COVID19: Testing (and vaccination) Requirements to enter India
Jul 3, 2023, 3:02 pm
#946
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: BOM-SIN-EWR
Programs: UA*G (1K again), Sixt Plat, *was*: SQ QPP01 & SK EBS/EBG, LH SEN, AA EXP, 9wPlat
Posts: 8,606
I have been coming in regularly into BOM and have not been tested, nor have seen anyone pulled aside - they seem very disinterested. (Of course, this will probably jinx me for my next entry!
)
Jul 3, 2023, 3:03 pm
#947
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: BRE
Programs: Flying Blue Ultimate, LATAM Black, Vistara Gold, Accor/IHG Platinum, Marriott/Hilton Gold
Posts: 481
Jul 7, 2023, 7:35 pm
#948
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
There's a distinct disconnect between official communications and reality on the ground.
With a handful of domestic flights scheduled, I was dragged down the rabbit hole of Indigo's online advice to passengers. For my flight between Mumbai and Chennai, it said I required an E-certificate from the Tamil Nadu government. Alarmed, I called the airline's customer support where the patient agent was obviously consulting a similar piece of nonsense, telling me i should get myself PCR tested within 24H of the departure.
Of course no-one was remotely interested my state of health at either BOM check-in or MAA arrivals.
friends suggest that official restrictions and advice have not been rescinded, and the airline is covering its arse. I'm far less generous and blame incompetence.
Jul 8, 2023, 8:48 am
#949
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
Jul 8, 2023, 8:51 am
#950
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: EY
Posts: 852
There's a distinct disconnect between official communications and reality on the ground.
With a handful of domestic flights scheduled, I was dragged down the rabbit hole of Indigo's online advice to passengers. For my flight between Mumbai and Chennai, it said I required an E-certificate from the Tamil Nadu government. Alarmed, I called the airline's customer support where the patient agent was obviously consulting a similar piece of nonsense, telling me i should get myself PCR tested within 24H of the departure.
Of course no-one was remotely interested my state of health at either BOM check-in or MAA arrivals.
friends suggest that official restrictions and advice have not been rescinded, and the airline is covering its arse. I'm far less generous and blame incompetence.
With a handful of domestic flights scheduled, I was dragged down the rabbit hole of Indigo's online advice to passengers. For my flight between Mumbai and Chennai, it said I required an E-certificate from the Tamil Nadu government. Alarmed, I called the airline's customer support where the patient agent was obviously consulting a similar piece of nonsense, telling me i should get myself PCR tested within 24H of the departure.
Of course no-one was remotely interested my state of health at either BOM check-in or MAA arrivals.
friends suggest that official restrictions and advice have not been rescinded, and the airline is covering its arse. I'm far less generous and blame incompetence.
Jul 8, 2023, 11:54 am
#951
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
Rules and Ordinances are not immediately repealed as they may come in handy some day. Prime example is the Bombay Prohibition Act of 1949 that requires you to be older than 25 and have a permit to consume or posses alcohol in MH. Not enforced, but still in place. There used to be MH State office counter in BOM where you could get your permit while you waited for your luggage. 
Jul 14, 2023, 7:02 pm
#952
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Delta
Posts: 271
Several trips to India since last year and for all the domestic travel within India (6E, UK) I didn't bother with any forms, testing, or other preparations - and nobody once raised any objections or asked for anything covid-related. Traveling BOM-BLR for instance is just like getting on a crowded local bus, absolutely nobody cares about covid any longer, nobody masks, they're practically on top of you, far from any social distancing. Airline employees were definitely NOT asking for any covid forms at all.
No personal experience but haven't heard from my acquaintances of anything different in the states like Tamil Nadu which used to have their own special travel forms for covid.
No personal experience but haven't heard from my acquaintances of anything different in the states like Tamil Nadu which used to have their own special travel forms for covid.
Jul 14, 2023, 8:10 pm
#953
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: SPG, AA, United
Posts: 1,816
My mother-in-law just returned home to BLR a few weeks ago. I'll ask her and report back on anything.
Jul 20, 2023, 5:29 am
#954
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEL
Posts: 1,057
I saw some healthcare staff talking to passengers on the way to immigration when arriving at DEL this week, but I didn't stick around to find out if they were randomly testing people or doing something else.
