In light of the public health emergency declared for novel coronavirus, we are sharing our inputs on its impact on various aspects of mobility to India.
COVID-19: Impact on Expats living and travelling to India
Destination Services:
Immigration Services:
Airport measures in India: All incoming travellers, including Indian nationals arriving from any destinations with travel history to China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain, and Germany on or after February 15, 2020 will be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days. This will be in effect starting 12:00 GMT on March 13, 2020 at all ports of entry.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation, India, announced multiple preventive measures against the Wuhan corona virus initially at 11 airports including Chennai, Vishakhapatnam, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad, Cochin, Delhi, Mumbai, Amritsar, Kochi, and Kolkata. Starting March 4, Indian airports have been adopting universal screening of all passengers.
Thermal (fever) screening, along with in-flight completion of a self-declaration form (including personal particulars, i.e., phone number and address in India) and travel history is now being implemented upon arrival in India for all international passengers at airports and seaports.
Arriving passengers that travelled to Chinese cities such as Wuhan in the preceding 14 days and having symptoms of the viral infection are being asked to provide a self-declaration, while international passengers from China and Hong Kong are being screened at the pre-immigration areas of the airports. Some domestic travellers have also been required to complete the form for flights within India.
The form is in addition to the immigration forms previously required. Not all airlines or airports have stock of the forms on hand. Thermal cameras have been installed and airport signage being displayed at all the airports.
To assist you with travel preparations, a copy of the form is attached to this notice and it is linked here. (http://tourism.gov.in/sites/default/files/Novel%20Cornavirus%20-%20Self%20Reporting%20Form%20for%20%20Travelers%20arriving%20from%202019-nCov%20affected%20countries.pdf)
Passengers who are symptomatic or screened positive for fever by the automated fever scanners will be taken to designated isolation facilities for further evaluation and testing for the virus that causes COVID-19. If the laboratory test is confirmed positive for the virus, they will be held at the isolation facility for further management.
If two consecutive laboratory tests of samples collected 24-48 hours apart are negative, they will be discharged after the symptoms resolve. They will be provided COVID-19 information material encouraging them to self-report if symptoms recur in next 28 days.
Visa-waiver travel granted to incoming OCI card holders is also suspended until April 15, 2020. This will be effective starting 12:00 GMT on March 13, 2020 at all ports of entry.
Visas of all foreigners already in India remain valid. You may contact the nearest FRRO/FRO through the e-FRRO module for an extension or conversion of your visa, if needed.
Any foreign nationals who intend to travel to India for compelling reasons may contact the nearest Indian Mission for a new visa.
International traffic through land borders will be restricted to designated Immigration Check posts with robust medical screening facilities. These will be notified separately by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
For more information about coronavirus-related entry and exit requirements, please follow: https://boi.gov.in/content/coronavirus-related-visa-restrictions-and-conditions-entry-india
Government Helpline Information:
The Helpline Number for corona-virus: +91-11-23978046
The Helpline Email ID for corona-virus: ncov2019@gmail.com