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Fact Sheets

Frequently Asked Questions: Guidance for Travelers to Enter the U.S.

Updated Date: April 21, 2022

Since January 22, 2022, DHS has required non-U.S. individuals seeking to enter the United States via land ports of entry and ferry terminals at the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination upon request.  On April 21, 2022, DHS announced that it would extend these requirements. In determining whether and when to rescind this order, DHS anticipates that it will take account of whether the vaccination requirement for non-U.S. air travelers remains in place.

These requirements apply to non-U.S. individuals who are traveling for essential or non-essential reasons. They do not apply to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, or U.S. nationals.

Effective November 8, 2021, new air travel requirements applied to many noncitizens who are visiting the United States temporarily. These travelers are also required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination. All air travelers, including U.S. persons, must test negative for COVID-19 prior to departure. Limited exceptions apply. See  CDC guidance  for more details regarding air travel requirements.

Below is more information about what to know before you go, and answers to Frequently Asked Questions about cross-border travel.

Entering the U.S. Through a Land Port of Entry or Ferry Terminal

Q. what are the requirements for travelers entering the united states through land poes.

A:  Before embarking on a trip to the United States, non-U.S. travelers should be prepared for the following:

Possess proof of an approved COVID-19 vaccination as outlined on the  CDC  website.
During border inspection, verbally attest to their COVID-19 vaccination status. 
Bring a  Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative  compliant border crossing document, such as a valid passport (and visa if required), Trusted Traveler Program card, a Department of State-issued Border Crossing Card, Enhanced Driver’s License or Enhanced Tribal Card when entering the country. Travelers (including U.S. citizens) should be prepared to present the WHTI-compliant document and any other documents requested by the CBP officer.

 Q. What are the requirements to enter the United States for children under the age of 18 who can't be vaccinated?

A:  Children under 18 years of age are excepted from the vaccination requirement at land and ferry POEs.

Q: Which vaccines/combination of vaccines will be accepted?

A:  Per CDC guidelines, all Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved and authorized vaccines, as well as all vaccines that have an Emergency Use Listing (EUL) from the World Health Organization (WHO), will be accepted.

Accepted Vaccines:

More details are available in CDC guidance  here .
2 weeks (14 days) after your dose of an accepted single-dose COVID-19 vaccine;
2 weeks (14 days) after your second dose of an accepted 2-dose series;
2 weeks (14 days) after you received the full series of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine (not placebo) in a clinical trial;
2 weeks (14 days) after you received 2 doses of any “mix-and-match” combination of accepted COVID-19 vaccines administered at least 17 days apart.

Q. Is the United States requiring travelers to have a booster dose to be considered fully vaccinated for border entry purposes?

A:  No. The CDC guidance for “full vaccination” can be found here.

Q: Do U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents need proof of vaccination to return to the United States via land POEs and ferry terminals?

A:  No. Vaccination requirements do not apply to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs). Travelers that exhibit signs or symptoms of illness will be referred to CDC for additional medical evaluation.

Q: Is pre- or at-arrival COVID testing required to enter the United States via land POEs or ferry terminals?

A: No, there is no COVID testing requirement to enter the United States via land POE or ferry terminals. In this respect, the requirement for entering by a land POE or ferry terminal differs from arrival via air, where there is a requirement to have a negative test result before departure.

Processing Changes Announced on January 22, 2022 

Q: new changes were recently announced. what changed on january 22.

A:  Since January 22, 2022, non-citizens who are not U.S. nationals or Lawful Permanent Residents have been required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the United States at land ports of entry and ferry terminals, whether for essential or nonessential purposes. Previously, DHS required that non-U.S. persons be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the United States for nonessential purposes.  Effective January 22, all non-U.S. individuals, to include essential travelers, must be prepared to attest to vaccination status and present proof of vaccination to a CBP officer upon request. DHS announced an extension of this policy on April 21, 2022.

Q: Who is affected by the changes announced on January 22?

A: This requirement does not apply to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents. It applies to other noncitizens, such as a citizen of Mexico, Canada, or any other country seeking to enter the United States through a land port of entry or ferry terminal.

Q: Do U.S. citizens need proof of vaccination to return to the United States via land port of entry or ferry terminals?

A: Vaccination requirements do not apply to U.S. Citizens, U.S. nationals or U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents. Travelers that exhibit signs or symptoms of illness will be referred to CDC for additional medical evaluation. 

Q: What is essential travel?

A:  Under the prior policy, there was an exception from temporary travel restrictions for “essential travel.” Essential travel included travel to attend educational institutions, travel to work in the United States, travel for emergency response and public health purposes, and travel for lawful cross-border trade (e.g., commercial truckers). Under current policy, there is no exception for essential travel.

Q: Will there be any exemptions? 

A: While most non-U.S. individuals seeking to enter the United States will need to be vaccinated, there is a narrow list of exemptions consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Order in the air travel context.

Certain categories of individuals on diplomatic or official foreign government travel as specified in the CDC Order
Children under 18 years of age;
Certain participants in certain COVID-19 vaccine trials as specified in the CDC Order;  
Individuals with medical contraindications to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine as specified in the CDC Order;
Individuals issued a humanitarian or emergency exception by the Secretary of Homeland Security;
Individuals with valid nonimmigrant visas (excluding B-1 [business] or B-2 [tourism] visas) who are citizens of a country with limited COVID-19 vaccine availability, as specified in the CDC Order
Members of the U.S. Armed Forces or their spouses or children (under 18 years of age) as specified in the CDC Order; and
Individuals whose entry would be in the U.S. national interest, as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security.

Q: What documentation will be required to show vaccination status?

A:  Non-U.S. individuals are required to be prepared to attest to vaccination status and present proof of vaccination to a CBP officer upon request regardless of the purpose of travel.

The current documentation requirement remains the same and is available on the CDC website . Documentation requirements for entry at land ports of entry and ferry terminals mirror those for entry by air.

Q: What happens if someone doesn’t have proof of vaccine status?

A: If non-U.S. individuals cannot present proof of vaccination upon request, they will not be admitted into the United States and will either be subject to removal or be allowed to withdraw their application for entry.

Q: Will incoming travelers be required to present COVID-19 test results?

A: There is no COVID-19 testing requirement for travelers at land border ports of entry, including ferry terminals.

Q: What does this mean for those who can't be vaccinated, either due to age or other health considerations? 

A: See CDC guidance for additional information on this topic. Note that the vaccine requirement does not apply to children under 18 years of age.

Q: Does this requirement apply to amateur and professional athletes?

A: Yes, unless they qualify for one of the narrow CDC exemptions.

Q: Are commercial truckers required to be vaccinated?

A: Yes, unless they qualify for one of the narrow CDC exemptions. These requirements also apply to bus drivers as well as rail and ferry operators.

Q. Do you expect border wait times to increase?

A:  As travelers navigate these new travel requirements, wait times may increase. Travelers should account for the possibility of longer than normal wait times and lines at U.S. land border crossings when planning their trip and are kindly encouraged to exercise patience.

To help reduce wait times and long lines, travelers can take advantage of innovative technology, such as facial biometrics and the CBP OneTM mobile application, which serves as a single portal for individuals to access CBP mobile applications and services.

Q: How is Customs and Border Protection staffing the ports of entry? 

A: CBP’s current staffing levels at ports of entry throughout the United States are commensurate with pre-pandemic levels. CBP has continued to hire and train new employees throughout the pandemic. CBP expects some travelers to be non-compliant with the proof of vaccination requirements, which may at times lead to an increase in border wait times. Although trade and travel facilitation remain a priority, we cannot compromise national security, which is our primary mission. CBP Office of Field Operations will continue to dedicate its finite resources to the processing of arriving traffic with emphasis on trade facilitation to ensure economic recovery.

Q: What happens if a vaccinated individual is traveling with an unvaccinated individual? 

A:  The unvaccinated individual (if 18 or over) would not be eligible for admission.

Q: If I am traveling for an essential reason but am not vaccinated can I still enter?

A:  No, if you are a non-U.S. individual. The policy announced on January 22, 2022 applies to both essential and non-essential travel by non-U.S. individual travelers. Since January 22, DHS has required that all inbound non-U.S. individuals crossing U.S. land or ferry POEs – whether for essential or non-essential reasons – be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide related proof of vaccination upon request.

Q: Are sea crew members on vessels required to have a COVID vaccine to disembark?

A:  Sea crew members traveling pursuant to a C-1 or D nonimmigrant visa are not excepted from COVID-19 vaccine requirements at the land border. This is a difference from the international air transportation context.

Entering the U.S. via Air Travel

Q: what are the covid vaccination requirements for air passengers to the united states  .

A:  According to CDC requirements [www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/noncitizens-US-air-travel.html | Link no longer valid], most noncitizens who are visiting the United States temporarily must be fully vaccinated prior to boarding a flight to the United States. These travelers are required to show proof of vaccination. A list of covered individuals is available on the CDC website. 

Q: What are the COVID testing requirements for air passengers to the United States? 

A:  Effective Sunday, June 12 at 12:01 a.m. ET, CDC will no longer require pre-departure COVID-19 testing for U.S.-bound air travelers.

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COVID-19 international travel advisories

If you plan to visit the U.S., you do not need to be tested or vaccinated for COVID-19. U.S. citizens going abroad, check with the Department of State for travel advisories.

COVID-19 testing and vaccine rules for entering the U.S.

As of May 12, 2023, noncitizen nonimmigrant visitors to the U.S. arriving by air or arriving by land or sea no longer need to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
As of June 12, 2022, people entering the U.S. no longer need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test .

U.S. citizens traveling to a country outside the U.S.

Find country-specific COVID-19 travel rules from the Department of State.

See the CDC's COVID-19 guidance for safer international travel.

LAST UPDATED: December 6, 2023

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United States Travel Restrictions

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Travelling from India to the United States

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Can I travel to the United States from India?

Most visitors from India, regardless of vaccination status, can enter the United States.

Can I travel to the United States if I am vaccinated?

Fully vaccinated visitors from India can enter the United States without restrictions.

Can I travel to the United States without being vaccinated?

Unvaccinated visitors from India can enter the United States without restrictions.

Do I need a COVID test to enter the United States?

Visitors from India are not required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test or antigen result upon entering the United States.

Can I travel to the United States without quarantine?

Travellers from India are not required to quarantine.

Do I need to wear a mask in the United States?

Mask usage in the United States is not required on public transportation.

Are the restaurants and bars open in the United States?

Restaurants in the United States are open. Bars in the United States are .

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A. 15th June 2020

Pre-Arrival

Usa travel guidelines.

Here is what international air travelers to the United States need to do beginning Monday, November 8, 2021
Open for Travel: Yes Open For Travel
Vaccination
Fully vaccinated passengers allowed to visit USA.
Approved vaccine: As per WHO approved
Booster dose criteria: Not Applicable
NO Visa appointment for fresh visa as on today, only drop box appointments for re-issuance of visa

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Usa travel guidelines for tourists.

Quarantine rules in USA: Not Applicable
Apps/Portal: Not Applicable
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Review of COVID-19 Guidelines for International Flight Operations/ Arrivals

19 th July 2023

COVID-19 Domestic Travel Guidelines

Passengers flying to domestic destinations must follow the following health protocols:

Flyers are advised to self-monitor health and travel only if they have no symptoms of COVID-19.
Announcements regarding COVID-19 and COVID appropriate behaviour will be made at the airport. Travellers flying via domestic flights are advised to follow these precautionary guidelines.
Passengers must use a face mask/ cover, hand hygiene, and physical distancing of six feet as far as feasible.
Passengers should not spit in public spaces while travelling.
Flyers are advised to install the Arogya Setu app on their mobile phones.
If a passenger develops fever while travelling, he shall inform the cabin crew/ TTE/ bus conductor as per the situation.
Passengers developing COVID-19 signs after reaching the destination should inform the District Surveillance Officer or the State National Call Centre (1075).
For information on state-wise quarantine rules for domestic flights, flyers are advised to go through the state-wise travel guidelines section.

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Disclaimer: Passengers travelling to India are advised to check official websites of relevant authorities and local government agencies for the latest updates on travel retrictions and plan accordingly.

To avoid inconvenience prior to commencement of journey, it is advisable to verify requirements and check with Airline concerned or the destination Airport.

For International travel, please check with the nearby Embassy or the Airline Concerned.

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India Vaccine Progress

As on : 02 Apr 2024 01:44 AM

84,51,80,590 (63.4%) 2nd dose administered

99,85,01,718 (74.9%) 1nd dose administered

1,33,30,00,000 Total population

140.15 Dose per 100 people

Data from : CDC, WHO, ECDC, Wikipedia - The New York Times

Cases Across India

12,340 480 Active Cases (0.03%)

4,25,13,248 1,547 Discharged

5,22,006 40 Deaths (1.21%)

4,30,47,594 2,067 Total Cases

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India-US travel curbs eased. What you need to know about CDC travel guidelines

The cdc uses travel health notices (thns) to alert travellers to health threats around the world and advise them on how to protect themselves..

