NEW DELHI: The mandatory pre-departure RT-PCR test requirement for arrivals from six places, including Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong and Thailand, may not apply to passengers transiting through these places on their way to India.
The Delhi Airport on Friday Tweeted that “if passengers are transiting from a high risk country without completing/crossing immigration in that country, then they do not need to fill a self-declaration form or require a negative RT-PCR report to enter India.”
“For any requirement by the airline, you are requested to get in touch with them. You may also check the latest travel guidelines on https://www.newdelhiairport.in/pdf/MoCA-OM-dated-30th-December-2022.pdf ,” Delhi Airport Tweeted.
A large number of international travellers travelling between India and Far East, Indonesia, Australia right up to the west coast of North America transit via Singapore (Singapore Airlines), Japan (ANA and Japan Airlines) and Hong Kong (Cathay Pacific).
Comments have been sought from the Union health ministry on whether transit passengers coming from these places also need to undergo RT-PCR and submit a negative report, and the same were awaited till the time of going to press. The Delhi Airport’s tweet provided this answer, which will bring relief to transit passengers.
Starting 10 am on January 1, people coming from China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Thailand and Japan — which are designated high risk as of now due to a Covid surge — need to “submit complete and factual information in self-declaration form on the online Air Suvidha portal (www.newdelhiairport.in) before the scheduled travel, including last 14 days’ travel details. Upload negative Covid-19 RT-PCR report on Air Suvidha portal (The test should have been conducted within 72 hrs prior to undertaking the journey),” say guidelines issued by the Union health ministry.
Each passenger shall also submit a declaration with respect to authenticity of the report and will be liable for criminal prosecution, if found otherwise. This will be in addition to the recently-resumed 2% random testing for international passengers on arrival in India.
Meanwhile, some countries designated as Covid high-risk by India and from where arrivals have to undergo mandatory pre-departure tests are trying to assuage fears. Indian globetrotters have emerged as among the largest source of inbound travellers for many countries post-Omicron.
For instance, Singapore Tourism Board (STB) on Friday said “there is no change to Singapore’s current Covid-19 protocol. Fully-vaccinated travellers from India will continue to be able to enter Singapore with no quarantine and testing requirements under the ‘vaccinated travel framework’ (VTF) that came into effect on April 1, 2022.”
STB says travellers from India to Singapore can continue enjoying their travels as there are no changes to border and on-ground restrictions.
“Fully vaccinated travellers arriving into Singapore from India can enter Singapore without quarantine or test requirements. Additionally, non-fully vaccinated travellers can also enter Singapore without any quarantine, as long as they possess a negative pre-departure RT-PCR or professionally administered ART test report. Singapore has not changed the status of any border or on-ground restrictions for visitors from India,” STB said in a statement.
It added that all tourist offerings, from attractions and shopping malls to dining and nightlife establishments, remain fully open.
And most importantly, “testing facilities are widely and easily accessible throughout Singapore, per (India’s) requirements.”
GB Srithar, STB’s regional director (India, Middle East, South Asia and Africa), said: “Our message during this time is clear: Singapore remains as open as before, and continues to welcome all visitors from India. On the testing end, our testing facilities are widely and easily available across the country, with the highest level of efficient, fuss-free services. We therefore invite travellers from India young and old to continue enjoying Singapore’s vibrant, reimagined destination experiences, through the festive season and into 2023.”
The Delhi Airport on Friday Tweeted that “if passengers are transiting from a high risk country without completing/crossing immigration in that country, then they do not need to fill a self-declaration form or require a negative RT-PCR report to enter India.”
“For any requirement by the airline, you are requested to get in touch with them. You may also check the latest travel guidelines on https://www.newdelhiairport.in/pdf/MoCA-OM-dated-30th-December-2022.pdf ,” Delhi Airport Tweeted.
A large number of international travellers travelling between India and Far East, Indonesia, Australia right up to the west coast of North America transit via Singapore (Singapore Airlines), Japan (ANA and Japan Airlines) and Hong Kong (Cathay Pacific).
Comments have been sought from the Union health ministry on whether transit passengers coming from these places also need to undergo RT-PCR and submit a negative report, and the same were awaited till the time of going to press. The Delhi Airport’s tweet provided this answer, which will bring relief to transit passengers.
Starting 10 am on January 1, people coming from China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Thailand and Japan — which are designated high risk as of now due to a Covid surge — need to “submit complete and factual information in self-declaration form on the online Air Suvidha portal (www.newdelhiairport.in) before the scheduled travel, including last 14 days’ travel details. Upload negative Covid-19 RT-PCR report on Air Suvidha portal (The test should have been conducted within 72 hrs prior to undertaking the journey),” say guidelines issued by the Union health ministry.
Each passenger shall also submit a declaration with respect to authenticity of the report and will be liable for criminal prosecution, if found otherwise. This will be in addition to the recently-resumed 2% random testing for international passengers on arrival in India.
Meanwhile, some countries designated as Covid high-risk by India and from where arrivals have to undergo mandatory pre-departure tests are trying to assuage fears. Indian globetrotters have emerged as among the largest source of inbound travellers for many countries post-Omicron.
For instance, Singapore Tourism Board (STB) on Friday said “there is no change to Singapore’s current Covid-19 protocol. Fully-vaccinated travellers from India will continue to be able to enter Singapore with no quarantine and testing requirements under the ‘vaccinated travel framework’ (VTF) that came into effect on April 1, 2022.”
STB says travellers from India to Singapore can continue enjoying their travels as there are no changes to border and on-ground restrictions.
“Fully vaccinated travellers arriving into Singapore from India can enter Singapore without quarantine or test requirements. Additionally, non-fully vaccinated travellers can also enter Singapore without any quarantine, as long as they possess a negative pre-departure RT-PCR or professionally administered ART test report. Singapore has not changed the status of any border or on-ground restrictions for visitors from India,” STB said in a statement.
It added that all tourist offerings, from attractions and shopping malls to dining and nightlife establishments, remain fully open.
And most importantly, “testing facilities are widely and easily accessible throughout Singapore, per (India’s) requirements.”
GB Srithar, STB’s regional director (India, Middle East, South Asia and Africa), said: “Our message during this time is clear: Singapore remains as open as before, and continues to welcome all visitors from India. On the testing end, our testing facilities are widely and easily available across the country, with the highest level of efficient, fuss-free services. We therefore invite travellers from India young and old to continue enjoying Singapore’s vibrant, reimagined destination experiences, through the festive season and into 2023.”