Jul 20, 2023, 7:45 am
#956
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
Even the 2% sillyness ends tonight:
https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/Guideli...thJuly2023.pdf
Dated the 19th July, 2023
Government of India
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Guidelines for International Arrivals
(in supersession of guidelines issued on the subject on 10th February, 2023)
Introduction
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has issued ‘Guidelines for International Arrivals’ in context of COVID-19 pandemic and updated the same from time to time. The present guidelines are being revised in light of declining trajectory of COVID-19 cases globally.
Scope
This document provides protocols to be complied by international travellers as well as points of entry (airports, seaports and land border) and shall be valid w.e.f. 20th July, 2023 (00.00 Hrs IST) till further orders.
A.1. Planning for Travel
i. All travellers should preferably be fully vaccinated as per the approved primary schedule of vaccination against COVID-19 in their Country.
A.2. During Travel
ii. In-flight announcement about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic including precautionary measures to be followed (preferable use of masks and following physical distancing) shall be made in flights/travel and at all points of entry.
iii. Any passenger having symptoms of COVID-19 during travel shall be isolated as per standard protocol i.e. the said passenger should be wearing mask, isolated and segregated from other passengers in flight/travel and shifted to an isolation facility subsequently for follow up treatment.
A.3. On arrival
iv. De-boarding should be done ensuring physical distancing.
v. Thermal screening should be done in respect of all the passengers by the health officials present at the point of entry.
vi. The passengers found to be symptomatic during screening shall be immediately isolated, taken to a designated medical facility as per health protocol (as above).
vii. All travellers should self-monitor their health post arrival also shall report to their nearest health facility or call National helpline number (1075)/ State Helpline Number in case they have any symptoms suggestive of COVID-19.
Government of India
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Guidelines for International Arrivals
(in supersession of guidelines issued on the subject on 10th February, 2023)
Introduction
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has issued ‘Guidelines for International Arrivals’ in context of COVID-19 pandemic and updated the same from time to time. The present guidelines are being revised in light of declining trajectory of COVID-19 cases globally.
Scope
This document provides protocols to be complied by international travellers as well as points of entry (airports, seaports and land border) and shall be valid w.e.f. 20th July, 2023 (00.00 Hrs IST) till further orders.
A.1. Planning for Travel
i. All travellers should preferably be fully vaccinated as per the approved primary schedule of vaccination against COVID-19 in their Country.
A.2. During Travel
ii. In-flight announcement about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic including precautionary measures to be followed (preferable use of masks and following physical distancing) shall be made in flights/travel and at all points of entry.
iii. Any passenger having symptoms of COVID-19 during travel shall be isolated as per standard protocol i.e. the said passenger should be wearing mask, isolated and segregated from other passengers in flight/travel and shifted to an isolation facility subsequently for follow up treatment.
A.3. On arrival
iv. De-boarding should be done ensuring physical distancing.
v. Thermal screening should be done in respect of all the passengers by the health officials present at the point of entry.
vi. The passengers found to be symptomatic during screening shall be immediately isolated, taken to a designated medical facility as per health protocol (as above).
vii. All travellers should self-monitor their health post arrival also shall report to their nearest health facility or call National helpline number (1075)/ State Helpline Number in case they have any symptoms suggestive of COVID-19.
Sep 19, 2023, 11:45 am
#958
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Philadelphia, USA
Programs: Marriott Platinum, American Platinum, Singapore KrisFlyer
Posts: 138
Air Suvidha / RT PCR
I am arriving in Chennai India on Sunday, September 24th from Tokyo, Japan. Is there a need to get an RT-PCR test and complete the Air Suvidha form? Or has this been decommissioned?
I cannot access the air suvidha portal on the new delhi airport anymore, but Japan is considered a "High risk country" for COVID. I also read that this has been discontinued effective Feb 12 2023.
Can someone please confirm? I need to scramble to get an RT/PCR test if this is needed
I cannot access the air suvidha portal on the new delhi airport anymore, but Japan is considered a "High risk country" for COVID. I also read that this has been discontinued effective Feb 12 2023.
Can someone please confirm? I need to scramble to get an RT/PCR test if this is needed
Last edited by hdoraisamy; Sep 19, 2023 at 1:54 pm
Sep 19, 2023, 6:29 pm
#959
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: BA Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,261