The pandemic, which began two years ago, has led to multiple restrictions on travel and everyday life. In a fresh concern over the global spike in cases, China and some parts of Europe are witnessing a new surge in cases led by the BA.2 variant of Omicron. China's Shanghai is the worst-hit currently where the cases recorded are over 4,400 mark. On the other hand, India's covid cases are witnessing a sharp decline. As India's coronavirus cases dip, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Monday eased its COVID-19 travel advisories for India. Top US medical body CDC took down India from Level 3 (high risk) to Level 1 (low risk).

The US department in a statement said, “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 1 Travel Health Notice due to COVID-19, indicating a low level of COVID-19 in the country. Your risk of contracting COVID-19 and developing severe symptoms may be lower if you are fully vaccinated with an FDA authorized vaccine.” It further added that “Before planning any international travel, please review the CDC's specific recommendations for vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers.”

Read more: France sees new high in hospitalisations: 10 global updates on Covid

The CDC uses Travel Health Notices (THNs) to alert travellers to health threats around the world and advise them on how to protect themselves. The CDC has four levels of Covid-19 travel advisories for countries. Here's all you need to know about them:

1. Level-1 (low risk): The level 1 of CDC guidelines include countries with a low Covid risk, as the name suggests. In its advisory, the CDC advises people to be sure of being “fully vaccinated before travelling to these destinations.” Currently, this category has over 30 countries including India, China, Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Taiwan, Uganda.

2. Level-2 (Moderate risk): The second level includes moderately-hit countries amid the pandemic. Under this category, the guideline asks travellers to be fully vaccinated, and those who are unvaccinated with an “increased risk for severe illness” to avoid non-essential travel. There are 14 countries under this category including Bahamas, Bangladesh, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau,Jamaica, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Montserrat, Morocco, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Zambia.

3. Level 3 (High-risk): This level includes countries that are high-risk countries or those that are highly hit by covid-19. Under this category, all unvaccinated travellers are advised to avoid non-essential travel. This category includes Albania, Cuba, Botswana, Fiji, Ecuador, Indonesia, Peru, Qatar, South Africa, Sri Lanka, UAE, among other countries.

4. Level 4 (Very high-risk): Level 4 of the CDC guidelines include countries that are severely hit with the coronavirus. The CDC advises travellers to avoid complete travel to the countries under this category. A maximum number of countries are under this category including Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Malaysia, Maldives, South Korea, Spain, United Kingdom, among others.

Read more: Covid caller tune to be done away with, says report; netizens express relief

5. Level Unknown: The US agency has another ‘unknown’ level in its travel health notice list. This includes countries in which the covid-19 cases data is not known completely. Countries such as North Korea, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen are included in this category. The CDC advises travellers to avoid travelling to these destinations.

Meanwhile, the US, which was the worst-hit country due to the covid-19, has recorded over 81,658,973 cases so far, with 1,004,244 deaths.

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New guidelines for Travel to USA on or after NOV 8: Entry Rules, Vaccines, Testing, Exemptions, FAQs

After four months of deliberation on easing entry restrictions for foreign nationals in a calibrated manner, the White House has finally issued new entry rules and travel guidelines for international travelers boarding flights into USA on or after November 8, 2021 . President Biden signed a new proclamation for safe resumption of air travel to the US, replacing all the previous proclamations that imposed country-by-country travel restrictions during the pandemic, with a vaccination-based air travel policy as the premise of entry into the US. The new proclamation exempts children under 18 from the vaccine-based entry policy and comes with limited exceptions for certain foreign individuals (noncitizen nonimmigrants).

The new proclamation will take effect at 12:01 a.m. EST (9:31 p.m. IST) on November 8. The proclamation does not apply to the US-bound passengers of a flight that is scheduled to depart from a foreign country prior to 12:01 a.m. EST on NOV 8. Travel Beats, the exclusive US-India travel news portal owned by Indian Eagle , a most trusted travel partner of the Indian-origin community in the US, decoded the new guidelines for travel to USA.

USA travel news, USA entry restrictions, USA to welcome vaccinated foreign visitors

Picture Credit: Citizen.org

For 18 months, Various Presidential Proclamations restricted entry into the US for certain US visa holders who have been in India and Europe during 14 days prior to their planned travel to the US . However, from November 2021, fully-vaccinated foreign nationals will be able to enter the US without NIE approval and on condition of giving their consent to undergo testing and contact tracing on arrival.

USA’s guidelines for full-vaccinated international arrivals

As per the United States’ new entry rules, fully-vaccinated international travelers, irrespective of their citizenship, immigration status and visa, must carry proof of vaccination and a negative report (with a QR code if travel originates in India) of the COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to their scheduled departure for the US. Fully vaccinated international arrivals may not be needed to undergo quarantine in the US. Those who took the second jab of a two-dose vaccine or the jab of one-dose Janssen approved or listed by WHO, at least 14 days before their scheduled travel to the US, are considered fully vaccinated.

The proof of vaccination must be a paper or digital certificate issued by an official source in the country where the vaccine was administered. It should have the vaccine name, the date(s) of receiving the vaccine dose(s), and the traveler’s name as well as date of birth. Airlines are directed to verify the US-bound passengers’ proof of vaccination prior to onboarding them.

USA’s new entry rules for children under 18

The United States’ vaccine-based entry requirement does not apply to unvaccinated children under 18, starting on November 8, until further notice. This exemption will be reviewed when vaccines will be rolled out and available for children under 18 in different parts of the world.

The pre-departure testing window (72 hours) remains unaltered for unvaccinated children (between the ages of 2 and 17) if they are accompanied by fully-vaccinated adults. If an unvaccinated child travels to USA alone or with an unvaccinated adult (in limited cases), the child needs to take a COVID-19 viral test within 24 hours prior to scheduled departure from the country of travel origin.

The US’ pre-arrival or pre-departure COVID-19 testing requirement does not apply to children under 2 years of age.

International airlines will be required to collect contact information of their USA-bound passengers traveling from or via the countries which have been subject to the Presidential Proclamations till date. It will help with contact-tracing of international arrivals in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a federal public health agency. In October, a directive on this will be issued to the airlines operating flights to USA from India , the UK and EU countries.

USA’s new entry rules accept these vaccines for international arrivals

You must be wondering which vaccines will be accepted for international travelers’ entry into the US. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that the COVID-19 vaccines that WHO has approved or listed for emergency use will be accepted as part of the criteria for restrictions-free travel to the United States. The WHO-approved COVID vaccines are Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, Janssen, Oxford/AstraZeneca, Covishield (India), Sinopharm (Beijing), and Sinovac. On November 3, WHO approved Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin for emergency use. “Earlier this week, we informed airlines of the vaccines that would be accepted for arrival of international travelers from foreign countries,” the CDC added.

As the CDC approved the WHO-listed COVID vaccines, the Covishield or Covaxin-vaccinated Indians on B1/B2 and other US visas will be able to travel to the US without NIE approval or a 14-day stopover in a third country. After a lot of dillydallying, WHO approved and listed Covaxin for emergency use. Hence, Covaxin-inoculated Indians will not be subjected to the United States’ entry and travel restrictions. Recently, Australia, Oman, Iran, Philippines, Greece, Mauritius, Mexico and Estonia have reopened to Covaxin-vaccinated Indians.

New guidelines for unvaccinated US citizens and LPRs’ travel to USA

President Biden’s new proclamation on safe resumption of air travel to the US is equally stringent for unvaccinated US citizens and legal permanent residents returning to the country on or after November 8. Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated Americans and Green card holders will be able to enter the US, but they will have to take a COVID-19 viral test within 24 hours prior to undertaking the scheduled travel from a foreign country and a test on arrival in the US.

The same pre-departure testing window (24 hours) applies to fully-vaccinated US citizens and LPRs in case they are unable to show their proof of vaccination.

Also Check: India starts issuing tourist visa to foreign nationals

Who are exempted from USA’s vaccination requirement for entry?

The United States’ new travel guidelines for international arrivals suspend the entry of unvaccinated noncitizen nonimmigrants (mostly foreign nationals), starting on November 8. However, the new proclamation comes with limited exceptions that allow the arrival of unvaccinated noncitizen nonimmigrants in certain cases.

Children under 18 years of age
Foreign nationals traveling to USA for emergency or humanitarian reasons, as determined by the Director of CDC
Foreign nationals traveling to USA for the national interest, as determined by the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security
Sea crew members and crew members of an airline or other aircraft operator
Participants of certain clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccination, as determined by the Director of CDC
Members of the US Armed Forces and their immediate family members
Foreign government officials and their immediate family members
Those traveling on non-tourist visas from countries with the limited vaccine availability
Those whose travel purpose is within the scope of the Section 11 of the UN Headquarters Agreement or the US legal obligation (they should have a letter of invitation from the United Nations or other document issued by a US legal body)
Those who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 due to rare medial contraindications, as determined by the Director of CDC

Book the best flights to USA before fares skyrocket

Since May 4, 2021, the White House imposed entry restrictions on certain visa holders from India and a few other countries through the Presidential Proclamation 10199. Since then, Indians, including B2 visa holders, have been either seeking National Interest Exception or bypassing the US entry restrictions via a third country. The United States’ new entry guidelines for fully-vaccinated foreign visitors will relieve Indians of the hassles of applying for NIE approval or taking a 15-day stopover in Doha or Dubai.

FAQs on new rules for travel to USA on and after November 8

What proof of vaccination should I provide to the airline as per America’s new rules for the arrival of Covishield-vaccinated Indians?

Your proof of vaccination must be an International Travel Certificate that you can download from the government of India’s CoWin portal. The certificate is compliant with WHO’s digital format for vaccination proof. The vaccine certificate/international travel certificate should specify the vaccine name, vaccine type, vaccine manufacturer, number and dates of the doses administered, other than your date of birth and passport number. Log in to the CoWin portal with your registered phone number, navigate to the ‘International Travel Certificate’ section and click on it. Enter your date of birth (as per the given format) and passport number. Then click on ‘Submit’. The certificate is ready to be downloaded. You can take a printout or carry a soft copy on your mobile device.

My name on the vaccine certificate does not match my name on the passport. Will it affect my travel to USA from India?

Your name on the vaccine proof/certificate must be the same as that on the passport. You can correct or update your name on the CoWin portal only once. Login to the CoWin portal and click the ‘Raise an Issue’ button. A dropdown menu appears. Select ‘Add Passport Details’ in the dropdown menu and click on this. Enter your passport details including the full name and hit ‘Submit’. Once you receive the confirmation message to the registered phone number, you can download the certificate. The process may take up to a few hours in some cases.

I was granted a National Interest Exception in August and the approval is valid through July 2022. Will I be able to use the NIE approval for travel on or after November 8?

If you are Covishield-vaccinated and have the proof of vaccination, you won’t need the NIE approval to travel to the US from India after the new proclamation takes effect at 12:01 a.m. EST on NOV 8. The national interest exception may help you travel to the US if you are still unvaccinated or inoculated with Covaxin (which WHO has not yet approved). However, President Biden’s new proclamation does not clarify this. Hence, be advised to check with the US Embassy or consulate that granted the NIE approval to you.

I am an unvaccinated US citizen. I am traveling to India for a week due to an emergency. Will I be able to travel back after November 8, given my non-vaccination status?

Being a US citizen, you will be able to travel back, regardless of your vaccination status. As per the new rules for travel and entry into the US, you will have to take a COVID-19 viral test within 24 hours prior to your scheduled return flight from India. Most labs in India deliver COVID-19 test results within 48-72 hours of the sample collection. That’s why CDC recommends that you carry a US-authorized proctored self-test kit to be used prior to your return travel from India. The self-test must be a SARS-CoV-2 viral test with Emergency Use Authorization from FDA. The testing procedure must include a tele-health service affiliated with the manufacturer of the test that provides real-time supervision remotely through an audio and video connection. Please be advised to check with the India-bound airline and the Indian Embassy whether you can bring a US-authorized self-test kit to India.

I have a valid US visitor visa and proof of vaccination (Covishield). Can I travel to USA via Europe once the travel restrictions are revoked with effect from NOV 8?

After November 8, 2021, you can travel to the US via Europe. However, major European airlines such as British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa and Virgin Atlantic may continue to restrict onboarding of Indian passport holders whose final destination is beyond Europe. Maybe, these airlines lift the restriction on or after NOV 8.

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India’s Latest Guidelines on International Travel

This timeline summarizes the most recent developments in the rules and regulations governing international travel to and from India.

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February 2023

From February 13, 11 AM , passengers coming to India from or via China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand will not require a negative RT-PCR report from a pre-departure test for COVID-19. Travelers from these five countries will no longer have to fill the self-health declaration form on the Air Suvidha portal either. The 2% random testing on arrival in India [from any country of origin] policy that was started December 24 last year, shall continue.

January 2023

Reported by Times of India , all Indians traveling to Sri Lanka will have to follow the country’s revised COVID-19 protocols. Sri Lanka has announced that all tourists to the country will be required to carry their vaccination cards, and unvaccinated travelers must carry a negative PCR report obtained 72 hours prior to their arrival.

December 2022

December 29, 2022.

