International Flyers Visiting India from 6 Countries to Meet these New Travel Rules Effective Starting 13 February

Visitors from Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Thailand, South Korea, and Japan will not require a Covid test report for travel to India from 13 February.

Written by: Arjita Gupta

Edited by: Krutarth Ghosalkar

Last Updated: February 14, 2023

A new travel rule will apply to international flyers from 6 countries visiting India. This rule will come to effect from 13 February. Flyers from Singapore, Thailand, China, Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea will no longer have to show a Covid test report pre-departure. Earlier the passengers had to furnish a valid Covid test report as well as upload a self-health declaration. Now, both these norms are waived.

The two rules, which were mandatory otherwise mandated that international flyers from the listed 6 countries upload a self-health declaration on the portal of Air Suvidha. And those without a Covid rest report were not allowed to travel. But the decision to ease the norms has been taken in light of the decline in the number of active infection cases. It was announced by Rajesh Bhushan, the Union Health Secretary.

But Bhushan on Thursday sent a letter to Rajiv Bansal, the Ministry of Civil Aviation saying that the ministry will be making few changes in their Guidelines for International Arrivals as the coronavirus cases are on the decline from the 6 countries referred to. But there is a rule that will still continue irrespective of the country travelers come from in India.

The mandatory exercise of Covid-19 infection testing randomly for 2% of travelers will apply to international travelers reaching India. Until 8:00 AM on Friday, India has logged new cases, standing at 114 infections, and an increase to 1,797 active cases as per the data shared by the Union Health Ministry. In the last 24 hours, 2 deaths have taken place, and the death toll recorded is 5,30,750 as per the data in reference.