Government of India
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Travel Guidelines for International Arrivals
(replacing guidelines issued on 29th December 2022)
Introduction
The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has released revised guidelines for international arrivals in light of the decreasing number of COVID-19 cases worldwide. These guidelines are intended to address the ongoing pandemic and will be effective from 13th February 2023 (11:00 AM IST) until further notice.
Scope
This document outlines the protocols that international travelers and points of entry (airports, seaports, and land borders) must adhere to.
A.1. Planning for Travel
i. All travelers are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated according to their country’s approved primary COVID-19 vaccination schedule.
A.2. During Travel
ii. Precautionary measures and information about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, such as the use of masks and maintaining physical distance, must be communicated through in-flight announcements and at all points of entry.
iii. Passengers displaying symptoms of COVID-19 during travel must follow standard protocols. They should wear masks, be isolated from other passengers during the journey, and subsequently be transferred to an isolation facility for further treatment.
A.3. On Arrival
iv. Passengers must practice physical distancing while disembarking.
v. Health officials at the point of entry will conduct thermal screening for all passengers.
vi. Passengers with symptoms detected during screening will be promptly isolated and taken to a designated medical facility in accordance with health protocols.
vii. The following post-arrival protocol must be followed:
a) A random sample of 2% of the total passengers* on each flight will undergo testing at the airport upon arrival.
b) The concerned airlines will identify the selected travelers (preferably from different countries). They will submit their samples and may leave the airport thereafter.
c) If any of the selected travelers’ samples test positive, the samples will be sent for genomic testing at the INSACOG laboratory network.
d) Positive cases will be treated and isolated according to the established standard protocol.
viii. All travelers must self-monitor their health after arrival and report to the nearest health facility or call the National Helpline Number (1075)/State Helpline Number if they experience any symptoms.
Children under 12 years of age are exempt from random post-arrival testing. However, if they display COVID-19 symptoms upon arrival or during the self-monitoring period, they will undergo testing and be treated in accordance with the established protocol.