COVID19: Testing (and vaccination) Requirements to enter India
Mar 31, 2021, 10:41 pm
#76
Join Date: Mar 2021
Programs: QA Gold, Oneworld Sapphire
Posts: 18
IAD-DOH-GOI. I did my test at CVS (2-5 days turnaround) earlier, so thanks for the suggestion, I also did a backup at Curative(1-2 days) just in case. They have RT-PCR as well, I confirmed at my testing, so I'm relieved about that as it wasn't on their website. I think I should have at least one of these results by Fri evening 
Thanks for your replies!
Thanks for your replies!
Apr 3, 2021, 5:53 am
#77
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,682
IAD-DOH-GOI. I did my test at CVS (2-5 days turnaround) earlier, so thanks for the suggestion, I also did a backup at Curative(1-2 days) just in case. They have RT-PCR as well, I confirmed at my testing, so I'm relieved about that as it wasn't on their website. I think I should have at least one of these results by Fri evening Thanks for your replies!
Thanks for your replies!i have a feeling its the ai staff that make a big deal about the words 'rt-pcr'....none of the other airlines cared about this....or atleast dl, af & kl didn't care about this....i have another friend who was traveling on ua & she also got the same test result that said 'pcr' only from the same place i got my result from....even she didn't have a problem with ua....
Apr 7, 2021, 8:34 am
#78
Join Date: Mar 2021
Programs: QA Gold, Oneworld Sapphire
Posts: 18
Thanks for replying, Keyser. After all my research, I ended up showing an RT-PCR test from Curative in Houston. I got a backup from CVS too just in case. Yes, you're right that the AI officials make a big deal about it from what I've heard, and it seems like QA does not at all (or other airlines, from your experience). So it seems like it just depends on the airlines you take. Anyway, hope these posts help others also flying to India.
Apr 7, 2021, 10:10 pm
#80
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 1
Anyone here traveled to Bangalore (BLR) from North America or Europe via Delhi or Mumbai can share approximately how much time it took for you to get out of the airport once your domestic flight landed? I'm trying to understand, now with the COVID-19 test requirements, which I believe also applies to the domestic leg of the journey (DEL - BLR or BOM - BLR) how much additional time I should account for baggage claim, temperature check, test report validation etc.
Apr 10, 2021, 4:56 pm
#81
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: EWR
Posts: 894
Just a few points about the nomenclature:
PCR = polymerase chain reaction
RT-PCR = reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction or Real-Time PCR (both are used interchangeably). But in the context of covid testing, probably reverse transcriptase
NAAT = This is an umbrella term that covers PCR, RT-PCR and other techniques like Loop Mediated Amplification (LAMP) and Strand Displacement Amplification (SDA)
On arrival my labcorp result was listed as a NAAT, and didn't have RT-PCR on it anywhere. But luckily the fellow who was reviewing the results didn't seem to care. But knowing the bureacracy of the babus in the Indian Govt, to be on the safe side, try to go to a place that offers RT-PCR.
PCR = polymerase chain reaction
RT-PCR = reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction or Real-Time PCR (both are used interchangeably). But in the context of covid testing, probably reverse transcriptase
NAAT = This is an umbrella term that covers PCR, RT-PCR and other techniques like Loop Mediated Amplification (LAMP) and Strand Displacement Amplification (SDA)
On arrival my labcorp result was listed as a NAAT, and didn't have RT-PCR on it anywhere. But luckily the fellow who was reviewing the results didn't seem to care. But knowing the bureacracy of the babus in the Indian Govt, to be on the safe side, try to go to a place that offers RT-PCR.
Jul 28, 2021, 10:40 pm
#82
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 79
Aug 5, 2021, 11:53 am
#87
Join Date: Aug 2021
Posts: 39
I'm flying with Lufthansa to Delhi from Frankfurt and then transiting onwards to Chennai. On the LH webpage there seems to be different rules depending on if you fly to Bangalore, Delhi or Mumbai as your first port of entry into India. If you fly to Mumbai you have to quarantine for 7 days. If you fly to Bangalore it says you have to take a PCR test upon arrival. You also have to take a PCR test on arrival in Delhi if your final destination is Delhi. But on point 9 on the info it just says that on internation to domestic transfer I have to present a a negative PCR test report conducted within 72 hours (in case of direct journey from Frankfurt). I have a 5 hour layover and as I understand it I will not be subjected to an arrival test. I have 5 hours between my flights. Has someone done this international / domestic transfer in Delhi recently who can share their experience?
Aug 5, 2021, 12:21 pm
#88
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 118
I was not asked to do an additional test at Delhi when I arrived last month. In fact, nobody checked my air suvidha form or negative RT-PCR test result at all in Delhi. All they did was stamp everyone's boarding pass as they exited the plane. It did not matter if you were trying to make a domestic connection or if your final destination was Delhi.
Note, your domestic destination may have a separate test requirement (Eg Karnataka/Bangalore or Goa).
Note, your domestic destination may have a separate test requirement (Eg Karnataka/Bangalore or Goa).
Aug 5, 2021, 12:53 pm
#89
Join Date: Aug 2021
Posts: 39
I was not asked to do an additional test at Delhi when I arrived last month. In fact, nobody checked my air suvidha form or negative RT-PCR test result at all in Delhi. All they did was stamp everyone's boarding pass as they exited the plane. It did not matter if you were trying to make a domestic connection or if your final destination was Delhi.
Note, your domestic destination may have a separate test requirement (Eg Karnataka/Bangalore or Goa).
Note, your domestic destination may have a separate test requirement (Eg Karnataka/Bangalore or Goa).
Yes I saw that different states have different testing requirements, but even if my other destination is in another place in India my PCR test which I took prior to embarking on my journey shall be valid for my any domestic transfer, I mean, the PCR test is the best there is. Or are you referring to some other test?
Aug 10, 2021, 10:49 pm
#90
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 79
Exemption form does not show options for RT-PCR
Would like to offer my experience. Uploaded the Covid test result on the Air Suvidha site few hours before departure. Got exemption approval within 10 minutes. At Mumbai (BOM) airport, told the first checkpoint that I have the exemption form and they waved me through (without looking at anything) but gave me another form to fill (pretty much repeating the same information I already uploaded on the Air Suvidha site). After clearing immigration and customs, went into a hallway where checkpoints were created and divided according to destination. I went to the line marked "South States" and the lady at the counter asked me for the form I filled out. I doubt she could read anything I wrote in my bad handwriting, but she noted that I had not signed it. So she asked me to sign it and then sent me on my merry way.
So basically no one checks for any Covid Test results or anything.
So basically no one checks for any Covid Test results or anything.