On December 29, 2022, India’s Federal Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced that RT-PCR test would be mandatory from January 1, 2023 for international passengers travelling to India from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand . The test must be conducted within 72 hours of undertaking the journey to India.
These negative RT-PCR reports must be uploaded on the Air Suvidha portal before travel.
This requirement is in addition to the random two percent tests of all international passengers in all incoming international flights on their arrival in India irrespective of their port of departure.

December 28, 2022

Air India Express, India’s first international budget carrier that offers flights to the Middle East and Southeast Asia, has issued guidelines for the maintenance of Covid-appropriate behaviour by travellers travelling from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to India. The guidelines include:

All passengers from UAE should preferably be completely immunised as per the approved primary schedule of Covid vaccination.
All visitors should preferably use masks and follow physical distancing on flights/travel and at all points of entry.
Post-arrival random testing is not required for children under the age of 12. However, if they have Covid-related symptoms upon arrival, they have to undergo testing in accordance with protocol.

December 26, 2022

On December 24, 2022, Indian Health Ministry announced that international arrivals from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Thailand will have to mandatorily present RT-PCR test results . In case any passengers from these countries are symptomatic or test positive for Covid-19, they will be quarantined.
Economic Times reporting that Air Suvidha form filling to declare current health status will also be made compulsory for international passengers arriving from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Thailand.
Times of India reporting that Qatar has reinstated visa-on-arrival (VOA) facility for Indian travellers , which were temporarily halted due to FIFA World Cup 2022 in the country. Indian nationals can get a free VOA in Qatar for a maximum stay of 30 days or as per the hotel reservation and under the following conditions: valid passport for at least six months, confirmed return tickets, and confirmed hotel reservation through ‘Discover Qatar’ website only.
Times of India reporting that effective from January 1, 2023 , Serbia has discontinued visa-free travel regulations for Indian citizens , keeping in line with the requirements of European Union (EU) visa policy and measures to control illegal migrants.

December 23, 2022

New guidelines applicable for international arrivals from December 24, 2022: “All travelers should preferably be fully vaccinated as per the approved primary schedule of vaccination against COVID-19 in their Country.” See here for the official Ministry of Health and Family Welfare notification issued December 22.

India will randomly test 2 percent of international travelers arriving in the country’s airports for COVID, with effect from Saturday (December 24) 10 am IST , as announced by Mansukh Mandaviya, Health Minister on Thursday December 21. Travelers will be allowed to leave the airport after submitting their sample. After the random testing, if found COVID-positive, the person’s sample shall be sent for genomic testing at a designated INSACOG laboratory network; reports shall be hared with Integrated Disease Surveillance Program at [email protected] by the concerned testing laboratory (besides sharing with the airport health organization APHOS) to be in turn shared with concerned state or union territory for further follow-up action.

India is becoming increasingly cautious after a surge in cases recorded in neighboring China as well as in Brazil, US, Japan, and Korea, besides it being the ongoing holiday and festive season, which witnesses a jump in travel. In another move, visitors to the Taj Mahal (Agra, Uttar Pradesh state), will undergo a COVID-19 test before they enter, as per reporting from news agency ANI. While wearing masks are not currently mandatory in most parts of the country, it will likely be increasingly encouraged. For example, the southern state of Karnataka has made wearing masks mandatory indoors and in closed spaces in guidelines released December 22.

December 14, 2022

DNA reporting a travel advisory issued due to the ongoing chaos at Delhi international airport: “To ensure a quick security check, Air India has urged all travelers to bring just one piece of carry-on luggage and arrive at least 3.5 hours early.”
Times of India reporting that Hong Kong and Nigeria are among the latest to remove COVID-19 travel rules for international travelers.
Business Today reporting that IndiGo has announced 32 connecting flights between India and Europe – flying to Milan, Manchester, Birmingham, Rome, and Venice – starting December 7, 2022. These international flights will operate in partnership with Turkish Airlines.

November 2022

Times of India reporting that Germany is relaxing visa appointment rules for Indian tourists. According to German Missions in the country, Indian travelers can book their visa appointment at any VFS global Visa Application Centre in major Indian cities and the Schengen visa can be applied for three months before the travel date. However, this relaxation does not apply to the D-visa category – students, employment, and family reunion visas, among others.
New Air India flights announced between India and US, Europe ( Business Traveller ): – Air India is launching new flights connecting Mumbai with New York, Paris, and Frankfurt, and resuming non-stop flights connecting Delhi with Copenhagen, Milan, and Vienna. The new daily Mumbai-New York service to John F Kennedy International Airport will commence February 14, 2023, which will take Air India’s India-US frequency to 47 non-stop flights per week. – The new Air India flights from Delhi to Europe announced are: four weekly Delhi-Milan from February 1, 2023 and three weekly flights each on the Delhi-Vienna and Delhi-Copenhagen routes starting February 18 and March 1, 2023, respectively. – From Mumbai, new Air India flights are currently being planned to Paris* (thrice-weekly) and Frankfurt* (four weekly) from the next quarter.
India is discontinuing the Air Suvidha self-declaration form starting November 22, 2022. Passengers flying into India will no longer need to fill out the Air Suvidha form from November 21-22 midnight and will not need to take an RT-PCR COVID-19 test.

On November 14, the Canada government concluded an expanded Canada-India Air Transport Agreement “to allow unlimited flights between both countries”. The announcement said: “The expanded agreement allows designated airlines to operate an unlimited number of flights between the two countries. The previous agreement limited each country to 35 flights per week. The new rights under the expanded agreement are available for use by airlines immediately. Money Control reports that this will give Canadian airlines access to the Indian cities of Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai while Indian airlines will receive access to Toronto, Edmonton, Montreal, and Vancouver as well as two additional points (Canadian cities) selected by India. India is Canada’s fourth largest international air transport market and there are an estimated 1.5 million Indians living in Canada. Presently the only non-stop direct flights in this market are from Air India and Air Canada.

October 2022

The Financial Express reports plans of Air India to add 20 weekly, non-stop flights to the US and UK between October and December. “With five additional flights a week to Birmingham, nine additional flights to London, and six additional flights a week to San Francisco, Air India said it will be able to offer over 5,000 additional seats every week.” Soon there will be seven Indian cities offering direct Air India flights to London.

September 2022

No new updates were made to the “Risk Levels” and “Safety and Security” sections of the Canadian government’s travel advisory for India: The Hindu report .
Hong Kong is lifting compulsory quarantine requirement for arrivals starting from September 26. There will be three days of medical surveillance during which inbound persons are free to go out but are obliged to comply with Amber Code restrictions under the Vaccine Pass, followed by a four-day self-monitoring period, making it a 7-day observation period in total, as per the Hong Kong government’s notification .
Taiwan will end mandatory quarantine for travelers arriving in the country from October 13 as per reporting from Reuters . Speaking to the media, Taiwan’s Cabinet spokesperson Lo Ping-cheng stated that from September 29, visa-free entry will be resumed for overseas travelers that previously enjoyed that status. Under its ‘New Taiwan Model’, the government is set to increase weekly arrival limits for international travelers to 60,000 from 10,000 and will not require PCR tests for arrivals. If the pandemic situation is stable, the country will end quarantine from around October 13 and increase the weekly arrival limit to 150,000.
Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced travel relaxations in Japan while in New York for the UN General Assemebly session. “… from 11 October, Japan will relax border control measures to be on par with the US, as well as resume visa-free travel and individual travel.” BBC reports that the cap on daily arrivals will also be lifted.
Fiji removed its COVID-19 test requirements for international travelers from September 5, 2022.
Media is reporting that Indians traveling to Indonesia can fast track their visa applications on arriving in Jakarta as VFS Global has reached an exclusive agreement with the Indonesian Immigrant Department.
See India’s guidelines for international arrivals – dated September 2, 2022 – which came in effect the next day. The document provides protocols to be complied by international travelers as well as those to be followed by airlines and all points of entry (airports, seaports, and land border).
International flights resumed operations starting September 3, in Guwahati’s (Assam state) Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (LGBIA), after a gap of two years. In the next few months, officials speaking to the Hindustan Times said that the LGBIA airport will start flights from Guwahati to Yangon (Myanmar), Kathmandu (Nepal), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Hanoi (Vietnam), and Bangkok (Thailand).

