The Covid-19 infections being reported at a very strong rate in China are causing the world to look at them with caution, and India is no different. About a month ago, in November 2022, India discontinued the requirement for pre-arrival vaccination records via Air Suvidha. A few days ago, India made random testing compulsory for international arrivals. Now the testing and filing requirements are back for a few countries.
India requires arrivals from China and other countries to get a confirmed RT-PCR Negative test.
As per a press release issued by the Press Information Bureau of the Government of India, International passengers travelling from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand to India will be mandatorily required to undergo RTPCR tests before their departure from these countries/destinations and upload the COVID negative RTPCR test report on Air Suvidha portal from January 1, 2023. The test should have been conducted within 72 hours of the journey to India.
This requirement is in addition to the random 2% tests of all international passengers in all incoming international flights on their arrival to India, irrespective of the port of departure.
Here are the instructions passed on from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, to the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Any arrival originating from these countries into India from 10 AM, January 1, 2023, will be subject to requiring an RT-PCR Test.
The Delhi airport’s Twitter handle clarifies that only passengers originating from these countries need to submit an RT-PCR.
airline, you are requested to get in touch with them. You may also check the latest travel guidelines here: https://t.co/K5AsH6mJe5 (2/2)
— Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) December 31, 2022
Update: All passengers transiting these airports are required to submit an RT-PCR report as well.
Bottomline
India has reinstated a compulsory testing requirement (RT-PCR) for arrival from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand to India. Tests must be conducted 72 hours before departure and uploaded on the Air Suvidha portal.
What do you think about this new requirement being initiated in India?
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Fully vaccinated Indian citizen flying Singapore Airlines from USA transiting through Singapore airport to Bengaluru without crossing immigration. Does she need a RT-PCR negative test report ?
Yes
Transit passengers don’t need a test . But a wasted exercise i feel .either u do for all or dont do .this selective approach won’t help .
Transit passengers do need to get tested beforehand. Multiple tweets from Delhi and Bangalore airport handles.
Ajay, eagerly awaiting your update on whether this is also the case for transit passengers. In our case, flying USA – SIN – India on Jan 11.
Same here. Transiting through SG in a couple of days and no clue whether I need an RT PCR. Why is so difficult for our bureaucrats to implement simple and straightforward guidelines!
The article has been updated with the Delhi airport twitter handle response that says transiting passengers through these countries do not require Air suvidha or RT-PCR test.
There’s a contradictory post from @DelhiAirport: Effective 1st Jan 2023 (1000 hours
IST), all international passengers arriving/transiting from High Risk countries to mandatorily Self-Declare on the Air Suvidha portal.