As the COVID-19 pandemic has started to weaken, many countries have started issuing visas to Indian passport holders. These countries have opened their borders and allow passport holders from India for various purposes. But, for travelling to these countries, travellers from India have to fulfil varying requirements. If you are planning to travel amid the pandemic, it is essential that you know these requirements and fulfil them before you travel to any of these places.
Travelling in COVID-19
The pandemic has transformed everything, which includes travel abroad. While most countries are slowly opening their borders to travellers, some guidelines need to be followed.
There are some conditions that travellers need to fulfil if they want to travel to a country legally. The conditions include negative RT PCR test report, vaccination report, self-declaration form, quarantine, and mandatory travel insurance.
A travel insurance plan has become essential in the wake of the pandemic. With a valid travel insurance plan, you can cover the costs of COVID-19 treatment if you are infected while you travel abroad. While buying travel insurance, you can calculate the premium that you need to pay using the travel insurance premium calculator available on websites of insurers like Tata AIG.
Now that you understand how travel in the COVID-19 pandemic works, let us understand the countries open for Indian travellers and the requirements they need to fulfil before travelling.
Countries Open for Indian Travellers
If you have read the news, you must be aware of the term ‘air bubble’. An air bubble is a temporary agreement between two countries to allow commercial flight services. These air bubbles allow citizens to travel between these two countries while the borders of these countries remain closed for other countries.
Here is a list of countries with which India has established a travel bubble, and the requirements for travelling to these countries are mentioned below:
| Countries | Requirements for travel |
| Afghanistan | ● You need a negative RT PCR report or proof of full vaccination |
| Bahrain | ● Passengers who have recovered or are vaccinated have to present an RT PCR test on arrival, 5th day of arrival, and 10th day of arrival
● Unvaccinated travellers have to produce a negative RTPCR report not more than 72 hours old before departure and follow the steps mentioned above ● Unvaccinated travellers aged 12 and above must quarantine for 10 days |
| Bangladesh | ● Proof of full vaccination
● Passenger locator forms and health declaration forms are needed ● Quarantine is required |
| Bhutan | ● 2 weeks’ quarantine essential if you are fully vaccinated
● 3 weeks’ quarantine for all other travellers ● A negative RTPCR report not more than 72 hours old before departure ● You are required to pay SDF and minimum daily package rates for quarantine and COVID-19 tests ● Insurance coverage is needed |
| Canada | ● A negative RTPCR report not more than 18 hours old before departure
● Proof of full vaccination ● If travelling to Canada from any third country then you need a negative RTPCR report from that country before your departure ● If you had COVID-19 in the past, you need a positive molecular report issued between 14 and 180 days |
| Ethiopia | ● A negative RTPCR report not more than 18 hours old before departure
● If negative RT PCR is not available, you need to quarantine |
| Finland | ● Proof of full vaccination, with the last dose taken at least 7 days before your travel |
| France | ● Unvaccinated travellers have to produce a negative RTPCR report not more than 72 hours old before departure
● Unvaccinated children aged 12 and above have to produce a negative RT PCR report ● Proof of full vaccination ● Declaration about not having any COVID-19 symptoms before travelling or any contact with a person affected with COVID-19 in the last 14 days before your travel |
| Germany | ● Digital entry registration(if coming from a high-risk area)
● Proof of full vaccination, negative RTPCR report, or proof of recovery from COVID-19 |
| Iraq | ● Any Indian traveller travelling to Iraq with a valid visa
● Airline must ensure that no travel restrictions apply ● Negative RT PCR report required for every traveller |
| Japan | ● Proof of full vaccination
● The last dose is taken at least 14 days before your travel ● Unvaccinated children aged 12 and above have to produce a negative RT PCR report ● COVID-19 certificate must be issued by a government body |
| Kenya | ● A negative RTPCR report with the sample taken not more than 96 hours before departure
● Children below 5 years do not have to undergo COVID-19 testing ● Completed surveillance of the traveller online or through Jitenge app |
| Kuwait | ● A negative RTPCR report with the sample taken not more than 72 hours before departure