January – August, 2022

Airlines and travel agents in India have to share details of international travelers with the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBIC) 24 hours before departure and arrival. The information will be provided to the National Customs Targeting Centre-Passenger (NCTC). While this rule had been proposed five years ago, to combat tax avoidance and tax evasion, the government has only now developed a regulatory framework to implement this. India is among 60 countries collecting such details of international passengers. The Ministry of Finance issued the notification on August 8, 2022, as per media reports .
China no longer requires COVID test information for international arrivals from August 31, 2022 : On Thursday, August 25, 2022, China’s General Administration of Customs released a new health declaration form for international arrivals, which removes the requirement for visitors to report their nucleic acid test results, infection status, and vaccination dates. This ninth version of the health declaration form will be implemented starting from August 31, 2022, and international visitors can report their health status online by filling out a form on the related WeChat account or webpage. Some media interpret that with this update, the current entry requirement, that is, the requirement to have international passengers take two PCR tests for COVID-19 within 48 hours of their departure, the second of which must be within 24 hours of their departure — will be lifted. However, considering that China is still sticking to its dynamic zero-COVID strategy, we recommend that international travelers double-check with their flight companies for further information.
The Chinese Embassy in India has updated its “ Application Procedures and Material Requirements of China Visa “, to be implemented from August 24, 2022. See here for the list of requirements and procedures for various types of Chinese visas, including the M-Visa (commercial and trade activities) and the X1-Visa (long-term study): http://in.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/lsfw/qz/202208/t20220822_10748221.htm
The Business Standard noted in a report that China was working to facilitate the return of foreign students, including from India, who have been stuck due to the COVID-19 visa restriction. The paper quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin who told media that the Chinese side were working intensively for the return of foreign students to China. In updated comments on the foreign ministry website, Wenbin said: “We are confident in seeing the return of the first group of Indian students in the near future. Building on that, the Chinese side will further proceed with the return of other Indian students in a well thought-out and orderly manner.”
India’s domestic air fare caps will end from August 31, as the civil aviation regulator DGCA rolls back restrictions imposed in 2020. This minimum to maximum price band had been introduced to avoid sky high ticket prices due to pent up demand in the domestic travel market.
India’s passport offers visa-free access to 60 countries , including Bhutan, Nepal, Macao, Oman, Qatar, and Fiji. According to the latest Henley Passport Index, published by immigration consultancy Henley & Partners, India’s passport ranked 87th. India had ranked 90th in Q3 and Q4 in 2021. The latest index is topped by Japan, whose passport offers visa-free access to 193 countries, followed by South Korea and Singapore (at 192 countries each), and Germany and Spain (190). As per reporting by the Hindustan Times: Indians have ‘visa-on-arrival’ access in Thailand, Indonesia, Maldives, and Sri Lanka as well as 21 countries in Africa.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum on Tuesday, the Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang, promised to relax restrictions on international travel in an “orderly” way , which would include facilitating the return of foreign students to rejoin Chinese colleges. Around 500,000 foreign students are enrolled at universities in China, including 23,000 Indians. Li said: “All international students may return to China to continue their studies should they so wish, and outbound commerce and trade activities and cross-border travel for labor services will be advanced in an orderly fashion.” The comments were made during a Special Virtual Dialogue with Global Business Leaders hosted by the forum. Foreign diplomatic missions in China are presently trying to speed up the process to facilitate the return of international students to China. While this is now in a small-scale trial mode, any large-scale opening can be expected only when the country’s epidemic outbreaks slow down.
Competent authorities in China and India are communicating on securing the resumption of flights and to bring back the first group of Indian students to China at the earliest as reported in The Economic Times.
Bhutan is allowing travelers into the country from September 23, 2022 – after a two-year gap. Tourists from India should note the levy of a sustainable development fee (SDF), charged at 1,200 ngultrums (approx. INR 1200) per day; children between the age of six and 12 are charged INR 600 per day and no fee is charged from children below the age of five. The SDF fee is not applicable everywhere – there are exemptions to the levy in 11 districts in the less popular Eastern Bhutan region, until December 2024.
India is working to roll out e-passports as per its external affairs minister S. Jaishankar. The minister also informed that the Passport Seva System had been integrated with the DigiLocker system to facilitate paperless documentation. Jaishankar added: “The Ministry in collaboration with the Department of Posts operationalized 428 Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs) to reach out to our citizens at their doorsteps. The Ministry has successfully integrated the passport issuance systems in 178 of our Embassies and Consulates abroad.”
Saudi Arabia has lifted COVID-related travel restrictions on citizens travelling to India, Ethiopia, Turkey, and Vietnam and is accepting pilgrims for the forthcoming annual Hajj season, The Hindu reports June 20, 2022. The requirement to wear face masks in closed places has also been relaxed.
China has updated its visa policy for Indians , including Indian professionals and students. China will accept visa applications of foreign nationals and their accompanying family members seeking to return to China for resumption of work in all fields. Visas for tourism and private purposes remain suspended. The details of over 12,000 Indian students have reportedly been forwarded to the Chinese government for visa processing. (Over 23,000 Indian students – mostly enrolled in medical colleges in China – had to return to India and were stuck during the last few years due to the coronavirus pandemic, which first broke out December 2019.) However, China is yet to announce resumption of normal flight facilities between the two countries.
The US does not require arriving international travelers to take a COVID-19 test within a day before boarding their flights to the country from June 12, Sunday. “As of 12:01AM ET on June 12, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will no longer require air passengers traveling from a foreign country to the United States to show a negative COVID-19 viral test or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before they board their flight. For more information, see Rescission: Requirement for Negative Pre-Departure COVID-19 Test Result or Documentation of Recovery from COVID-19 for all Airline or Other Aircraft Passengers Arriving into the United States from Any Foreign Country .”
Media reports say the DGCA has made masks mandatory at Indian airports and during flights. India recorded 7,240 new cases in 24 hours [ June 9 MoHFW update], the highest since March.
On Wednesday, June 8, India’s aviation regulator DGCA announced fresh guidelines for COVID-appropriate behavior. The wearing of masks is now mandatory inside the flight / throughout the air travel , and mask removal is permitted only under exceptional circumstances. Violators could be treated as ‘unruly passengers’ and removed from the flight before departure. This is in line with a Delhi High Court order, which stipulates that violators can be put on ‘no fly list’.
India’s overall passenger traffic (both domestic and international) at airports reached 93 percent of pre-COVID levels in May 2022. International passenger traffic reached 63 percent and 72 percent of pre-COVID levels in April and May, respectively. Recovery of domestic travel reached 98 percent of pre-COVID levels in May 2022.
Turkey has relaxed all the conditions for Indian travelers entering the country, Turkiye Tourism Board said on Monday, June 6. Now, Indian travelers no longer have to show proof of vaccination or proof of recovery from COVID-29 or negative RT-PCR test report.
The United States Embassy in India has tweeted (8.23pm, May 29): “The US Mission to India is pleased to announce that we are resuming routine in-person tourist visa appointments in September 2022. Previously scheduled placeholders have now been cancelled. Applicants whose placeholder appointments were cancelled may now reenter the scheduling system to book regular appointments. Appointments have been opened through 2023.”
Media reports say that Israel has removed COVID-19-linked travel requirements for foreign visitors, such as presenting a negative RT-PCR test prior to departure, undergoing an RT-PCR test upon arrival, and quarantine observation.
Livemint reports: “Malaysia Airlines will add new routes, increase frequencies and upgrade aircraft to cater to the Indian market, which remains a key geography for the airline.”
Saudi Arabia has banned its citizens from travelling to sixteen countries, including India, Indonesia, and Vietnam, after the Gulf state has recorded a five-fold rise in COVID-19 cases. News18 reports : “Saudi Arabia’s General Department of Passports dropped several Covid-19 restrictions towards the end of last year but are now reimposing some of them as Covid-19 cases are being reported from various parts of the world and China and North Korea bearing the brunt of the Omicron variant which is leading to fresh cases.”
Indian announced on May 12 that citizens planning to travel abroad are now eligible to get a third (booster/precaution) dose of vaccine three months after their second dose. The rules otherwise stipulate a nine-month gap between the second dose and booster shot.
Scoot, the budget airline from Singapore Airlines Group, has launched daily flight services between Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) and Singapore, up from three times a week. As per reporting by The Hindu [April 27, 2022], Scoot has a network of 42 destinations in 16 countries and territories, including Australia and Southeast Asia.
VietJet has announced that it will resume operations of six flights – on the Delhi-Hanoi route and Delhi-Ho Chi Minh City route from April 29, 2022. New flights have also been added by VietJet on the Mumbai-Phu Quoc route and New Delhi-Phu Quoc route, which are scheduled to start from September 9, 2022.
Hong Kong has banned Air India flights till April 24 due to COVID-19 as three passengers on board one of its flights had reportedly tested positive on arrival.
On April 11, Times of India reported that fully vaccinated passengers from the UAE traveling to India will not necessarily require a pre-departure RT-PCR test at the airport. The move is on a reciprocity basis. However, UAE travelers will need to fill out the passenger locator form on the Air Suvidha portal – same as travelers from any other destination visiting India. Also, travelers need to upload their COVID-19 vaccination certificate onto the Air Suvidha portal.
Scheduled international flight services have resumed from Sunday, March 27, 2022 after being suspended for two years due to COVID-19. Starting March 27, six Indian airlines and 60 foreign airlines will connect India with 63 countries . Under the new summer schedule (March 27 to October 29), foreign airlines will operate 1,783 weekly flights and Indian carriers will operate 1,466 departures every week. Among domestic airlines, IndiGo will operate 505 departures per week, followed by Tata Group-owned Air India at 361 weekly flights and its subsidiary Air India Express will operate 340 flights per week.
From the Indian Express : More international airlines add flights to India : “Emirates said… it will be operating the 35 weekly flights from Mumbai, 28 from Delhi, 24 from Bengaluru, 21 each from Chennai and Hyderabad, 14 from Kochi, 11 from Kolkata, nine from Ahmedabad and seven from Thiruvananthapuram.”
On March 21, 2022, Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced that from April 1, the Government will lift the flight ban on nine countries (i.e., Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, the UK, the USA, and Nepal) and cut the hotel quarantine period for arrivals. Currently, passenger aircraft from these nine countries are not allowed to land in Hong Kong. The Chief Executive also announced the preconditions for boarding a flight to Hong Kong and the COVID-19 control and prevention measures to be implemented upon arrival. Given this, there are comments saying that traveling to Hong Kong will not get much easier even after the ban is lifted. Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. plans just one inbound flight every two weeks for fear to be subjected to the city’s 14-day ban on airlines that carry too many passengers found to be infected with COVID-19.
Singapore announced it is lifting restrictions for all vaccinated travelers from next week. According to officials, from April 1, fully vaccinated adults and unvaccinated children will be allowed to enter Singapore without quarantining, if they take a pre-departure test . Only travelers on a ‘restricted list’ will face curbs in entering Singapore; as of March 24, 2022 – there are no countries on this list.
On March 21, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) announced relaxed COVID-19-related regulations. NDTV reports MoCA saying “cabin crew members need not wear PPE kit, airlines need not keep three seats vacant on international flights for medical emergencies and security personnel at airports can resume pat-down search of passengers.” However, the use of face mask and maintenance of hand hygiene/sanitizer continues to be mandatory . Airlines may carry additional PPE protective gear, sanitizers, and N-95 masks to handle any respiratory infections related to cases on air – for passengers as well as the crew.
Cochin International Airport announces summer schedule (March 27 to October 29) with 1,190 weekly operations (international and domestic flights). 20 airlines will operate flights to destinations abroad (including 16 international carriers). Indigo has the most weekly departures to international destinations (42) and Air India Express accounts for 38 weekly departure operations. Other prominent carriers are Air Asia Berhad, Ethihad, Emirates, Oman Air, Qatar Air, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Thai Airways, Sri Lankan Airlines, Gulf Air, and Fly Dubai. 44 weekly departures are scheduled for Dubai, followed by Abu Dhabi with 42. Air India Express will continue its weekly operations to London and Thai Air Asia will resume Kochi operations in June, with 4 weekly direct flights to Bangkok. Source: The Hindu Business Line
Useful Quick Links from the Air India portal: – Official Circular on Restoration of Indian Visa (E-Tourist Visa and Tourist Visa) for Foreign Tourists – Circular For Generating and Accessing International Digital Covid 19 Vaccination Certificate – International Travel Advisories
Singapore Airlines Group press release: All Singapore Airlines flights from India to Singapore will operate as vaccinated travel lane (VTL) services from March 16, 2022. This will provide eligible customers with quarantine-free entry into Singapore from eight points across India. Scoot, SIA’s low-cost subsidiary, will also progressively convert its non-VTL services from Amritsar, Coimbatore, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchi, and Visakhapatnam to VTL services. Short-term visitors and Singapore work-permit holders who seek to avail VTL services must apply for a Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP) prior to their visa application. VTP applications should be made between three and 60 calendar days before the person’s intended date of entry into Singapore. Travelers must ensure their eligibility to use the VTL services before their flight.
Regular international flights to resume March 27, 2022 after two years suspension. This is the start of the summer schedule 2022.
Economic Times reporting “ Global travel shedding Covid baggage as several nations ease restrictions for Indians “.
India has once again extended its ban on regular commercial international passenger flights – until further orders – as per a circular dated February 28, 2022 issued by the Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Flights under air bubble arrangements and international cargo flights will continue.
On February 28, 2022 , the Indian government updated its “ List of Countries/Regions in respect of which primary vaccination schedule completion certificate is allowed to be uploaded ” on the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare website: see document here . There are 88 countries now on this list . (The Union health ministry has removed the at-risk categorization of countries.)
India and Thailand have finalized an air bubble arrangement, bringing the total number of such bilateral flight agreements to 37. Airline carriers between India and Thailand will begin operating flights starting in March, which will be subject to approval from the government. Thai Airways will commence flights between India and Thailand starting March 1 under this air bubble. Travelers should note the health protocols and the respective schedules of approved flights between Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Bangkok. Meanwhile, on February 25, SpiceJet announced it will launch six new international flights to Bangkok, commencing from March 10 in a phased manner. SpiceJet plans to launch flights connecting Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata with Bangkok. India reportedly has plans to reopen its regular international travel from March 15, but this is still a tentative date.
Singapore, UAE, and Kuwait have updated their travel guidelines and COVID-prevention protocols for travelers from India. See here to know more.
The Airport Authority of India has updated its state-wise guidelines for arriving passengers – by region. The PDF links may be accessed here: COVID Guidelines India Northern Region 14-02-2022 COVID Guidelines India Western Region 21.02.2022 COVID Guidelines India Southern Region 22-02-20212 COVID Guidelines India Eastern Region 18-02-2022 COVID Guidelines India North East Region 17-02-2022
Dubai ends rapid RT-PCR rules for Indian travelers. Under the new rules , travelers from India have to produce a negative COVID-19 test certificate issued by an approved health service provider and generated 48 hours before scheduled departure of the flight. Passengers will undergo a PCR test upon arrival in Dubai. Transit passengers will be expected to follow rules governing entry at their final destination.
It is being reported in The Economic Times that the aviation ministry has requested approval from the health ministry to allow resumption of international flights from mid-March. Reason cited by unnamed government source is that domestic traffic has rebounded.
The government has removed restrictions on the number of flights that can be operated between India and Ukraine under their bilateral air bubble arrangement to facilitate travel of Indians from the eastern European country. India has advised its citizens to temporarily leave Ukraine amid its deteriorating relations with Russia.
Indian media are reporting that the government is soon to make a decision on whether regular international flights can resume in the summer (March/April). It is being reported by The Economic Times that the aviation ministry has set an internal target of resuming international flight services once domestic airlines capacity touches 80% of pre-COVID flights. (Domestic airlines operated over 2,800 flights before the pandemic struck in 2020; as of February 13, they operated 2,058 flights. To reach the 80% mark, this number has to exceed 2,200.)
No testing or mandatory quarantine required for international travelers from February 14, 2022: On February 10, India revised guidelines for international arrivals, which will come into effect February 14, 2022 (Monday, 00.01 Hrs IST). The new guidelines remove the category of ‘at risk’ countries and has scrapped the seven-day mandatory quarantine. Instead, India’s health authorities recommend self-monitoring of 14 days for symptoms . The Union Health Ministry stated that there is “need to monitor the continuously changing” COVID-19 virus but accepted that “economic activities need to be taken up in an unhindered manner”. As per the latest guidelines, all foreign arrivals have to fill a self-declaration form online (Air Suvidha web portal), including a travel history of the past 14 days. They must also upload a negative RT-PCR test conducted within 72 hours of the departure date. Alternatively, they can upload a certificate confirming that they are fully vaccinated. This alternative option is only available for passengers arriving from the 72 countries whose vaccination program are recognized by the Indian government. They include Canada, Hong Kong, USA, UK, Bahrain, Qatar, Australia, New Zealand, and some European countries. See here for the official notification on the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare portal.
Australia will reopen its borders for international tourists from February 21 , subject to conditions. The move comes after almost two years of pandemic-linked travel restrictions. Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison said while making the announcement: “The condition is you must be double vaccinated to come to Australia. That’s the rule. Everyone is expected to abide by it.” However, travelers to Australia should note the state-wise rules and restrictions.
Vietnam reported to reopen for tourism, welcome foreign travelers from March 15, 2022. See here for information pertaining to travel to Vietnam .
On February 5, Bali reopened its borders for international travelers and resumed direct international flights. See here for information on travel to Indonesia .
On February 4, the state of Kerala released revised guidelines for international travelers. ( See here for the official notification by the Kerala government.) Any international traveler coming to Kerala, irrespective of their duration of stay, must undergo symptom surveillance. If they are found symptomatic, they must undertake an RT-PCR test at cost at the airport and take further action as per the test results. The revised rules advise home quarantine for international travelers who do not show symptoms; they must self-monitor their health for 7 days from the date of arrival and undergo testing if they develop symptoms. Rapid Antigen Test is advised on the 8th day after arrival. There will be random testing of 2% of international travelers on the flight, irrespective of the country of departure, and the costs will be borne by the Kerala state government.
Singapore Airlines has restarted the vaccinated travel lane (VTL) with India. VTL flights allow quarantine-free travel into Singapore. There are VTL flights from Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai into Singapore. (Singapore has also restarted its vaccinated travel lane with Malaysia.) Passengers should note that there are limited flights and reduced seat quota on these routes.
The West Bengal state government announced on January 31, that it is rolling back its ban on all international direct flights coming from the United Kingdom to Kolkata.
Indians who are fully vaccinated can reportedly travel to these seven countries: UK, Thailand, Singapore, Cyprus, Vietnam, Israel, and Saint Lucia in the Caribbean.
Canada has relaxed COVID-19 testing requirements for travelers from India, starting January 28, 2022. People traveling on direct flights or on a one-stop flight from India do not have to show a negative RT-PCR test done at the Delhi airport within 18 hours of their departure. However, Canada still requires travelers from India to show an RT-PCR test report from an ICMR-approved lab . Fully vaccinated travelers must upload their relevant details onto the ArriveCAN app or website.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs – Guidelines for International Arrivals – Quick Access to Documents: https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/GuidelinesforInternationalarrivalsupdatedon10thFebruary2022.pdf
India has extended the ban on scheduled international commercial flights to 23:59 February 28, 2022: Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). This ban does not apply to international all-cargo operations and the DGCA-approved flights. The notification was released by the DGCA on January 19, 2022.
Hong Kong bars flights from India, U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada, France, Pakistan, and Philippines over Omicron fears, reports The Hindu (Jan.5, 2022).
Countries reported to be requiring mandatory vaccine booster shots for travelers include Kuwait, Netherlands, Switzerland, France, Croatia, Austria, Greece, and Israel.
Gulf News is reporting that India is currently making a “day to day” assessment on the resumption of normal international flights. “One has to balance the concerns of public safety and travel,” said Rakesh Kumar Verma, Additional Secretary, Tourism, Government of India. “We will take very expeditious action as and when things improve and the assessment is carried out. I’m hopeful that [full] international travel will resume soon.”
Starting January 1, 2022, India’s air bubble arrangement with Saudi Arabia will be in effect.
India has reached an air bubble agreement with Australia. According to reporting from Livemint : “Australian airline Qantas has recently started flights between Sydney and New Delhi. The airline is also set to start flights between New Delhi and Melbourne before Christmas. Air India also operated direct commercial flights connecting New Delhi with Melbourne and Sydney before scheduled international flights were suspended by the Indian government. Air India flights between India and Australia will resume in coming days, said a senior official with the airline.”
As of December 7, 2021 , India’s Civil Aviation and Health Ministry has made contactless self-declaration at Air Suvidha Portal mandatory for purpose of contact tracing. Exemption forms from the Air Suvidha portal has been discontinued. All international passengers arriving in India must fill in all the details.
108 countries recognize India’s COVID-19 vaccination certificate for travel purpose as per data available on December 6, 2021 .

