In view of international travel picking up, India’s Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Civil Aviation have revised the travel advisory for flyers and the SOP for operations of non-scheduled commercial flights being operated under Vande Bharat Mission and air bubble arrangements. The latest advisory including certain restrictions and regulations for international travelers flying in and out shall remain in force until further revision. The SOP for VBM and air bubble flights requires airlines to confirm if their passengers are eligible to travel to or from India.
Indian Eagle, a most trusted travel-booking partner of Indian Diaspora, simplifies the revised travel advisory in order for both inbound and outbound flyers to understand the restrictions, regulations and eligibility norms easily.
Picture Credit: Forbes.com
Indian Government’s Advisory for Inbound Flyers
The Ministry of Home Affairs’ latest travel advisory includes distinct guidelines for both Vande Bharat Mission flights and non-scheduled bubble flights operated by other airlines. Those planning on booking Air India’s VBM flights to India from USA and other countries must register themselves with the Indian missions in the country where they are currently located or stranded. This requirement is not mandatory for passengers of flights under India’s air travel bubble arrangements with other countries.
Not everyone can travel to India, according to the government of India’s latest advisory of international travel. Among the registered travelers, priority will be given to the stranded, the distressed, short-term visa holders, pregnant women, elderly persons, laid-off migrant workers, Indian students, and those with medical emergency or emergency like death of a family member in India. The Ministry of External Affairs will prepare a database of travelers registered for Air India’s VBM flights and their details, such as name, age, gender, place of residence, final destination, contact number in India, and RT-PCR test results (if taken). This database will be shared with the states / UTs where the registered travelers belong to or want to travel to.
The visa-free travel to India has been kept in abeyance for OCI cardholders, except for certain categories, until normal international travel to India is resumed. They need to contact the nearest Indian Mission and collect a fresh visa for emergency travel to India amid the ongoing pandemic.
The GOI’s latest SOP for air bubble flights to and from India requires airlines to collect the same details of their passengers as mentioned above for the passengers of VBM flights. The passenger information must be submitted to the MEA and the concerned Indian Missions in the countries which have signed air transport bubble agreements with India before inbound flights are operated.
All international arriving flyers, irrespective of VBM flights or air bubble flights that they choose to travel on, must give an undertaking that they are flying at their own risk. All India-bound flights must be operated by the airline crew that have tested negative for COVID19. The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) will be issuing revised guidelines for the operations of VBM and air bubble flights from time to time.
Indian Government’s Travel Advisory for Outbound Flyers
Only those in the eligible category of outbound travel as permitted by the Ministry of Home Affairs can take flights out of India. Reportedly, the categories of outbound travel eligibility will be displayed on the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) website. Applying to MoCA or a MoCA-designated agency and registering requisite details, including the origin and the destination, along with a valid reason for traveling out of India is mandated for outbound travelers in the latest advisory.
Those holding citizenship or green cards (for permanent residency) or OCI cards or any other special status in the destination countries of outbound VBM and air bubble flights are allowed to travel out of India, as per the revised travel advisory. Indian nationals on any type of visa (valid for minimum one year), other than tourist visa, to any foreign country are eligible for outbound flights. Indian nationals holding a 6-month valid visa can also fly out of India only in case of medical emergency or death of a family member abroad.
At the time of boarding, all outbound travelers will be put to thermal screening in a bid to ensure that only asymptomatic travelers are allowed to travel out of India. Those eligible for outbound international travel shall book only non-scheduled commercial flights that the Ministry of Civil Aviation has permitted to bring back Indians stranded or distressed abroad. They must check and comply with the destination countries’ entry restrictions, health regulations and quarantine norms.
The government of India’s quarantine protocol for international arriving passengers and the exemptions to institutional quarantine on arrival remain unchanged. Watch out our travel news updates for all the information related to air travel to and from India.
Hello…Is United allowing US citizens of India origin with emergency visa? Me and my wife need to travel from LA to Mumbai, so United is perfect. But it looks like they are only allowing Indian citizens and OCI.
Hi Prasad! Yes, US citizens of Indian origin (not having OCI cards) are not allowed to travel to India currently. If you have a compelling reason to visit India, you should contact the embassy or nearest consulate in the US. Hope it works for you.
Hello, One of my known having there flight from Delhi to Washington on 18th Sep and he is holding tourist Visa. His wife and child are US national, will he allow to travel or not.