● Proof of full vaccination (certificate with a QR code on it) ● Children below 6 years do not have to undergo COVID-19 testing ● Travellers must have ‘Kuwait- Mosafar’ and ‘Shlonik’ apps on their phones ● You have to register online before your departure ● Undergo 2 RT PCR tests if you are unvaccinated ● 7 days quarantine if needed |
| Maldives | ● A negative RTPCR report with the sample taken not more than 96 hours before departure
● Self-declaration form also known as Maldives Health declaration to be filled 48 hours before travel to Maldives ● Full vaccination proof ● Proof of recover from COVID-19 needed if you were positive 60 days prior to the trip |
| Mauritius | ● A negative RTPCR report with the sample taken not more than 72 hours before departure
● Full vaccination proof ● Testing of COVID-19 after arrival and on the 5th day is compulsory ● Valid travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage is mandatory ● If you are unvaccinated, you need to quarantine for 14 nights |
| Nepal | ● A negative RTPCR report with the sample taken not more than 72 hours before departure
● Full vaccination proof ● Testing of COVID-19 after arrival is compulsory ● If you are unvaccinated, you need to quarantine for 10 days in a hotel |
| The Netherlands | ● Negative RT PCR report required for every traveller
● Proof of full vaccination, with the last dose taken at least 14 days before your travel |
| Nigeria | ● A negative RTPCR report issued not more than 72 hours before departure
● You have to register and pay on the Nigerian International Travel Portal (mandatory) ● Testing of COVID-19 on Day 2 after arrival is compulsory ● Testing of COVID-19 on Day 7 after arrival after quarantine is compulsory for unvaccinated people |
| Oman | ● A negative RTPCR report issued not more than 96 hours before departure
● Proof of full vaccination ● Valid travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage is mandatory |
| Qatar | ● A negative RTPCR report issued not more than 72 hours before departure
● Proof of full vaccination, with the last dose taken at least 14 days before your travel ● Registration on the Ehtaraz platform is mandatory |
| Russia | ● A negative RTPCR report issued not more than 72 hours before departure
● Your passport must have 6 months of validity ● An application form must be duly filled before your travel to Russia ● Valid travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage(DMS) is mandatory ● Proof of stay in Russia ● Testing for COVID-19 on arrival is compulsory |
| Rwanda | ● A negative RTPCR report issued not more than 72 hours before departure
● You have to fill the Public Health Passenger Reporter before your travel to Rwanda ● If you are unvaccinated, you need to have valid hotel bookings to isolate yourself while you wait for your test results ● Children below 5 years accompanied by adults do not have to undergo COVID-19 testing |
| Seychelles | ● A negative RTPCR report issued not more than 72 hours before departure
● You need to have a Travel Health Authorization to enter into the country ● Valid travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage is mandatory |
| Srilanka | ● A negative RTPCR report issued not more than 72 hours before departure
● Children aged between 12 to 18 having a single dose of vaccination are considered as vaccinated ● A health declaration form needs to be filled and submitted to enter into the country ● If you are unvaccinated, you need to undergo COVID-19 testing upon arrival and also a 14 day quarantine |
| Tanzania | ● Any India traveller whose destination is Tanzania and someone who has a valid visa
● Airline must ensure that no travel restrictions apply ● A negative RT PCR report is needed |
| Ukraine | ● A negative RT PCR report or antigen report is needed
● Proof of full vaccination ● Valid travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage is mandatory |
| United Arab Emirates (UAE) | ● A negative RTPCR report issued not more than 48 hours before departure
● The RTPCR test must have a QR code ● If you are arriving in Dubai, you need to get tested on arrival ● You must have a COVID-19 DXB Smart application your mobile phone |
| United Kingdom (UK) | ● Proof of full vaccination
● Testing for COVID-19 on second day after your arrival to the country ● You have to fill a Passenger Locator form |
| United States of America (USA) | ● Proof of full vaccination
● A negative RTPCR report issued not one day before departure |
| Uzbekistan | ● A negative RTPCR report issued not more than 72 hours before arrival for travellers who are 2 years and above
● The RTPCR must have a QR code |
Conclusion
Therefore, these are the countries that India has established an air bubble with. It is essential that you follow the requirements that are mentioned in the list if you are travelling to any of these countries. While you travel abroad, it is important to have a valid travel insurance plan so that you can get financial support if you are infected with COVID-19. You can also find country-specific insurance like travel insurance for UK, etc.
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