Commercial international flights were suspended in India since March 25, 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak. Travel restrictions have begun to be gradually relaxed from October 2021.

Below we highlight the latest guidelines for international travel to and from India.

Latest updates

Status of india’s international air operations.

On March 8, an order from the government confirmed resumption of regular international flights from March 27, 2022 . “After being recognized the increase of vaccination coverage across the globe and in consultation with the stakeholders, the government of India has decided to resume scheduled commercial international passenger services to/from India from March 27, 2022, ie [that is] start of the summer schedule 2022,” said the order. India had suspended international flights for the first time in March 2020 and began operating air bubble arrangements since July 2020.
As of February 28, 2022, India has extended its suspension of scheduled international flights “till further orders”.
India rolled back its intention to resume normal international flight schedules from December due to the emergence of the Omicron COVID variant. On December 9, 2021, the civil aviation regulator announced announced the postponement of international scheduled commercial flights till February 28, 2022. Air bubble and evacuation flights schedules, approved flights, and air cargo will function.

India releases periodic guidelines for international passengers coming into India based on the trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic and emergence of regional variants and their threat assessment. The latest travel guidelines for international arrivals to India were released on February 10, 2022 (and supersede previous notifications): https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/GuidelinesforInternationalarrivalsupdatedon10thFebruary2022.pdf

The Air Suvidha portal for submission of Self Declaration Form, which is mandatory: https://www.newdelhiairport.in/airsuvidha/apho-registration

For evacuation flight schedule Phase 14 (October 1, 2021 to March 26, 2022), see Air India Vande Bharat Mission here (download PDF): https://www.airindia.in/images/pdf/VBM-schedule-dtd-30sep2021-PHASE14.pdf . The evacuation mission has been in place since May 7, 2020. For destinations operated under air bubble arrangement Phase 13 ( September 1, 2021 to September 30, 2021), click here for PDF download .

As of April 15, 2021, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has restored electronic visa (e-visa) facility for foreigners from 156 countries. The e-visa facility is applicable for international tourists who wish to visit India for conferences, medical purposes, or business. The e-visa also extends to medical attendants.

Air Transport Bubbles

India has also established “Transport Bubbles” or “Air Travel Arrangements”, which are temporary arrangements between two countries aimed at restarting commercial passenger services when regular international flights are suspended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. They are reciprocal in nature, meaning airlines from both countries enjoy similar benefits.

The details of such arrangements were last updated in February 2022.

India now has 37 air bubble arrangements in place: Afghanistan, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Canada, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Iraq, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Ukraine, UAE, UK, USA, and Uzbekistan.

More details can be seen on the government website here: https://www.civilaviation.gov.in/en/about-air-transport-bubbles

Full service carrier Vistara has started non-stop flight services to Paris from Delhi under the air bubble agreement between India and Europe, according to reporting from The Economic Times . Under the air bubble pact, Vistara’s Boeing 787-9 (Dreamliner) aircraft will fly twice a week between Delhi and Paris – on Wednesday and Sunday. London, Frankfurt, Dubai, Doha, Sharjah, and Male are the other international destinations covered by Vistara, which is a joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines.
The US will be lifting travel restrictions on foreign countries from November 8, Monday. Travelers must show proof of vaccination (WHO-approved vaccines); unvaccinated minors will be subject to testing requirements; and all travelers will need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test 72 hours before departure to the US. See here for Reuters coverage of the changing rules.
Air India will offer non-stop flights between Delhi and Sydney starting November 15, 2021. Air India will operate the thrice-a-week service on the Delhi-Sydney-Delhi route under the Vande Bharat Mission. Australia has also formally recognized Covaxin, India’s COVID-19 vaccine.
India’s new visa norms stipulate that visas will be granted to foreigners only if they use water and air routes, not land routes. The Ministry of Home Affairs has allowed the gradual resumption of international travel to start from October 15, 2021 and tourist and e-visas will be issued for only a single entry per month. From November 15, all individual foreign nationals (on fresh tourist visas) will be allowed to enter India after observing prevailing COVID-19 protocols as notified by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
The Union Home Ministry announced on Thursday that India will allow foreign tourists traveling by chartered flights (Vande Bharat and air bubble flights) from October 15, rest from November 15, 2021. Foreigner tourists will be allowed to come in on non-charter flights from November 15 unless the extended restrictions on scheduled flights is substantially lifted. See the Home Ministry’s press briefing here and reporting by the Economic Times here .
The Hindustan Times reporting on October 2 : “Australia’s visiting trade and tourism minister Dan Tehan said foreign students will be able to start “returning towards the end of this year and the beginning of next year”, ahead of the start of the first semester in February-March 2022. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) of Australia listed Covishield and China’s Coronavac (Sinovac) as “recognised vaccines” after an initial assessment of data on protection offered by the two jabs.”
CoWin, India’s digital platform for COVID-19 vaccination, is allowing travelers to download an international version of their COVID-19 vaccine certificate, which is compliant with WHO’s international travel guidelines. This feature went live on September 30, 2021, and allows fully vaccinated individuals to update their existing photo identity to passport number and date of birth to get their International Travel Certificate. See website: https://www.cowin.gov.in/
The Indian Bureau of Immigration noted the specific categories of foreign nationals who are permitted to enter India by water routes or by flights, including those under the Vande Bharat Mission, or ‘Air Bubble’ (Bilateral Air Travel Arrangements) Scheme, or by any non-scheduled commercial flights as allowed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation in its notice MHA O.M. No.25022/24/2020-F.V/F.I dated October 21, 2020. See here for reference.
Air India has said it will run direct services between Muscat and Vijayawada “once a week or thrice from the first week of July”. The Vijayawada International Airport resumed international flights to Gulf destinations, such as Dubai, Kuwait, Muscat in June, to Singapore in April.
Budget carrier Air India Express will operate a total of 64 flights between Malaysia and India in July under Vande Bharat Mission. More below.
Foreign nationals who wish to travel to India for medical treatment can apply for a fresh visa under this category and choose one attendant to accompany them as per the visa category provisions (that is, if the original applicant has their medical visa approved).
On October 8, 2020, India’s civil aviation authority said the future of international flights will depend on the availability of a vaccine, hinting at the extension of air travel bubble arrangements into March-April next year.
Low-cost carrier SpiceJet announces its new flight operations connecting Delhi and Mumbai with London, starting December 4, which will come under the India-UK air bubble agreement.
New standard operating protocol announced August 22, 2020 for non-scheduled commercial flights under the repatriation scheme, Vande Bharat Mission, and Air Transport Bubble Agreements.

(Note: This article was originally published on August 4, 2020 and last updated on February 10, 2023.)

India Briefing is produced by Dezan Shira & Associates . The firm assists foreign investors throughout Asia from offices across the world, including in Delhi and Mumbai . Readers may write to [email protected] for business support in India.

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U.S. Restricts Travel From India Amid COVID-19 Surge

Suprabhat Dutta / Getty Images

Key Takeaways

On May 4, the United States government restricted the travel of foreign nationals from India to the U.S.
The restriction is in response to a surge of COVID-19 cases in India and will significantly impact Indian Americans and immigrants who will not be able to go home and visit their families.
Individuals can help by supporting and donating to mutual aid and fundraising efforts.

On May 4, the United States government enacted travel restrictions on India amid a surge in COVID-19 cases in the country, limiting most non-U.S. citizens from traveling to the U.S.

The ban does not apply to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, journalists, certain students and academics, and people traveling for humanitarian, public health, or national security reasons.

“What happens in India—or really anywhere in the world—affects all of us,” Krutika Kuppalli, MD , assistant professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases at the Medical University of South Carolina, tells Verywell. “The situation in India will have downstream global effects and it is in our best interests to get this under control.”

Why Is There a Surge of COVID-19 Cases in India?

About three months after India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare announced that the country's COVID-19 infections and mortality reached an all-time low , the country experienced the highest daily tally of new COVID-19 infections ever recorded globally.

With 314,835 new cases recorded on April 22, India's case count exceeded the previous highest one-day rise of COVID-19 cases set by the U.S. back in January. The country's numbers continued to set and surpass a new global record as the days passed. As of May 8, India reported 401,078 new infections.

“The surge is due to a complex number of things and not just one thing,” Kuppalli says. “India has very complicated population density issues that intersect its socio-economic dynamics. This, along with the relaxing of public health measures, set up a perfect storm for the surge to occur. I also think there was a false narrative [that] India ‘beat’ the pandemic because they did relatively well compared to other countries during the first wave.”

Kartik Cherabuddi, MD, FACP , hospital epidemiologist and associate professor of infectious diseases and global medicine at the University of Florida, tells Verywell that other factors contributing to the surge may include “poor leadership, mass gatherings, a slow vaccination drive, lack of public health infrastructure, and variants that are more communicable with inadequate protective immunity from prior infection."

The Impact on India's Healthcare System

The massive surge of cases continues to overwhelm India’s healthcare system, leading to shortages of basic supplies and hospital beds.

“For context, this is like what we experienced in New York City, only exponentially widespread and worse,” Cherabuddi says. “We have not yet seen the peak of this second wave and that is concerning as deaths will follow.”

India currently needs:

Oxygen cylinders
Delivery equipment and concentrators
Pulse oximeters
Frontline medical provider supplies
COVID-19 tests
COVID-19 vaccines and raw materials to produce it
Hospital beds

“We are witnessing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in India and neighboring countries,” Cherabuddi adds. “This is not just about medical care. It will affect every aspect of human life in the Indian subcontinent and beyond. The repercussions include regional and global spread, delayed supply of COVID-19 vaccines from India to the world, and impact on global medicine supply.”

Why Is a Travel Restriction Necessary?

Throughout the pandemic, countries have enacted travel restrictions and bans in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19.

“Travel restrictions and lockdowns are epidemiological tools that help prevent spread when there is a huge surge in cases,” Cherabuddi says. “We have learned from prior experiences during this pandemic that they must be implemented in a humane manner. Travel advisories and restrictions are consistent with standard public health response to any epidemic or pandemic.”

