Per an update from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on December 29, all international passengers arriving in India from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand will be required to undergo a COVID-19 RT-PCR test prior to departing for India. This requirement will take effect January 1, and will remain in effect until further notice. 

The test must be conducted no more than 72 hours prior to the passenger’s departure, and the results must be uploaded to the Air Suvidha portal. 

In addition, the requirement that 2% of all incoming passengers be randomly tested for COVID-19 upon arrival will remain in effect.

According to India’s Minister of Health and Family Welfare, “This is being done in view of the evolving COVID19 situation across the world, particularly in the aforesaid countries.”

Travel Insurance for India

Beyond just the testing requirement for certain passengers, it is recommended that all visitors to India purchase appropriate travel medical insurance or travel insurance.  

Travel medical insurance can help pay for the cost of treatment for new illnesses and injuries that occur during your trip, after the effective date of the policy. This way, if you contract a covered medical condition or become injured while taking a trip abroad, you will not be solely responsible for paying all treatment costs yourself.

US residents traveling to India should consider travel insurance. A travel insurance plan for your trip to India can provide coverage in cases of trip cancellation, trip interruption, travel delay, lost baggage, emergency medical care, and medical evacuation, as well as other valuable benefits.