Hi Bhupal! Since his wife and child are US nationals, he has chances to be allowed to travel to the US from India. Still, we recommend he must check his travel eligibility with the operating airline. Besides, international travel regulations are being revised every two weeks. Maybe, the current regulations will be relaxed further next month.
Hello. This article says “The visa-free travel to India has been kept in abeyance for OCI cardholders”. Does this mean that OCI card holders must now get a visa to travel from US to India?
Hi Ronald! OCI cardholders in certain categories are allowed to travel to India. Other OCI cardholders who do not fall in any of the permissible categories need to contact the Indian Embassy or consulate in case they have a compelling reason to travel to India. Check https://www.indianeagle.com/travelbeats/india-allows-certain-oci-categories-travel/ for the permissible categories of OCI cardholders.
Thanks very much for your response. I am really thankful for the great service your website is providing in these challenging times. The information here is very helpful & timely.
Following up on your response, does the OCI eligibility differ based on whether booking with VBM flights v/s booking with travel bubble flights? I am asking because, the United Airlines update posted on your website indicates all OCI card holders are eligible to book their flights. Can you please advise further?
https://www.indianeagle.com/travelbeats/united-airlines-usa-india-flight-schedule/
“Indian nationals, OCI card holders and US diplomats having a valid visa and travel document to India can book United flights to New Delhi and Mumbai from the USA, as per United Airlines’ September schedule.”
Hi, if I travel to Mumbai for 3 days and return back to USA , what are the current quarantine rules for Mumbai?
Thanks
Hi Arch! If you show your return tickets on arrival at Mumbai airport, you won’t be quarantined. Those who are traveling to India for a week or so need to carry return tickets along with them, so that they are not quarantined.
hi there now that Canada and INDIA has signed air bubble I have been advised all OCI card holder from Canada
are now allowed to travel to India ( it also says on Indian Consulate website CGIVANCOUVER all OCI are now allowed to travel to India)
My question can OCI card holder from Canada take flight out of Frankfurt OR Paris to INDIA instead of flying out of Canada ?
(France and Germany has also signed air bubble agreement with India)
thank you
Paul
Hi Paul! All OCI cardholders and foreign nationals having a valid visa to India can travel to India.
Hi, I am currently living in LA, USA. I am on an H4 dependant visa (valid till 2022). My husband works here, and I have been living here for the past 2 years. I had previously planned to move back to India for good, but due to this Covid crisis, I had to delay the travel. Now that travel bubble is arranged with US, can I go back now? I mean I don’t have a compelling case. But I am planning to completely move back to India (along with my dog), not going to come back here. My question is even tho I don’t have a compelling reason will I be able to go to India now?
Kindly help
Thank you
Radhika
Hi Radhika!Yes, you can travel to India despite having no compelling reason.
So without cass we can submit vbm form
Hi there,
Can my parents visit me with visit visa? I am currently on J1 visa and I want them to attend my wedding. Could you please advice
Hi Shiksha! If you are in the US, your parents can travel to visit you on a tourist/visitor visa from India. Please note they can travel only on Air India and United Airlines from India. You can book their travel on our website IndianEagle.com or call our travel advisories at 1-800-615-3969 for better guidance. And, congratulations in advance.
Is there any age limit to travel in bubble fights – above 60 years can be travelled?
Hi Kambha! There is no age-related restriction to traveling on air bubble or Vande Bharat Mission flights.
hi! I land in Delhi from SFO via United and then take a connecting flight to Kolkata. I’ll be in India for a month. Where will I need to quarantine?
Hi Shilpa! If the entire itinerary, SFO to DEL and DEL to Kolkata, is ticketed in a single PNR, you will be quarantined at your final destination, Kolkata. If the connecting flight to Kolkata has a separate ticket or PNR, and if there is 5-6 hours between your arrival at Delhi and the connecting flight, you can take a COVID-19 test at Delhi airport, receive the result in 4 hours, and continue onward travel if the result is negative. For more information, please check https://www.indianeagle.com/travelbeats/onsite-covid19-test-inbound-flyers-india/
I am a green card holder living at India, do I need MoCA permission to travel from India to US and back?
Hi Bala! MoCA permission/approval is no longer required. You don’t need to register for your travel between USA and India.
