It is necessary to get yourself tested for travel these days, with countries and even Indian states asking for an RT-PCR report frequently to try and prevent people with infections to knowingly or unknowingly travel into their domain. The good news is, with the vaccination drive getting started and some people now being fully vaccinated, this necessity to produce an RT-PCR starts to go away now. All this has already happened, and the central government is trying to get all states on board.

Negative RT-PCR Report Required

1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands: All incoming passengers arriving shall have to mandatorily carry RT-PCR negative test report issued from an ICMR-approved lab, subject to the condition that RT-PCR test should have been taken within 48 hours. RT-PCR timeline starts from the swab collection time. In addition to being in possession of a negative RT-PCR report, all arriving passengers shall mandatorily undergo RT-PCR test upon arrival free of cost.
2. Assam: All passengers arriving at any airport in Assam shall mandatorily undergo a RAT test upon arrival free of cost. If the result of the RAT test is negative, the passenger will have to undergo RT-PCR at the airport itself. The cost of the RT-PCR test (maximum INR 500) shall be borne by the passenger. Passengers shall be allowed to leave the airport once the sample/swab for the RT-PCR test has been collected and with the condition that he/she shall remain under home quarantine until the result is declared. If the test result of the RT-PCR test is negative, the passenger can continue his/her activities adhering to COVID-19 behaviour and norms of the state.
3. Chattisgarh: All passengers travelling to Chhattisgarh are advised to be in possession of an RT-PCR negative report not earlier than 96Hours. RT-PCR timeline starts from the swab collection time. Passengers not in possession of RT-PCR negative report shall be required to undergo a test upon arrival free of cost. Children below the age of 12 years shall be exempted from pre-departure RT-PCR and on arrival test.
4. Goa: Mandatory to be in possession of RT-PCR/TrueNAT/CBNAAT/Rapid Antigen Test negative report from ICMR accredited labs done within the last 72 hours. The timeline starts from the swab collection time. Passengers not fulfilling the requirements shall be denied boarding at the origin station. Exemptions for:
   • Passengers entering Goa for a medical emergency on the production of proof or coming in an ambulance
   • All persons entering the state in goods vehicles making essential supplies however such vehicles shall not carry any passengers unconnected with the transportation of essential supplies.
   • Exemption from pre-departure RT-PCR requirement for these passengers if they are fully vaccinated and have completed 14 days from receipt of the second dose:
     •  The workforce, i.e. passengers who enter the State of Goa for the purpose of work in industries, labour-force, construction, etc.,
     • Passengers entering the State of Goa for the purpose of business and employment
     • Residents of Goa who are stranded outside Goa for pandemic related or other such issues
     • Residents of Goa who, on account of their work requirements/medical reasons, are required to travel outside the State of Goa and return to the state after a few days
5. Jammu & Kashmir: Be in possession of negative RT-PCR report of not earlier than 48 hours from an ICMR approved laboratory. Passengers not in possession of a negative RT-PCR report shall be required to undergo a RAT test upon arrival free of cost. The above is not applicable for Defense Personnel.
6. Jharkhand: It is mandatory for passengers arriving from ANY state to carry an RT-PCR/TRUENAT negative report from ICMR approved lab not earlier than 72 hours. RT-PCR timeline starts from the swab collection time. Passengers arriving without a negative RT-PCR report will be subject to an RT-PCR test (free of cost) & fill up a self-declaration form.
7. Karnataka (from Kerala and Maharashtra):  Passengers originating their journey from any city in Maharashtra and Kerala state to any city in Karnataka state shall be mandatorily required to be in possession of RT-PCR negative certificate of not older than 72Hours from an ICMR accredited lab.RT-PCR timeline starts from the time of sample collection.
8. Ladakh: Negative RT-PCR report on arrival (not earlier than 96 hours prior to arrival) is required for all passengers arriving in Leh. RT-PCR timeline starts from the swab collection time.
9. Mizoram: All passengers with or without negative COVID report will be subjected mandatory Rapid Antigen Test upon arrival. After undergoing the RAT test on arrival shall be quarantined in a facility and shall undergo RT-PCR/TrueNAT test after 5 days. If negative shall be released from quarantine. However, passengers looking for an exemption from quarantine can do so if in possession of negative RT-PCR/ True Nat/ CBNAAT, conducted from an ICMR approved lab within 48 hours of arrival into the state. RT-PCR/ True Nat/ CBNAAT timeline starts from the time of sample collection.

No Negative RT-PCR Report Required when Vaccinated

Here are the Indian states and Union Territories that no longer mandate an RT-PCR test for vaccinated travellers. This list is specific to air travel. Check it out:

