Centre revises travel guidelines for all international travellers; quarantine period, new protocols for air, sea travellers- all you need to know

The Government has released revised guidelines for international travellers in India. The guideline makes it mandatory for travellers to submit a self-declaration form and pre-book a Covid-19 test online. The new guidelines have been issued in response to the rising number of Covid cases and the Omicron threat. The guidelines come into effect from January 11 and will be applicable until further notice.

The Guidelines before and during travel

• According to the guidelines, travellers arriving in India from specific countries at risk must undergo home quarantine for seven days and undergo an RT-PCR test on their eighth day. 
• They must submit samples for post-arrival Covid-19 tests (self-paid) at the point of arrival. 
• Before leaving or taking a connecting flight, the travellers will need to wait for the results of their tests at the airport of arrival. The RT-PCR test will be repeated on the eighth day of arrival in India if the results are negative.
• Airlines to allow boarding by only those passengers who have filled in all the information in the self-declaration form on the Air Suvidha portal and uploaded the negative RT-PCR test report.
• At the time of boarding the flight, only asymptomatic travellers will be allowed to board after the thermal screening.
• All passengers shall be advised to download the Aarogya Setu app on their mobile devices.
• Passengers must submit a declaration with respect to the authenticity of the report and will be held criminally liable if found to be false.

The follow-up guidelines 

• A repeat RT-PCR test should also be uploaded on the Air Suvidha portal on the 8th day for Covid-19. By visiting https://www.newdelhiairport.in/airsuvidha/apho-registration
• The individual will further monitor their health over the next seven days if the results are negative. 
• Nevertheless, if such travellers are tested positive, their samples should be sent to the INSACOG (Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium)  laboratory network for genomic testing.

People coming from non-risk countries

• Travellers from countries that are not on the list of risk countries will also undergo home quarantine for seven days and an RT-PCR test on the eighth day after arrival. 
• RT-PCR results will have to be uploaded to the Air Suvidha portal, and if found negative, they will continue self-monitoring their health for the next seven days.
• Prior to travel, travellers should submit complete and factual information in a self-declaration form.
• As per the new guidelines, they will be quarantined if they test negative and subject to strict isolation protocols if they test positive.rm on the online Air Suvidha platform, including travel details from the last 14 days. RT-PCR data for Covid-19 must be negative. 
• Tests should be taken within 72 hours prior to travelling.

Passengers arriving from or travelling to at-risk countries should be informed prior to their arrival that they will undergo post-arrival testing. 

They will be quarantined if tested negative and will be subjected to stringent isolation protocols if tested positive, as per the new guidelines.

International travellers arriving at seaports/land ports

• International passengers via seaports/land ports will also need to register in the same manner as those above, but there is no facility for online registration for such passengers.
• Travellers shall present the self-declaration form to the Indian government authorities upon arrival at seaports or land ports.
• Pre-arrival and post-arrival testing is not required for children under 5 years of age unless found symptomatic. In that case, they will have to follow a revised protocol.
• Passengers seated in the same row, three rows in front, and three rows behind the suspect, as well as members of the cabin crew, will be considered as suspected contacts.