However, “travel restrictions don’t prevent these variants from spreading and that by the time a variant is detected in another country, it has likely already spread,” Kuppalli says, adding that these bans will only slow the spread of variants—not prevent them.

According to Cherabuddi, a supervised or mandatory quarantine upon return to the U.S. in addition to a travel warning was a possible alternative.

Travel Restrictions Are Affecting Indian Americans

The current travel restrictions were implemented as a necessary public health measure, but now some Indian Americans and Indian immigrants in the U.S. are unable to see their families in person. "Even figuring out how to send supplies to them is a challenge as well," Kuppalli says.

“Indian Americans and communities are dealing with their friends and family members, including immediate family, becoming seriously ill or passing away,” Cherabuddi says. “There is a strong sense of helplessness, guilt, and grief of not being there for their loved ones in this time of need.”

Fully vaccinated individuals with relatives in India may have been looking forward to visiting their families. But travel restrictions make the situation even more fraught.

“It is really difficult to not be able to visit family, and stay away from loved ones,” Lija Joseph, MD , adjunct associate professor of pathology & laboratory medicine at the Boston University School of Medicine, tells Verywell. “I know of some who are not able to go home for the funerals of their loved ones, which makes it really difficult to bring closure in addition to the tragedy of the pandemic.”

Cherabuddi says the COVID-19 crisis in India may lead to some long-term effects including “the negation of gains made over the past decade in poverty, literacy, hunger, malaria, [and] HIV and TB control and mortality. On a global scale, most of humanity has not been vaccinated and this surge will spread like wildfire unless swift action is taken."

What This Means For You

You can show your solidarity by supporting and donating to mutual aid and fundraising initiatives working to help India contain the surge of COVID-19 cases and recover. Cash supplies will be used to provide medical equipment, food, and other necessary provisions.

How Can I Help?

The U.S. government is stepping up to help India, Joseph says. The U.S. promised to send about 60 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine when it receives approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has also provided cash assistance, oxygen cylinders and regulators, rapid diagnostic tests, and N-95 respirators.

“The U.S. government has supported waiver of IP protections on COVID-19 vaccines which is helpful, but we must do more, including active intervention with provision of vaccine supplies and partnering with agencies in the production of vaccines which is crucial to curb further surges and deaths,” Cherabuddi says. “This is the time to help build capacity, exert influence on the government, and galvanize the international community in tackling this crisis.”

Kartik Cherabuddi, MD, FACP

It is not too late. Many communities and agencies have already led the way to action and are making a difference.

Other countries aside from the U.S. are also offering aid, but individuals can make a difference, too.

“It is not too late. Many communities and agencies have already led the way to action and are making a difference,” Cherabuddi says. “Individuals can show solidarity, advocate for support, and participate in donating effort or money to recognized agencies.”

You can support initiatives like OxygenForIndia to provide medical oxygen to hospitals and patients at home or Mazdoor Kitchen to supply meals to daily wage workers in Delhi. Online fundraising platforms like Mutual Aid India and Give India have plenty of crowdfunding campaigns on their website as well.

Many community organizers are also running mutual aid and fundraisers for vulnerable communities in India without social safety nets, and you may donate directly to the tribal families in Maharashtra , rural transgender people in Tamil Nadu , or Indians living in resettlement colonies in Chandigarh .

“There are many organizations that are providing online fundraising portals,” Joseph says. “Please support these efforts.”

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit our coronavirus news page .

The White House. A Proclamation on the Suspension of Entry as Nonimmigrants of Certain Additional Persons Who Pose a Risk of Transmitting Coronavirus Disease .

U.S. Department of State - Bureau of Consular Affairs. Presidential Proclamation on the Suspension of Entry as Nonimmigrants of Certain Additional Persons Who Pose a Risk of Transmitting Coronavirus Disease .

World Health Organization (WHO). WHO Coronavirus Tracker .

U.S. Agency for International Development. United States Airlifts Emergency Supplies to Help India Address Deadly Second Wave of Covid-19 Pandemic .

By Carla Delgado Carla M. Delgado is a health and culture writer based in the Philippines.

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Home » International Travel Guidelines for USA to India During Covid-19 12-12-23

International Travel Guidelines for USA to India During Covid-19

Last Updated on Dec 12th, 2023 by Heena Ganotra, 15 comments

Crazy long queues at the check-in counter. Ho-hum affairs at the baggage claim. Careless swishing and swooshing when the flight lands. Hubbub of people deboarding India flights for a grand homecoming!

Nostalgia hits hard when airport memories grab us by the arm and seek attention. But memories of India travel and booking cheap tickets to India are all we have!

Even though the year 2020 (and whatever part of 2021 we have seen) is all wasted because of everything that has been falling apart one after the other, the chief threat has been COVID-19. It has quite literally ruined the year in its entirety, making it the biggest nightmare of the century. While leisure trips are the last thing on anyone’s list, emergency travel falls first because of its unavoidability.

If you have an emergency flight to board, the following are a few things (under the International travel India checklist) that you must consider during COVID-19-

Travel Documents

As per the International Travel Guidelines given by the government on 21 September 2020, all Visas and e-visas issued before 30 June 2020 are invalidated. This, however, does not apply to-

– Diplomatic, official, UN/International Organizations or project visas/all categories of Employment visas

– Business visa (excluding B-3 visa for sports)

– Airline crew

Further, the Centre had also eased Visa Restrictions on 7 August 2020, allowing Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) and certain categories of foreigners from countries with which India has “air bubble agreements” with – like the USA, the UK, France, Germany, etc. Referring to this air-bubble agreement, The Ministry of Home Affairs said, “…all OCI card holders holding passports of such countries are permitted to enter India.”

The order that was released also mentioned that Indian nationals, who hold any type of valid visa of countries with which India has air-bubble agreements, can travel to that country, provided that particular country doesn’t have any travel restrictions on the entry of Indian nationals.

Sidenote (For India to USA travelers) – Since the US holds no such restrictions, Indian Nationals with valid visas can easily travel to the USA without any hassles.

Not only this; foreigners from countries with which India has entered into air bubble agreements can travel to India for business or medical reasons and also those who have some Indian connection (as given in the June 22 order). This allows –

Foreign minors and students who have at least one parent as an Indian Citizen or an OCI cardholder
Foreign nationals who are married to Indian citizens
Foreigners who are single parents with an Indian passport or OCI card-holding children.

Apart from this, the government had also allowed entry to dependent family members of foreign diplomats and service staff who are accredited to foreign diplomatic missions, consular offices, or accredited International Organizations in India. However, they are required to hold official service passports.

Passport Validity

Your passport must be valid for six months beyond the date of the visa application to obtain a visa and must have two blank pages.

A Negative RT-PCR Test

A negative RT-PCR test is required for India travel if you wish to seek exemption from the compulsory institutional quarantine at the transit city. However, to know the nitty-gritty of the same, you can read the why, how, where, and when of the negative RT-PCR test requirements here .

Travel Insurance

It’s absolutely important that you get travel insurance before your India trip. Also, make sure it covers emergency medical expenses across countries so you aren’t rendered bankrupt if you happen to fall sick during or after any of your trips. While most countries have made it mandatory, India hasn’t; but we’ll still recommend you have one.

Self-Reporting Form

It is a declaration by an individual that s/he doesn’t have any COVID-19 symptoms to the best of his knowledge. For India travel, this form is available official website by the name of ‘Air Suvidha Self-Reporting Form’. This form is to be filled mandatorily by all international travelers before the departure of their flight according to the guidelines for India travel, and even though the form is available from the New Delhi Airport website, it is applicable all over the country.

Carrying the printout of the same is absolutely necessary as the digital copy alone wouldn’t suffice. For those who fill the online form but end up not carrying the printout would have to fill two self-declaration forms on arrival before clearing the immigration, leading to delays at the health screening areas at the airport. On submission, the form is forwarded to the Airport Health Organisation (APHO) under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (GOI). Travelers can then refer to their mail for the updated form. This completed form is what is to be shown at the APHO counter before proceeding for immigration.

COVID Tracking App

Arogya Setu App

Many countries have come up with COVID-tracing apps to track the movements of immigrants. While the Arogya Setu app is compulsory in India, different apps are compulsory in other countries. For example – Australia has COVID Safe app, Dubai has the COVID-19 DXB Smart app, and Singapore has Trace Together.

Note: You only have to download the app. Many people have reported issues of not getting their OTPs in time. In that case, just install the app and leave. The checkings aren’t too strict and the officials only check if the app is there on the mobile device or not.

Safe Seniors App

Because aged people are at a higher risk of catching the virus, this app must be considered as part of senior citizens’ international travel guidelines checklist when they travel to India. The app analyzes the pre-conditions, exposure history, daily symptoms, and its evolution, thereby keeping a track of an individual’s daily health. Having been designed by the RPG Life Sciences and Seniority, this app can fully be trusted as it has been validated by the top-most doctors with specialization in the field of infections.

Google Maps

This app gives precise information on bar and restaurant closures. Therefore, downloading the same can help you with easy and convenient journeys.

Protective Gear

Masks, Gloves, & Face Shields

While masks are mandatory to wear and are the best gears working against coronavirus, gloves can be worn for extra protection. Make sure you pack extra masks and gloves in case you lose one. Face shields act as an additional security measure. Since COVID spreads easily through touch and breaths, one must take all the necessary precautions to prevent it.

Disinfectant Wipes/Spray

Whether you are a kid, senior citizen, or a young professional, do not touch anything before wiping it with a disinfectant wipe. The armrests, the aircraft meal trays, the windows, etc must not casually be touched while boarding/deboarding an India flight even otherwise. If finding these wipes is a hard nut to crack, you can take along any alcoholic spray.

Sanitizer (>100 ml)/Soap

Another item you must have in your travel checklist is the travel-sized hand sanitizer. This is an absolute requirement to keep yourself safe from catching the virus. However, keep this for the flight journey only. Once you land and wherever you have access, prefer washing hands with soap.

Medications

Carrying the prescribed medication is of the utmost importance as the salts available in a particular medicine aren’t available in another. Chances are that you might not get the same ones in India so it’s better to be on the safer side by carrying a pack or two extra.

Additional Items

Packed Food

Even though the airlines that bring travelers to India offer food, it is very limited and light. Chances are that you’ll have further cravings. The same can be satiated if you carry home food along because it is absolutely allowed and definitely a safer option to rely on.

Bottled Water

Don’t forget to carry a water bottle with you. It becomes all the more important if you are traveling with kids because they will keep asking for water. Seeking help from the air hostess every time they are thirty won’t be a great option, considering the risk factor.

Ziploc Bags

You can use these bags to carry food or segregate the used and the unused masks to check upon the cross-contamination among them. These bags are super effective and can be helpful for quite a lot of things.

You might end up with a chuckle here, but more often than not, you will forget to carry this tiny but essential item. The consequence of this will be you asking for a pen from strangers at the airport but to no avail. It’s better you keep a few pens with you in the carry-on baggage because pens have the tendency of disappearing when they are needed the most. So even if you lose 2-3, you’ll still have one to use. In case you happen to be a careful person, you can lend it to someone in need and seek their blessings. Because in the end, when everything fails, blessings alone help, and this might be your chance to escape COVID-19.

That’s it!

If you take these international travel guidelines seriously, we are sure of the fact that, if not more, you will be five steps away from catching the virus. Precaution is indeed better than cure and this checklist is the sure-shot way of preventing the deadly virus.

MyTicketsToIndia wishes you all good health.

And if you have any queries regarding VISA, RT-PCR test, state-wise quarantine guidelines in India, or booking flights to India , we are here to help you out. Just give us a call or join the live chat and we’ll love to offer our assistance.

Until then, stay safe!

If you found this blog helpful, do like and share it with your peers. Sharing is caring!

About Heena Ganotra | View Posts

A writer by both passion and profession, Heena Ganotra is "half agony, half hope" but all heart. And oh, she has been a book lover from the start! Her love for books is what convinced her to make a career in the wonderful world of words. She loves what she does and is out-and-out a satisfied soul with a wish to spread happiness like herpes. Insight- Some say she is living the best life anyone could because she reads, writes, travels, and makes merry. They’re right because what else does one really need! :)

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I have a flight from Chicago to Ahmedabad. So, if I have a negative Covid test report prior to flying, do I need to get tested at Ahmedabad airport. If so, do I need to wait for the results or can I leave the airport straightaway?

I did not find any information about rules and restrictions for travel from India to USA

How does a visitor to the US get a RT-PCR test in California for the purpose of return?

Hello Sunil,

We feel that our travel experts will be able to guide you better. Kindly give us a call @ 1-585-948-0222 or join the live chat (you’ll find the chatbox towards your right) so we can help you better.

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Warm regards, Team MyTicketsToIndia

I AM FLYING BACK TO INDIA AFTER 4 MONTHS STAY IN USA. I AM NOT CLEAR WHETHER I NEED RTPCR COVID TEST TO TAKE FLIGHT FIR INDIA. WHETHER I WOULD NEED COVID NEGSTIVE TEST AT DELHI IN INDIS AFTER KANDING ? PLS CONFIFM AND WHATVIS ORESENT GUIDELIBES FOR TRAVELLING TO INDIA N BOARDING FLIGHT FRM USA PLS CONFIRM EARLY

Hello Narang ji,

It is indeed important to take the RT-PCR test before traveling to India. However, you can take the test at the Delhi Airport as well. While we have listed all the details in the blog, we’ll love to solve any queries that you might have. You can either give us a call @ 1-844-444-3067/ 1-585-948-0222 or join the live chat and we’ll love to help you out.

