Travel Update Countries Which Have Opened Borders to India

The news of India&rsquos weekly Covid-19 positivity rate declining over the past few weeks and staying low has encouraged several countries to open their international borders to travellers from India. However, travellers have to abide with pandemic protocols and other travel regulations.

As of July end reports, Canada&nbsphas further extended the ban on direct flights from India (earlier it was till July 21). However, travellers from India may enter Canada through a third country.

Read Three Countries Open Borders to Non-Essential Travellers from India

In July, Germany, reclassified India from &lsquovirus variant country&rsquo to &lsquohigh incidence area&rsquo. Indian travellers, who are fully vaccinated or who can show proof of recovering from the virus, will not be required to isolate themselves on their arrival or return to Germany.

Flights between Maldives&nbspand India have been operating since July 15 as the island nation eased travel restrictions. However, travellers are required to carry a negative COVID-19 PCR test report.

Unvaccinated travellers from India may also travel to Russia, Serbia, and Egypt but have to follow the protocols laid down by each country, which may not always be easy considering the number of flights available and their timing.

To visit Russia, apart from furnishing a negative RT-PCR test report on arrival, which has been taken within 72 hours prior (to arrival), travellers from India have to show proof of invitation from a government-authorised travel agency.  The tourist visa has to be valid for up to 30 days for single entry or double entry. Spot tests will be carried out on arriving passengers those showing symptoms will be sent to a COVID testing facility.

For Serbia, travellers from India will be required to carry a negative COVID-19 report that must be taken 48 hours before the time of departure.

Egypt&nbsphas mandated that travellers from countries with cases of Delta variant, including those from India, will have to undergo a rapid test on arrival. RT negative test report or a fully vaccinated certificate notwithstanding, all travellers will have to undergo a 15-minute DNA test called ID NOW before entering the country. If the passenger tests positive, another RT-PCR test would be conducted by the airport quarantine authorities. And if that report is also positive, they will be sent for further tests to a designated hospital, according to media reports.

Travellers from India arriving in Qatar (effective noon Doha time from August 2), will have to undergo compulsory hotel quarantine, tweeted the official handle of the Indian Embassy in Doha on July 31. It said that visitors (family, tourist, work) vaccinated outside Qatar with MOPH recognized vaccines will have to undergo 10 days compulsory Hotel quarantine while those not vaccinated will not be allowed to enter Qatar.

However countries such as the United Arab Emirates, The Philippines, Australia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Italy, Kuwait, New Zealand, Oman, Singapore, etc. are still closed to travellers from India though a few have eased restrictions for students.

A tweet from Turkish Airlines on July 31 said that entry of passengers who are traveling from India to Turkey is suspended. However, passengers from India can travel to another country by using Turkey as transit and without entering Turkey.

It is advisable to contact the foreign missions of the country/countries you may plan to visit and consult the airlines before finalising your plans. Depending on the situation, especially a rise in cases, can bring about a change in the restrictions.