the availability of a vaccine as countries will feel more confident once a vaccine is there. All travelers flying to India need to submit a self-declaration form on the online portal –. Home quarantine for the full 14 days is permitted only for compelling reasons, such as pregnancy, death in family, serious illness, and parent(s) with children of the age of 10 years or below. India and UK air carriers will each operate 15 flights per week, that is, a total of 30 weekly flights to and from four metro cities: Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Mumbai. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has released new guidelines for international passengers coming to India will come into effect from August 8. On Friday, January 1, India’s civil aviation ministry confirmed that flights between India and the UK would resume from January 8, 2021. Air travel bubbles have also been proposed with India’s neighboring countries: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal, and Bhutan. and address in India) (as annexed) to Health Officials and Immigration officials and undergo Universal Health Screening at the designated health counters at all Points of Entry. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! through air bubbles or as part of Vande Bharat Mission only. Maharashtra is implementing a ‘seven-hour night curfew’ from 11pm to 6am starting from December 22, 2020 until January 5, 2021. Now international flyers on air bubble routes will be able to take connecting flights to reach other countries. Passengers flying from India to France, Netherlands, Germany, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai can now take further connecting flights to reach South America and Africa. The reasons for travel allowed to India include repatriation, healthcare, business, manufacturing, expertise in engineering/managerial/design and some other areas, subject to specific conditions being satisfied. Travelers may seek exemption from institutional quarantine by submitting a negative RT-PCR test report on arrival. Answering a question on whether the air travel bubble arrangements would continue till March-April, on October 8, India’s union civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri said, “It is difficult to say as there is no country which has completely opened its borders for all. International Air Travel: Check Guidelines Before Flying To Top Destinations Including US, UK, Canada & Others International Flights : The Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued fresh guidelines and eligibility criteria for those travelling to and from India to US, UK, Canada, other countries. More information below. The civil aviation ministry has already drawn up a list of aircrafts that will be flying domestically from Monday. Indian passengers to Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania can further travel to any country in Africa. The government said that the Indian seafarers and crew who are looking to accept contracts in order to serve on vessels abroad, are allowed to travel on the non-scheduled commercial flights after a clearance is given by the Ministry of Shipping. The entry into China with visas issued after November 3rd, 2020 is not affected. It is to note that for both inbound and outbound international travel, priority will be given to those having compelling cases including short term visa holders having a near expiry date, laid off workers, people with medical emergencies, pregnant women and elderly, students and those who have to travel because of a death in family. Flights between the two countries will resume from October 28, 2020 under this, India now has an air travel bubble arrangement with Ukraine. 9. The suspension does not affect the operation of international all-cargo operations. businesses establish, maintain, Foreigners (including diplomats), who are eligible to enter India as per Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines dated 30.06.2020 as amended from time to time. This travel arrangement allows passengers of Indian and non-Indian nationalities to embark on both legs of their India flights. The firm assists foreign investors throughout Asia from offices across the world, including in Delhi and Mumbai. According to a statement by the Embassy if India in Kathmandu on December 10, Air India and Nepal Airlines will operate daily flights between the two countries. Passengers on air travel bubble routes will, India’s Vande Bharat Mission (VBM), which began May 6 to repatriate stranded Indians abroad due to the coronavirus pandemic is in its, The air travel bubble agreement reached between India and the Maldives, On August 18, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced, “Foreign nationals holding Journalist (J-1) visa and their dependents holding J-1X visa [are] permitted to enter India. According to a statement by the Indian Director-General of Civil Aviation, Hardeep Singh Puri, “an air bubble is a travel corridor between two countries that will fly their aircraft in a regulated environment.”. Passengers eligible to fly include: Indian nationals stranded in Bahrain. Categories for travel eligibility will be posted by the MCA on a time-time basis and the list of those eligible to travel will be posted on the ministry website. Thus, before issuing the tickets or boarding pass, airlines must ensure that there is no travel restriction in place affecting Indian nationals with a particular visa category to enter Japan. It has been agreed that Lufthansa will operate 10 weekly flights in India and Air India will operate 7 in Germany; Air India notified that its schedule will resume October 26, 2020 – which will continue till March 28, 2021. India is planning to operate two Vande Bharat flights, India-Germany travel has been impacted. 2. MHA issues new guidelines for international arrivals . Some of the guidelines released by the central government, which will be applicable from August 8, are stated below: The new guidelines for international passengers coming into India do not relate to India’s own international flight operations, which will stay suspended till August 31, 2020. All Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders holding Canadian passports. All existing Visas granted to Foreigners except to those belonging to Diplomatic, Official, UN/International organizations, Employment and Project categories shall remain suspended till prohibition on international travel of passengers from/to India is lifted by the Government of India. Financial Express is now on Telegram. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. While on board the flight, required precautions, such as wearing of masks, environmental hygiene, respiratory hygiene, hand hygiene etc. Required fields are marked *. The Indian government has now permitted UK carriers to operate flights between the two countries. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued guidelines for the second phase of lifting the coronavirus-induced lockdown, termed 'Unlock 2'. These activities are international air travel of passengers, as permitted by MHA, cinema halls and theatres, with up to 50% capacity, swimming pools, only for the training of sportspersons and exhibition halls, only for business to business purposes. Below we highlight the latest guidelines for international travel to and from India. SOP for international non-scheduled commercial flights/ships (inbound), SOP for international non-scheduled commercial flights/ships (outbound). India and Germany are still in talks to resume their currently suspended air bubble agreement, which was triggered when Lufthansa carried sixth freedom passengers (passengers flying from one country to another, to board a connecting flight to a third country; many Indians use international carriers like Lufthansa or Emirates to travel to the US or Canada). In a major breakthrough for the country’s medical tourism industry, the home ministry said that in case a foreign national intended to visit India for medical treatment, they will need to apply for a fresh visa under this category, and if approved, the person seeking medical treatment could choose one attendant to get a visa. For example, while non-essential travel is being gradually allowed to the European Union, India does not feature in the list of recommended countries from where travel is permitted. Your email address will not be published. They may, however, be subject to border measures and travel restrictions imposed by the Japanese government at the time of travel. Issuing guidelines for the fifth phase of the lockdown, the Centre on Saturday extended the lockdown in containment zones till June 30 and released the roadmap for the reopening of prohibited activities in a phased manner in areas outside containment zones. This is because despite multiple lockdowns and a gradual economic reopening (Unlock phase 3), India’s COVID-19 cases continue to surge. Details are now awaited on these proposed travel arrangements. Travel is open for UAE nationals, residents and others seeking visa on arrival. These flights will operate under the Vande Bharat scheme and air transport bubble arrangement that the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MCA) has entered in. They will have to provide all the necessary information as directed by the government. India does not allow this under its air bubble agreement terms. Readers may write to india@dezshira.com for business support in India. India is considering asking its air travelers to get a COVID-19 test done before flying out of the country after Hong Kong banned Air India flights till August 31 as 11 people tested positive for coronavirus on arrival from Delhi. India has now formalized air bubble arrangements with a total of 22 countries, having recently signed agreements with Ethiopia, Tanzania, Netherlands, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Oman in addition to earlier agreements done with countries like USA, Canada, Japan, France, and Germany, among others. are to be observed by airline staff, crew, and all passengers. iii. Thermal screening will be carried out on all the passengers by the health officials present at the port of entry. If they have J1 or J-1X visas, which are suspended, such visas stand restored with immediate effect. Your email address will not be published. Hong Kong has barred Air India from operating flights till the end of August after some passengers arrived testing positive for COVID-19. These include Australia, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Nigeria, Bahrain, Israel, Kenya, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand. Foreigners (including diplomats) holding valid visa issued by an Indian Mission in any category covered under Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines dated 30.06.2020 as amended from time to time. India Briefing is produced by Dezan Shira & Associates. Unlock 4.0: International air travel of passengers, except as permitted by MHA, not allowed till Sep 30 The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Saturday issued new guidelines … Commercial international flights have been suspended in India since March 25 this year due to the coronavirus outbreak. The latest updated information can be found at the MEA website here: https://mea.gov.in/phase-7.htm. The test report must be uploaded on the portal for consideration. The civil aviation minister HS Puri said on Tuesday that India is negotiating with 13 more countries to establish air bubbles / exclusive bilateral travel arrangements. International travel from India: In a recent notification, the Ministry of Home Affairs has issued Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) followed for international travel on non-scheduled commercial flights. The SOP is a part of guidelines laid down by the home ministry in order to contain the spread of COVID-19 infection. See the government, India’s new standard operating procedures (SOP) for international travelers was announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Saturday, August 22: Persons traveling to India on VBM flights must register themselves with the Indian embassy/consulate in the country they are based. 2021The Indian Express [P] Ltd. All Rights Reserved. On October 21, India’s civil aviation ministry announced a resolution had been reached in the stalemate with Germany. MHA Order dt 28.12.2020 regarding extension of Guidelines for Surveillance, Containment and Caution upto 31.01.2021. The country is negotiating the same with 13 more countries. 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