Very useful. I will be vaccinated in this month l want to travel to India in April. Do I still need negative certificate?

This article offers clear idea for the new viewers of blogging, that actually how to do blogging. Saudra Shurlock Keg

Good guideline Thank you

Hello Kalyan,

Thank you so much. We are glad that you liked them.

If you have any queries or want our help in any way, we’ll love to offer our assistance.

W sam raz tutaj szukaliśmy informacji na temat tym, że gepard być może biec z prędkością nawet 120km/h.

My page – pozycjonowanie stron dobra firma

Hello Tamika,

Well, we can proudly say that flights fly 10x faster. 😛 Have a great day!

Thanks. marvelous posting! I definitely enjoyed reading it, you could be a great author.

I will make sure to bookmark your blog and will eventually come back sometime soon. I want to encourage you to ultimately continue your great posts, have a nice morning!

Hello Shayne,

That’s really kind of you. Thank you so much. This means a lot to the team. A Lot! We assure you that we’ll continue helping people by posting informative blogs. Thank you for the encouragement. 🙂

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Examined: Air India's North American Operations

A ir India is currently the only airline in the country to offer non-stop flights to North America. While the airline has faced stiff competition from other global carriers, such as those in the Middle East, it has stepped up its game after privatization to improve international connectivity, particularly to North America.

Flights from India to the United States and Canada are perennially in demand, and for good reason. While tourism is just one segment of the travelers to these destinations, many Indians visit these two countries either as students or for employment opportunities, with many eventually settling there long-term.

The Indian diaspora in the US and Canada further fuels another segment of travelers – visiting friends and family – and one can see why Air India has doubled down on routes to these two nations in recent times. Currently, the carrier offers non-stop flights to the US and Canada from three Indian cities – New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. Let’s take a closer look at the carrier’s operations in North America. The data has been sourced from Cirium Aviation Analytics .

Flights from Delhi

The busiest airport in India – New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) – is also at the top of the list when it comes to Air India’s flights to North America. In fact, Delhi is the only city in the country from where Air India flies to Canada.

Let’s analyze the US first. An airport-wise breakdown reveals that San Francisco International Airport is the most served by Air India from Delhi, with 11 flights in a week and 47 flights in the entire month of April.

The carrier also has four weekly flights to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and a daily flight to New York (JFK). In all, it has 48 flights scheduled in April from Delhi to both airports serving the New York area collectively. Air India also faces competition from United Airlines on the DEL-EWR route and American Airlines on DEL-JFK.

The carrier also operates a daily flight from Delhi to Chicago O’hare (ORD) and five weekly flights to Washington, D.C. (IAD), and there is no competition on either of these routes.

To Canada, Air India deploys its aircraft daily to both Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and Vancouver International Airport (YVR). The demand for both these flights is so strong that Air India’s planes are almost always packed for these two services. The carrier competes with Air Canada on the DEL-YYZ route. Per Cirium, Air India has the following flights to the entire North American region from Delhi in April:

DEL-EWR – 18 flights
DEL-IAD – 21 flights
DEL-JFK – 30 flights
DEL-SFO – 47 flights
DEL-YYZ – 30 flights
DEL-YVR – 30 flights

Flights from Mumbai

Mumbai is Air India’s new favorite when it comes to flights to the US. The city is called the country's commercial capital, and demand for more direct flights has always existed. Not too long ago, the city was connected to the US only by a flight to Newark. But Air India’s privatization changed all of that.

In February 2023, Air India resumed flights between Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) and New York JFK after a gap of four years. It currently flies daily to JFK and four times a week between BOM and EWR.

But that’s not all! In December 2022, Air India began another ultra-long-haul flight to the US out of Mumbai – to San Francisco . In April, it has four weekly flights on this route with a total of 18 monthly flights. None of the carrier’s US flights out of Mumbai have competition.

Flights from Bengaluru

Bengaluru in South India is unofficially called ‘India’s Silicon Valley,’ for being an important tech hub and home to several multinational companies. It also sees plenty of passenger demand for the San Francisco Bay Area. For this reason, Air India has a non-stop flight between Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) and San Francisco.

It is Air India’s longest flight in its network and, at more than 8,500 miles, also one of the longest commercial flights in the world. The service was suspended due to poor demand during COVID-19 but was brought back in 2022. In April, there are four weekly services between the two destinations.

Ten Longest Flights From San Francisco International Airport In June

The boeing 777 is used predominantly.

When it comes to the equipment used for Air India’s services between India and North America, the Boeing 777 is the clear winner. Except for the Delhi-Washington flight, all other flights to the US and Canada are operated using the 777. For Washington, Air India uses its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which, for such a long flight, really pushes the aircraft’s range limit.

Air India has a mixed 777 fleet of -300ER and -200LR variants. The long-range variant is mainly used for flights to San Francisco. The carrier has also leased several 777s previously belonging to other airlines, such as Delta Air Lines and Etihad.

These additional planes come with their existing configuration, which means different cabins from Air India’s legacy 777 fleet. These are considered a step up from Air India’s older 777s, particularly for the premium cabins. Air India has decided to deploy them on all US flights out of Mumbai and the Bengaluru-San Francisco service.

Have you traveled to North America from India on Air India? What was your experience like? Please leave a comment below.

IATA/ICAO Code: AI/AIC

Airline Type: Full Service Carrier

Hub(s): Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport

Year Founded: 1946

Alliance: Star Alliance

CEO: Campbell Wilson

Country: India

Region: Asia

Examined: Air India's North American Operations

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Kannur Airport to increase domestic-international fares from April 1: Here's why

The Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) has permitted to increase the domestic and international flight fares at Kannur Airport from April 1. Authorities said the reasons for the steps are the reduction in the number of passengers and that no changes were made in the fares in the past year. The user development fees that are charged along with the airfare, the parking and landing fees charged from airlines, aerobridge, inline x-ray charges and cargo charges will also be increased.

For international passengers, there is an increase of Rs and for domestic passengers, Rs 500. The current rate for international passengers is Rs 1263 and it will be Rs 1982 from April 1. The domestic rate of Rs 368 will be raised to Rs 885. Authorities said that till 2028, there will be a rise in charges in every financial year.

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How many months do I need left on my UK passport before I travel?

Many countries across the world require you to have a few months left on your passport at the time of travel – here are the main holiday destinations to watch out for, article bookmarked.

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You might think that you can just hop on a plane with an in-date passport and travel the world. In fact, many countries demand that visitors have months left on their passport before it expires.

Some – including Australia , Canada and the US – only require your travel document to be in date for the duration of your trip.

But others give a more restrictive time frame, with no real pattern from region to region – while most of Asia requires six months on your passport, for example, different Caribbean islands demand different time frames.

In some destinations, you can also be caught out for not having enough space left in your passport for new immigration stamps.

Here are the key passport validity rules for British passports for the world’s top holiday destinations.

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Valid for the duration of your stay

These countries only ask that your passport is valid until the day you leave the country.

*While this is technically the rule for Canada, if you have six months or less on your passport, it may take longer for you to get through immigration.

Valid for one day

Costa Rica requires Britons to have one day’s validity from the day of their departure.

Valid for three months

All EU countries, plus those in the Schengen Area (excluding Ireland) require you to have three months left on your passport from the day you plan to leave. Your passport must also be less than 10 years old on the day you enter the country. This is true for the following countries:

Republic of Cyprus
Czech Republic
Liechtenstein
Netherlands
Switzerland
Vatican City

These non-European countries also require three months’ validity on your day of departure:

British Virgin Islands
French Polynesia
New Zealand
South Korea

Valid for six months

In most cases, this means valid for six months from the date you arrive in the country, but it’s worth checking the Foreign Office’s individual entry requirements for the country you’re visiting to make sure.

Antigua and Barbuda
The Bahamas
Dominican Republic
Ecuador (& Galapagos Islands)
Madagascar*
Philippines
South Africa*
United Arab Emirates

*South Africa, Madagascar, Kenya also require you to have two blank pages left in your passport; Namibia requires one blank page.

Valid for 180 days

India requires a more specific 180 days of validity from the date you arrive. It also asks visitors to have two blank pages available for their visa.

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Baltimore bridge collapse: What happened and what is the death toll?

What is the death toll, when did the baltimore bridge collapse, why did the bridge collapse, who will pay for the damage and how much will the bridge cost.

NTSB investigators work on the cargo vessel Dali, which struck and collapsed the Francis Scott Key Bridge, in Baltimore

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO REBUILD THE BRIDGE?

What ship hit the baltimore bridge, what do we know about the bridge that collapsed.

The 1.6-mile (2.57 km) long Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland collapsed into the water overnight after a cargo ship collided with it on March 26.

HOW WILL THE BRIDGE COLLAPSE IMPACT THE BALTIMORE PORT?

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Writing by Lisa Shumaker; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Bill Berkrot

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Lisa's journalism career spans two decades, and she currently serves as the Americas Day Editor for the Global News Desk. She played a pivotal role in tracking the COVID pandemic and leading initiatives in speed, headline writing and multimedia. She has worked closely with the finance and company news teams on major stories, such as the departures of Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and significant developments at Apple, Alphabet, Facebook and Tesla. Her dedication and hard work have been recognized with the 2010 Desk Editor of the Year award and a Journalist of the Year nomination in 2020. Lisa is passionate about visual and long-form storytelling. She holds a degree in both psychology and journalism from Penn State University.

Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach

Work is underway to begin clearing the wreckage of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge a week after a cargo ship crashed into it, sending the span crashing into the harbor and killing six construction workers.

Smoke rises following an Israeli strike, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip

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Panic set in around downtown Port-au-Prince on Monday as wild shooting filled the streets of Haiti's capital, with heavy gunfire approaching the national palace.

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An aerial view of the Dali cargo vessel that crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge

Baltimore bridge collapse: US braces for supply chain disruption

Downing of Francis Scott Key Bridge disrupts shipping of cars and parts and risks loss of Baltimore’s cargo trade to other ports

The US transportation secretary, Pete Buttigieg , has warned of “major and protracted impact to supply chains” following the closure of the Port of Baltimore for the forseeable future after Tuesday’s catastrophic bridge collapse , though some experts said the impact was likely to be targeted to particular regions and industries.

Spanning more than 2km and with four lanes of traffic, the Francis Scott Key Bridge – a vital artery in Baltimore’s industrial heartland – took nine years to plan and almost five to build, but came down in under a minute after being struck by a cargo ship in the early hours of Tuesday.

At least six people are presumed dead after the bridge collapsed into the Patapsco River, and the state of Maryland has declared a state of emergency.

The Maryland governor, Wes Moore, said the disaster was heartbreaking. The missing – all members of a construction crew filling potholes on the bridge – were described as “hard-working, humble men” and are reported to have been from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Mexico.

The US’s top safety regulator, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Osha), has described construction, where about half of construction workers are Hispanic, as a “high hazard industry”.

In addition to the devastating impact on the families of those who lost their lives, there are questions about the possible effects on a global economy still reeling from Covid shocks and the Red Sea crisis, which have disrupted supply chains .

On Tuesday, Joe Biden called the bridge “one of the most important elements” supporting the US north-east’s economy. Its collapse in effect shut off access to one of the busiest and most important ports in the country.

Speaking to MSNBC on Wednesday, Buttigieg said that even though there were other ports on the east coast, “there is no substitute for the Port of Baltimore being up and running.”

The immediate consequences are perhaps the most clear: all the ships in Baltimore port are trapped, said Salvatore Mercogliano, an associate professor of history at Campbell University and host of the What Is Going on With Shipping? YouTube channel.

“That mean that vessels that are in there will have to wait for the bridge to be cleared and obviously that’s going to be a long prospect,” he said, adding that a number of vessels were also waiting to access the port.

Baltimore is the ninth busiest port in the US, and the busiest for car shipments, handling at least 750,000 vehicles in 2023, according to data from the Maryland Port Administration. Motor vehicles and parts accounted for 42% of all Baltimore port imports.

aerial view of a body of water with pieces of a metal bridge submerged

General Motors (GM) and Ford have announced they will reroute affected shipments but Buttigieg said on Tuesday there was “no question” the impact would be major.

The port handled foreign cargo worth $80bn in 2023, according to the governor, meaning there will be millions of dollars in lost trade and taxes for every day that shipping vessels are blocked from accessing it.

The biggest issue, according to Mercogliano, will be the export of coal. In 2023, Baltimore was the second busiest US port for coal exports, with India the single biggest importer of that coal.

Most of the coal from Baltimore makes its way to India for electricity generation, Ernie Thrasher, the CEO of the coal trading firm Xcoal Energy & Resources, told Bloomberg.

“The big question is the impact on India more than any global impact,” Thrasher said.

side by side satellite images of an intact metal bridge and a destroyed metal bridge over a body of water

Some of that coal will be rerouted, but complicated logistics will limit how much other ports can take.

