Given the emergence of Omicron, India had mandated testing on arrival and a 7-days home quarantine for those who arrive into India from countries designated as at-risk. The new rules were effective December 1, 2021.
Subsequently, the Government of India mandated that there will be a further requirement that this on-arrival RT-PCR test be pre-booked for passengers arriving from at-risk countries (or those who were in these countries in the past 14 days). For reference, the countries classified as at-risk at the time of writing this on December 20, 2021, are:
- Countries in Europe, including The United Kingdom
- South Africa
- Brazil
- Botswana
- China
- Ghana
- Mauritius
- New Zealand
- Zimbabwe
- Tanzania
- Hong Kong
- Israel
This system has been implemented on December 20, 2021, for those arriving at six airports: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
All airlines will be required to check the mandatory pre-booking of their passengers before boarding the flight. However, if they turn up without a pre-booking, they will have to book it at the airport itself before departure but would not be denied boarding.
- Delhi Airport: RT-PCR Test (costs INR 500 with results within 6-8 hours); Rapid PCR Test (costs INR 3500 with results within 1 hour)
- Mumbai Airport: RT-PCR Test (costs INR 500 with results within 6-8 hours); Rapid PCR Test (costs INR 1975 with results within 1-2 hours)
- Kolkata Airport: RT-PCR Test (costs INR 600 with results within 6 hours); Rapid PCR Test (costs INR 2900 with results within 1 hour)
- Chennai Airport: RT-PCR Test (costs INR 600 with results within 6 hours); Rapid PCR Test (costs INR 2900 with results within 1 hour)
- Bengaluru Airport: RT-PCR Test (costs INR 500 with results within 6 hours); Rapid PCR Test (costs INR 3000 with results within 1 hour)
- Hyderabad Airport: RT-PCR Test (costs INR 750 with results within 6 hours); Rapid PCR Test (costs INR 3400 with results within 1 hour)
Bottomline
Effective December 20, 2021, all arrivals from at-risk countries into the six major airports of India will have to pre-book their RT-PCR/Rapid-PCR test on arrival before getting on their flight to India. If not done, they will have to do it at the airport before they can fly into India.
If you are flying into India from an at-risk country, take note and book that test before arrival itself using the links above.
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Thank you so much. We are just in transit at LHR. This is such a relief
Currently scheduled to fly from Boston to Delhi, thru London. Staying there a few days, then flying to Goa. Traveling with our 3yr old. Delta says that we’ll be set with PCR tests within 72 hours of departure for the adults. Then it looks like were OK with Vaccination certs for the adults to Goa. But I’m certainly expecting things to change in the upcoming 24 days.
Vaccination status have no importance now. Check the air suvidha portal.
I have a question. We are booked on a flight from San Francisco via London Heathrow to Mumbai on the 15th Jan. Do we need to book a test in advance? All is very confusing.
Thank you
Gwen Mehta
@Chandradeep & Gwen, no. You should be good to go without the test, as long as you are not exiting the airport at LHR
Thank you for your prompt reply. We are just in transit at LHR! Hopefully things will improve soon.