On Monday, January 2, 2023, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of India informed travelers that all international flights departing from six countries including China, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, and Japan, must undergo negative RT-PCR COVID-19 testing.
The central government said that this decision was made with the changing path of Covid-19 cases in the six countries and the worrying reports that SARS-CoV-2 variants were spreading there. In addition, the center stated that the provisions have been in place since 10 a.m. on Sunday, January 1, 2023.
According to the Ministry of Health and Family, passengers on all international flights departing from these nations must undergo pre-departure RT-PCR testing within 72 hours of departure in accordance with the revised guidelines.
The ministry also stated that passengers transiting from China, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, and Japan will be subject to the revised guidelines. If any of the passengers are traveling to an Indian airport from any of the six aforementioned nations, they will be required to undergo an RT-PCR test.
As a result, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has mandated that the Air Suvidha Portal be made available to passengers on all international flights departing from these nations. It should also be made possible for international travelers arriving in India to submit self-declaration forms and negative RT-PCR test reports through the Air Suvidha portal.
In addition, the official statement stated that the practice of randomly testing 2% of travelers after their arrival in the country.
