The government of India has released new guidelines for all international travelers coming from or after transit through flights starting from United Kingdom, Europe, and the Middle East. The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) along with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has formulated the new regulations that are in addition to the protocols issued on August 2020. Information was tweeted by the Ministry on Wednesday evening.

TThrough these regulations travelers arriving from the UK, Brazil, and South Africa would be segregated in view of new Covid-19 strains in these nations.

The regulations will come into effect starting February 23. Under these new regulations, airlines would be required to identify all travelers that are either coming from or transiting through South Africa, Brazil, and United Kingdom in past 14 days. Also, segregation must be done in-flight or while landing to help authorities follow set protocol for these travelers.

These travelers will be required to be subjected to self-paid confirmatory molecular tests when they arrive at the Indian airports. SOPs (standard operation procedures) state “Entry made in the self-declaration form (SDF) regarding telephone number and address would be reconfirmed.”

“Adequate arrangements for passengers waiting for their confirmatory molecular test as well as test results duly following effective isolation may also be made at the airports in conjunction with the airport authorities,” it said.

hCurrently, all regular commercial international flight operations are suspended. International flights with air bubble agreements are permitted to operate between UAE and India. India has bilateral agreements with around 24 countries including the UK but excluding Brazil and South Africa.

eAll international travelers coming in transiting from flights starting from United Kingdom, Europe, and the Middle East are required to submit SDF for Covid-19 on the online Air Suvidha portal (www.newdelhiairport.in) before the flight and must declare their travel history of last 14 days.

All travelers from the Middle East must carry a negative RT-PCR Test report conducted within 72 hours prior to flight. It is also to be uploaded on the online portal (www.newdelhiairport.in).

International travelers up for a short stay of less than 14 days to India with negative test and are symptom-free, must have all the pre and post-departure procedures as and shall be permitted to leave India, after they fulfill the requirement of the airlines and destination country.