Guide on New travel rules for travelling into and out of India (Air bubbles)

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic that continues to grip the globe, there have been consistent modifications made on air travel rules. Not just airline guidelines but even airport rules have been seeing a constant change, owing to the warped state of the virus. Scheduled international flights have been suspended in India for ten months now, but thanks to the air bubbles formed with various countries, international travel is still possible. Of course, passengers are allowed to travel under specific restrictions and visa categories. If you do plan to understand the new air travel rules better, this article will be of great help to you. It has a detailed understanding of the current flying rules, including new airline rules and new airport rules undertaken in India to ensure maximum safety.

Are you allowed to travel into or out of India?

Following an eight-month-long suspension of visas due to the coronavirus outbreak, the government has decided to restore all existing visas with immediate effect. These do not include the electronic, medical and tourist categories though. A statement released by the Ministry of Home Affairs has announced to permit all Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) and Person of Indian Origin (PIO) cardholders to visit the country for any purpose. The individuals cannot use a tourist visa for the same, though. Graded relaxation in visa has also been initiated by the government as well as travel restrictions for a few more categories of foreign nationals and Indian nationals who plan to enter or leave the country. Under the graded relaxation category, the government has planned to restore all existing visas with immediate effect. However, these would not include tourist visa, medical visa and electronic visa. Following the expiration of such visas, fresh visas of appropriate categories can also be procured from the Indian mission.

Foreign nationals who wish to enter the country for medical treatment would be requested to apply for fresh medical visas, including for the medical attendants. The decision to offer a medical visa to the foreign nationals could give them the chance to change their purpose of visit. It could be to visit business conferences, research, education, employment, medical purposes and more. These new air travel rules mainly cater to visa holders. Airline guidelines are not part of the statement released by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Things you need to travel internationally from India

The Union Health Ministry has released a set of new flying guidelines that all international travellers will have to follow. The new flying rules include protocols regarding quarantine and other health and COVID-19 related concerns. The Health Ministry issued a set of travel guidelines for international arrivals requesting a self-declaration from the traveller on the website of the airport, at least 72 hours before the scheduled flight. The undertaking basically affirms that the international traveller would be following the necessary 14 days of quarantine. The travellers have also been asked to monitor their health during their isolation period consistently.

List of countries with India's air bubble ties

As part of the air bilateral agreements, India has managed to secure air bubble ties with about 18 countries so far. These countries include the US, the UK, Bhutan, Ukraine, Japan, Qatar, Germany, Kenya, Nigeria, the UAE, Iraq, Canada, Oman, France, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Bahrain and Maldives

Understanding the concept of air bubbles

An air bubble is a bilateral agreement between two countries that allows operation of international flights but within the set of regulations and restrictions. Even though there are a few restrictions that have been mandated by the agreement, the airlines are allowed to operate international flights to and fro from these countries. Aside from the regulations and restrictions that have been mentioned in the air bubble, international airlines have their set of guidelines for travellers to follow during the pandemic.

New airport rules that have been undertaken

There are new airport rules that have been initiated by countries to ensure maximum safety for the population. Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport has started taking up COVID-19 tests for international departures. You can get your COVID tests done at the airport ahead of your international trip. As part of their new airport rule, passengers departing and arriving can take up their COVID tests at the airport itself to be certain that they are not carriers of the novel virus. Although earlier, the COVID-19 testing facility at the Delhi Airport was only available for arrival passengers, the same has changed. They have extended their facility to accommodate passengers departing too. As one of the new travel rules is to carry a COVID test to prove that the individual is not carrying the virus, the presence of the testing facility at the airport is a blessing to many who are travelling with time constraints.

Other important airport rules and health protocols that have been undertaken include individuals to conduct all their transactions online. The idea is to avoid any contact at the airport and keep contact as minimal as possible. Hence, the best way to work around the same is to follow the general Covid safety rules and regulations including maintaining social distancing, avoid touching anything in the vicinity, carrying and utilising hand sanitisers, wearing a mask and more. These rules also apply for when onboard. Airline rules to ensure safety and hygiene have mandated the use of a mask.

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