Hi,
My parents have a valid B1/B2 Visa, and I am in North Carolina on H1. Can my parents travel to the US to attend my wedding here? I am looking to book their tickets on United, and if I understand it correctly, United is in the Air Bubble agreement. So if their point of origin is from Delhi, will they need to submit any record to the MoHA/MoCA or does the airline take care of that? Also, are they permitted to travel to the US with the visitor’s visa? If yes, then who provides the reason for travel and other information that is required by the MoHA/MoCA. Is the process like that the travellers provide this information to the airline and the airline then passes it on to the authority? Or is it like that the traveller has to provide this information directly to the authority?
Hi Roshan! Be assured that your parents (Indians) on a valid B1/B2 visa can travel to the United States. Yes, United Airlines is part of the US-India air bubble agreement. FYI, we are booking United Airlines’ flight tickets and providing all necessary information. Applying to the MoHA/MoCA for traveling abroad is no longer required. This protocol has been scrapped. Once the tickets are booked, the validating/operating airline will record the passengers’ details. For more information, please go through https://www.indianeagle.com/travelbeats/air-india-vbm-air-bubble-flights-2020/. By the way, congratulations!
Hi, me and my wife both live in USA and both have OCI cards. However, I have a US PASSPORT and my wife has a US GREEN CARD with Russian Passport. Can we travel under the Air Bubble arrangement from USA to India? Remember, my wife has OCI, US GREEN CARD and RUSSIAN PASSPORT and we live in USA. Thanks!
Hi Kumar! Don’t worry! All OCI card holders are eligible to travel to India on air bubble flights from USA. For easy booking of flights with best itineraries (including short layover), you can contact our travel advisors at 1-800-615-3969 or visit our website. Thank you!
Halo….can I go to India to attend a marriage ceremony in November,2020 by booking an air bubble flight and then come back to USA in December, 2020. My dependant visa is valid till 4th November, 2021. I have come to know that I can go back to America only if I have a visa for atleast one year. In that case…. will I be not able to go back to USA ifbI come to India….. please suggest
Hi Simmy! You can travel to India and travel back to USA. There won’t be any problem. Travel regulations have been relaxed. Please be advised to check with the nearest Indian consulate or Indian Embassy for your further satisfaction.
My wife and I have USA green card. We want to travel to Ahmedabad in mid November and return in Mid December. Can we book Any bubble flights directly landing at Ahmedabad such as Emirate Etihad
Hi Dipak! Yes, you can book air bubble flights directly. Compliance with certain regulations is obligatory for smooth travel to and from India in the current circumstances. Hence, be advised to contact our travel advisors at 1-800-615-3969 for hassle-free booking and the information related to your travel. Thank you!
We are oci card holders. We plan to move to India April 2021. Could we travel by Qatar, United or any airline . Do we have to register with Indian Consulate in Chicago. Please advise
Hi. I am an Indian Passport holder and reside in Delhi. I hold a valid South Korea visa (dependent) and wish to travel on an air bubble flight until either Dubai/Tokyo (Vistara/Air India respectively), and then further (transit only) take a connecting flight to Seoul (final destination). Is this possible and permitted?
Hi Surabhi! We have very little knowledge of travel to South Korea. We mainly deal in flight bookings for USA to India travel. We’re sorry not being able to help you with this.
Hi,
I’m a US citizen with an OCI card. Can I fly on BA to Bangalore from Boston?
Thanks,
Hi Sarah! As per the current travel eligibility criteria, US citizens with an OCI card can’t travel on BA flights from USA to India.
Hi,
I am an Indian national with Canadian PR and plan to visit India in January 2021. I would be staying with my parents in Mumbai. The registration form does not have any option under compelling case type for family visit. Please suggest.
Thank you.
Hi Priyanka! What registration form are you referring to? Filling out any registration form is no longer a requirement. You can travel to and enter India for any purpose.
Under Vande Bharat, Air India asks to fill out form on their website and it has limited case type options.
Hello,
I have a question regarding the new rules for india air bubble.
Having an indian passport, we flew from India to United States. Currently, we are in the US and we would like to go to Dominican Republic for a few days.
Would it be okay for us to travel to Dominican Republic and come back to the US and then back home to India?
Please let me know as soon as possible.
Truly appreciate it
Thank you so very much.
Hi Pooja! We have little knowledge about your scenario.
How to book VBM flight from Delhi to Sydney? I have been exempted from travel restriction in Australia.
Hi Priyatosh! You can either directly book your travel on an airline or go through a travel agency.
Hi,
I have a flight to India on April 6th at 9:20 pm, which is a Tuesday.
When should I go for my RTPCR test?
Thanks!