The UAE has laid out a set of rigid rules for passengers traveling to India as well as those arriving in India, transitting through the UAE. India’s health and aviation authorities has a set of new guidelines that would need to be followed.
India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), issued detailed guidelines for international arrivals, on February 17. The new set of rules includes procedures for those coming from the United Kingdom, Europe and Middle East, along with general guidelines for all other arrivals. The guidelines will come into effect from February 23.
So, if you are travelling from or transiting through the UAE, these are the steps you need to follow.
1. Fill in the Air Suvidha self-declaration form (SDF)
All passengers must fill in the self-declaration form prior to departure. The form will need you to provide information on your travel, based on which passengers will receive the receipt of SDF (dispatched online to the transiting travellers) will display ‘T’, for transit.
Passengers from UK, Brazil and South Africa, who have to take connecting flights, will need transit time of a minimum six to eight hours at the entry airport in India. So make sure you have this in mind while booking the tickets for connecting flights.
Passengers arriving from United Kingdom, Europe and Middle East are required to carry a negative RT-PCR test (Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) report for which the test should have been conducted within 72 hours prior to starting the journey. The same also needs to be uploaded on the online portal (www.newdelhiairport.in). Passengers who fail two fill in the Air Suvidha form or submit a negative covid report will not be allowed to board.
International travellers arriving from/transiting through United Kingdom, Brazil and South Africa during the past 14 days will be seggrated in-flight or while disembarking to facilitate the authorities to follow the due protocol in respect of these travellers.
2. On Arrival
All the travellers arriving from or transiting through flights originating in United Kingdom, Europe or Middle East must undergo a repeat covid test on arrival at the Indian airports concerned.
Non-transiting passengers, travelling from Brazil, South Africa and UK must give a test sample at designated area and exit. If your test result is negative, you must home quarantine for seven days, after which you will need to take a re-test. If your second test result is positive, you would be required to go into separate isolation and treatment. Those who test positive must isolate and follow treatment.
All non-transiting passengers travelling from other countries who test negative must self-monitor your health for 14 days. Those who test positive must isolate and take rreatment as per health protocol.
Who Is Exempted From The New Guidelines?
• Those travelling to India in the case of death in the family.
• Travellers must apply online using the Air Suvidha portal (www.newdelhiairport.in) for exemption prior to their arrival and should have received an approval granting exemption. They can then need to give samples at the designated area of the arrival airport and proceed home.
If test result (either from the initial test at the airport or from a later test done due to symptoms developing) is negative, you must self-monitor health for seven days. In case of a positive result, travellers must undergo treatment as per health protocol.
It is important to note that the guidelines from MOHFW are applied across India. However, each state may issue specific guidelines related to quarantine and testing. It is important to also check those guidelines, depending on your travel itinerary.