1. Gujarat (Surat): Mandatory to carry a negative RT-PCR report not earlier than 72 hours from an ICMR approved laboratory or be in possession of final vaccination certificate (two doses complete). RT-PCR timeline starts from the swab collection time.
2. Kerala: All passengers travelling to Kerala are required to be in possession of RT-PCR negative report not earlier than 72Hrs. RT-PCR timeline starts from the swab collection time. Passengers who are not in possession of the RT-PCR negative report shall be required to undergo an RT-PCR test upon arrival at their own cost at a facility outside the airport if their port of arrival is Trivandrum. If the port of arrival is Kochi the RT-PCR testing facility is available at the airport. Passengers who visit the State for a short period for purposes like business, official, trade, medical, court cases, property management or any like purposes shall be mandatorily required to carry RT-PCR negative report not earlier than 72Hrs. RT-PCR timeline starts from the swab collection time.
3. Manipur: Fully vaccinated passengers, i.e., those who have received both doses of the COVID-19 Vaccine and have completed 15 days from the receipt of the second dose, shall be exempted from the requirement of pre-departure RT-PCR/TRUENAT/CB-NAAT/Rapid Antigen tests on the production of a valid vaccination certificate. Otherwise, it is mandatory to carry an RT-PCR/TRUENAT/CB-NAAT/RAT negative report from ICMR approved lab not earlier than 72 hours. RT-PCR timeline starts from the swab collection time.
4. Maharashtra: Those in possession of the final vaccination certificate, i.e., those who have taken both doses and completed 15 days from the receipt of the second dose shall be exempted from the pre-departure RT-PCR requirement of Maharashtra. Otherwise, it is mandatory for those arriving in Maharashtra to carry a negative RT-PCR which will have to be issued from up to a maximum of 72 hours before the time of arrival. RT-PCR timeline starts from the report issuance time. Passengers not in possession of the same shall be denied boarding at the origin station.
5. Meghalaya: All passengers arriving in Meghalaya shall be required to undergo mandatory RT-PCR test at their own cost. and those who are in possession of the final vaccination certificate i.e., two doses complete, will be exempt.
6. Nagaland: Passengers who are fully vaccinated, i.e., those who have received both doses are exempted from on arrival RT-PCR Test on the production of the final vaccination certificate. Passengers who have received one dose of the vaccine and have elapsed 15 days shall also be exempted from on arrival testing as well however will have to undergo seven days home quarantine. Otherwise, those travelling to Nagaland are advised to be in possession of RT-PCR/TrueNAT/CBNAAT negative report not earlier than 72 hours. RT-PCR timeline starts from the swab collection time. Passengers not in possession of RT-PCR negative certificate shall be required to undergo test at their own cost on arrival.
7. Punjab: Those travelling to Punjab are mandatorily required to be in possession of RT-PCR negative report of not older than 72 Hours from an ICMR accredited lab or a COVID vaccination Final Certificate (two doses complete). RT-PCR timeline starts from the swab collection time. Not applicable to infants and children below the age of 10 years.
8. Rajasthan: It is mandatory to carry an RT-PCR negative report from an ICMR approved lab not earlier than 72 hours of arrival into the state of Rajasthan. RT-PCR timeline starts from the swab collection time. Passengers in possession of a vaccination certificate showing at least 1 dose complete will be exempted.
9. Tamil Nadu (arriving from Kerala): Passengers originating their journey from any city in Kerala state to any city in Tamil Nadu state shall be mandatorily required to be in possession of RT-PCR negative certificate of not older than 72 hours from an ICMR accredited lab or final vaccination certificate (i.e., both doses complete). RT-PCR timeline starts from the time of sample collection.
10. Tripura: Passengers in possession of the final vaccination certificate i.e., those who have received both doses and completed 14 days from the receipt of the second dose are exempt. Otherwise, passengers arriving are required to carry an RT-PCR/TRUENAT/CB-NAAT negative report from ICMR approved lab not earlier than 72 hours. RT-PCR timeline starts from the swab collection time. Passengers not in possession of RT-PCR/TRUENAT/CB-NAAT negative reports shall be required to undergo testing upon arrival into the state.
11. Uttarakhand: It is mandatory for passengers to carry RT-PCR/TrueNAT/CBNAAT/RAT negative reports from ICMR accredited labs done within the last 72 hours or be in possession of the final vaccination certificate and should have completed 15 days after receipt of the 2nd dose. RT-PCR/TrueNAT/CBNAAT/RAT timeline starts from the swab collection time.
12. Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow): Passengers arriving from the states of Sikkim, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Kerala, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura & Maharashtra are mandatorily are required to be in possession of RT-PCR negative report of not older than 96Hours from an ICMR accredited lab or a COVID vaccination Final Certificate (two doses complete). RT-PCR timeline starts from the swab collection time.
13. Uttar Pradesh (Varanasi & Bareilly): Passengers travelling to Varanasi are required to be in possession of an RT-PCR negative report of not older than 72Hours from an ICMR accredited lab or a COVID vaccination Final Certificate (two doses complete). RT-PCR timeline starts from the swab collection time.
14. West Bengal: It is mandatory for those arriving in West Bengal to carry a negative RT-PCR report not earlier than 72 hours from an ICMR approved laboratory. RT-PCR timeline starts from the swab collection time. Passengers who are fully vaccinated i.e, those who have received both doses are exempted from pre-departure RT-PCR requirement on production of final vaccination certificate. This is not applicable for passengers arriving from the cities of Mumbai, Pune & Chennai to any city in West Bengal state, they mandatorily need to be in possession of negative RT-PCR reports. Children below 2 years are exempted from the RT-PCR test.

No Testing Required

1. Andhra Pradesh
2. Bihar: Random RAT test will be free of cost at arrivals for passengers from other sectors.
3. Chandigarh
4. Delhi: Random sample collection will be done for passengers arriving from states where there has been a spurt in the number of COVID-19 cases. Passengers will be allowed to exit after sample collection.
5. Gujarat (Ahmedabad, Vadodara & Rajkot)
6. Haryana
7. Himachal Pradesh
8. Karnataka (other than from Kerala and Maharashtra)
9. Madhya Pradesh
10. Odisha
11. Tamil Nadu (except those arriving from Kerala)
12. Telangana
13. Uttar Pradesh (Agra): Passengers arriving in Agra shall be mandatorily required to undergo an RT-PCR test upon arrival free of cost.

All of this information is updated as of August 17, 2021, and I will continue to update you with more updates as they happen. Do share this list with others as well to help them travel better. Please check with the airline or official website of the government, however. If there is an error or a change, please do notify us via the comments, and we will fix it.

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