Mercogliano said: “Baltimore is a major port for the export of coal, and it’s not like you can move the coal to another facility because you need specialised facilities for that … and those that do exist are largely at capacity. Shutting down the port of Baltimore is going to have a major impact on the transportation of energy out of the United States.”

Biden has said the federal government would pay for the entire reconstruction of the bridge and that he expects Congress to fund relief efforts.

Meanwhile, treasury secretary Janet Yellen said a federal supply task force was meeting on Wednesday to assess the port’s closure, adding that the Biden administration “will do everything as quickly as we possibly can” to resume the port’s operations.

Beyond port operations, the community more broadly is hugely reliant on the bridge for its day-to-day functioning. Almost 12m vehicles cross the bridge every year.

Distribution warehouses owned by Amazon and FedEx are located at the port, and experts say it is likely some operations will be disrupted. An Amazon spokesperson told Newsweek that the company was assessing the “immediate and future impacts” of the accident.

Mary Kane, the president and CEO of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, said: “The economic impact that’s going to be felt by Baltimore and the state of Maryland is incomprehensible.”

Reuters and the Associated Press contributed reporting

Baltimore bridge collapse
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March 26, 2024 - Baltimore Key Bridge collapses after ship collision

By Helen Regan , Kathleen Magramo , Antoinette Radford, Alisha Ebrahimji , Maureen Chowdhury , Rachel Ramirez , Elise Hammond , Aditi Sangal , Tori B. Powell , Piper Hudspeth Blackburn and Kathleen Magramo , CNN

Our live coverage of the Baltimore bridge collapse has moved here .

Crew member on DALI said everyone on board was safe hours after bridge collapse, official says

From CNN’s Amy Simonson

A crew member on the DALI cargo ship sent a message hours after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed Tuesday saying everybody on board was safe, according to Apostleship of the Sea director Andy Middleton.

Middleton, who spent time with the captain of the DALI Monday, told CNN’s Laura Coates he reached out to a crew member after hearing about the incident Tuesday morning.

He said there were 22 members aboard the ship from India who were setting sail earlier Tuesday morning and were heading toward Sri Lanka.

“I was able to reach out to a crew member very early this morning around 5:30 (a.m. ET) or 6 (a.m. ET) and get a message to them asking if they were OK,” he said. “That crew member responded within just a few minutes advising that the crew was safe, and everybody that [was] on board was safe.”

Middleton was told by the ship's captain Monday that the vessel was going to take a longer route to avoid risks along the Yemen coast.

“When I was out with the captain yesterday, we were talking while we were driving, and he advised that they were sailing down and around the tip of South Africa in order to avoid the incidents that are going on off the Yemen coast, and it was a safer way to go,” he said.

Middleton said the Apostleship of the Sea is a ministry to seafarers with members that spend time in the port and on the vessels as a friendly face to the seafarers that visit the Port of Baltimore, “taking care of their needs to make sure that they're reminded of their God-given human dignity when they're here in Baltimore.”

Search operation ends in "heartbreaking conclusion," Maryland governor says. Here's the latest

From CNN staff

The Dali container vessel after striking the Francis Scott Key Bridge that collapsed into the Patapsco River in Baltimore, Maryland, on Tuesday, March 26.

Six people, who were believed to be part of a road construction crew, are presumed dead after Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed early Tuesday morning. The collapse came after a 984-foot cargo ship hit the bridge's pillar.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore told reporters Tuesday evening it's a "really heartbreaking conclusion to a challenging day."

Late Tuesday, it was discovered that two of the construction workers who went missing after the bridge collapsed were from Guatemala , the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said late Tuesday.

Here's what you should know to get up to speed:

The victims: Eight people were on the bridge when it fell, according to officials. At least two people were rescued — one was taken to the hospital and was later discharged , fire official and the medical center said.
The incident: Video shows the moment the entire bridge structure falls into the water, as the ship hits one of the bridge's pillars. CNN analysis shows that the ships lights flickered and it veered off course before it hit the bridge. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said the crew on the ship were able to issue a "mayday" before colliding into the bridge, which allowed the authorities to stop incoming traffic from going onto the bridge.
Response efforts: Earlier, dive teams from various state and local agencies were brought in to assist in search-and-rescue operations, according to Maryland State Police Secretary Col. Roland L. Butler Jr.. The mission started with 50 personnel and continued to grow before the Coast Guard announced Tuesday evening that it was suspending its active search-and-rescue operation and transitioning to a "different phase."
The investigation: Authorities are still working to establish exactly how the crash occurred. The National Transportation Safety Board will look into how the bridge was built and investigate the structure itself. It will "take time to dig through" whether the bridge had ever been flagged for any safety deficiencies , NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said.
Rebuilding the bridge: US Sen. Chris Van Hollen said the path to rebuilding the bridge will be "long and expensive." Senior White House adviser Tom Perez told reporters Tuesday “it’s too early” to tell how long it will take to rebuild the bridge. President Joe Biden said Tuesday he wants the federal government to bear the full cost of rebuilding the collapsed bridge, noting that it will not wait for the company who owns the container ship DALI to shoulder the costs. Funding could come from the Federal Highway Administration as well as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, but it may require additional funding from Congress.

2 of the missing construction workers from bridge collapse were from Guatemala, foreign ministry says

From CNN’s Allison Gordon, Flora Charner and Amy Simonson

Two of the construction workers missing from the bridge collapse in Baltimore were from Guatemala, the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement late Tuesday.

Those missing included a 26-year-old originally from San Luis, Petén. The other is a 35-year-old from Camotán, Chiquimula, the statement said.

The ministry said both were part of a work team “repairing the asphalt on the bridge at the time of the accident.”

The statement did not name the two people missing, but it said the country’s consul general in Maryland “went to the area where the families of those affected are located,” where he hopes to be able to meet with the brothers of both missing people.

The consulate also issued a statement Tuesday saying its consul general in Maryland "remains in contact with local authorities," and also confirmed that two of those missing "were of Guatemalan origin.”

Six people, who were believed to be part of a road construction crew, are presumed dead after Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed early Tuesday morning when a cargo ship hit the bridge's pillar.

State and federal officials have not released information about the identities of any of the six missing workers.

Underwater mapping of bridge collapse area to begin Wednesday, Baltimore fire chief says

From CNN's Jennifer Henderson

Search operations near the Key Bridge collapse have shut down for the night due to dangerous conditions, but the process of underwater mapping with many local, state and federal dive teams will begin Wednesday, Baltimore City Fire Chief James Wallace told CNN’s Anderson Cooper Tuesday night.

Wallace said the portion of the Patapsco River is “tidal influenced, so it goes through tide cycles just like the open waters of the Chesapeake Bay does.”

The water depths in the area under the bridge vary from 40 feet to more than 60 feet, Wallace said. The deeper the divers go, the colder the temperatures they encounter, and the visibility is zero, he added.

Wallace said when crews arrived Tuesday morning, the surface water temperatures of the Patapsco River were about 47 degrees with an air temperature of 44-45 degrees.

Here's what you should know about the historic Francis Scott Key Bridge

The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed early Tuesday after a massive container ship lost power and crashed into the iconic Baltimore bridge, sending people and vehicles into the frigid Patapsco River.

Six people, believed to be part of a road construction crew, are presumed dead and the Coast Guard has ended its active search and rescue mission.

Here's what you should know about the historic bridge:

How old?: The Francis Scott Key Bridge, also referred to as just the Key Bridge, opened to traffic in March 1977 and is the final link in the Baltimore Beltway, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA.) It crosses over the 50-foot-deep Patapsco River, where former US attorney Francis Scott Key found inspiration to write the lyrics to the Star Spangled Banner, the MDTA says.
How long?: The bridge was 1.6 miles long when standing, MDTA reports.
Traffic volume: More than 30,000 people commuted daily on the bridge, according to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.
How much did it cost?: The bridge cost $60.3 million to build, MDTA says. Since its collapse, President Joe Biden said he’s committed to helping rebuild the bridge as soon as possible.
About the port: Baltimore ranks as the ninth biggest US port for international cargo. It handled a record 52.3 million tons, valued at $80.8 billion, in 2023. According to the Maryland state government, the port supports 15,330 direct jobs and 139,180 jobs in related services.
About the ship: The bridge collapsed after a container vessel called Dali collided with one of its supports. Dali is operated by Singapore-based Synergy Group but had been chartered to carry cargo by Danish shipping giant Maersk . The ship is about 984 feet long , according to MarineTraffic data. That’s the length of almost three football fields.

Baltimore woman says bridge collapse was "like a piece of family dissolved"

From CNN's Kit Maher

For longtime Baltimore resident, Ceely, who opted not to share her last name, seeing footage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse Tuesday was deeply personal.

“I was very heavy-hearted,” Ceely told CNN. “Very tearful, thinking about the families whose loved ones may be in the water and just remembering when the bridge was constructed, and it was just like a piece of family dissolved.”

Ceely was at a prayer group Tuesday morning when she saw the news. She recalled being afraid when she first crossed the bridge while in Ford Maverick in 1975, but grew to like it because it saved time on the road.

“It was a main artery just like a blood line. It was a main artery to the other side of town. It was awesome. It beat going through the city all the time,” she said.

Elder Rashad A. Singletary , a senior pastor who led Tuesday night’s vigil at Mt. Olive Baptist Church told CNN that many church members watched the bridge's construction.

"It’s a part of the community. A lot of our individuals in our congregation drive that bridge to go to work, and so now it’s really a life changing moment,” he said.

"Heartbreaking conclusion to a challenging day," Maryland governor says as Coast Guard ended search operation

From CNN's Aditi Sangal

People look out toward the Francis Scott Key Bridge following its collapse in Baltimore, Maryland on March 26.

More than 18 hours after the collapse of the Baltimore bridge, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said it was a heartbreaking conclusion after the Coast Guard ended the search-and-rescue operation for the six people who were on the bridge when it collapsed.

It's a "really heartbreaking conclusion to a challenging day," he said.

"We put every single asset possible — air, land and sea" to find the missing people, he told reporters on Tuesday evening. "While even though we're moving on now to a recovery mission, we're still fully committed to making sure that we're going to use every single asset to now bring a sense of closure to the families," the governor added.

6 people presumed dead after Baltimore bridge collapse, Coast Guard says. Here's what we know

As the sun sets in Baltimore, six people are presumed dead after a major bridge collapsed overnight Tuesday, according to the Coast Guard. The Francis Scott Key Bridge came down around 1:30 a.m. ET after a cargo ship collided with it.

The Coast Guard said it has ended its active search-and-rescue operation for the missing construction workers who were on the bridge when it collapsed.

What we know: Eight people were on the bridge when it fell, according to officials. At least two people were rescued — one was taken to the hospital and has been discharged . The Coast Guard has been searching for six other people. But, around 7:30 p.m. ET, the Coast Guard said it has transitioned to a “different phase” of operation, now it did “not believe we are going to find any of these individuals alive,” Rear Adm. Shannon Gilreath said.
About the ship: The bridge collapsed after a container vessel called Dali collided with one of its supports. The vessel is operated by Singapore-based Synergy Group but had been chartered to carry cargo by Danish shipping giant Maersk . The US Embassy in Singapore has been in contact with the country’s Maritime and Port Authority, a State Department spokesperson said.
The investigation: The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the collapse. A team of 24 experts will dig into nautical operations, vessel operations, safety history records, owners, operators, company policy and any safety management systems or programs, said NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy. A voyage data recorder will be critical to the investigation, she added.
Vehicles on the bridge: Officials are also working to verify the numbers of how many cars and people were on the bridge, Homendy said. Gov. Wes Moore said the quick work of authorities in closing the bridge had saved lives . Radio traffic captured how authorities stopped traffic and worked to clear the bridge seconds before the impact . Maryland State Police Secretary Col. Roland L. Butler Jr. said there is a “ distinct possibility ” more vehicles were on the bridge, but authorities have not found any evidence to support that.
Looking ahead: NTSB will look into how the bridge was built and investigate the structure itself, including if it was flagged for any safety deficiencies , Homendy said. The federal government has also directed its resources to help with search and rescue, to reopen the port and rebuild the bridge, Vice President Kamala Harris said . Earlier, President Joe Biden said t he federal government will pay to fix the bridge.
The economy: Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg warned the collapse will have a serious impact on supply chains . Until the channel is reopened, ships will likely already be changing course for other East Coast ports. Ocean carriers are already being diverted from the Port of Baltimore, where the bridge collapsed, to the Port of Virginia to “keep trade moving."

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New guidelines for Travel to USA on or after NOV 8: Entry Rules, Vaccines, Testing, Exemptions, FAQs

USA’s guidelines for full-vaccinated international arrivals

USA’s new entry rules for children under 18

USA’s new entry rules accept these vaccines for international arrivals

New guidelines for unvaccinated US citizens and LPRs’ travel to USA

Who are exempted from USA’s vaccination requirement for entry?

Book the best flights to USA before fares skyrocket

FAQs on new rules for travel to USA on and after November 8

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