With Covid numbers falling in many geographies, many countries have relaxed restrictions and reopened their doors to travelers. However, as tourism activities begin to peak and Indians look to embark on international travel, there is a plethora of travel restrictions and restrictions that need to be taken into account, with each country having its own rules in place.
There are many countries that Indians cannot visit now due to travel restrictions and lack of operational flight services. Many more have published their own travel guidelines and quarantine rules. However, in many cases exceptions are made for certain categories of people such as heads of state, officials and bureaucrats of diplomatic missions, those with international student visas and flights under the Vande Bharat mission. .
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Are Indians now allowed to visit foreign countries?
India has extended its ban on international commercial flights until July 31. Currently, commercial flights are permitted to and from countries with which India has bilateral air bubble agreements.
India currently has a bilateral air bubble agreement with 28 countries including Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Canada, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Iraq, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Maldives, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan and United States.
However, some of those countries have banned air travel to and from India as part of the second wave of the pandemic. Among them were Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Kuwait, New Zealand, Oman, Saudi Arabia , Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.
Some of these countries subsequently lifted the travel ban.
Which countries are Indians unable to travel to at the moment?
With restrictions on international travel in light of the increase in Covid cases due to the Delta variant, there are many countries that Indians are not allowed to travel to at this time.
The UAE recently extended the travel ban from South Asian countries until August 1, meaning people from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka cannot visit the Gulf country at the moment. Emirates airline has banned flights until August 1 and Etihad Airways has announced that it is extending the suspension of flights from India and two other countries to the United Arab Emirates until July 31.
Canada also extended the suspension of flights from India until August 21 and said it will open to people in all countries fully vaccinated with recognized vaccines from September 7.
India has been placed on the “red list” of countries whose residents are not allowed to enter the UK at the moment. No new visa is issued to Indians to travel to the UK. Even those on long-term visas cannot travel to the UK directly from India and must travel to one of the countries on the ‘green list’ and spend at least 10 days there before visiting. travel to UK.
In addition, no one who has been in India for 14 days prior to their trip can now travel to the United States. However, exceptions are in place for U.S. citizens, students, and those who may be approved under the U.S. Consulate’s National Interest Exception category.
Other countries where Indians cannot travel due to restrictions in place include Iran, Kuwait, Indonesia, Israel, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Italy, Oman and Djibouti.
Which countries do not require Indians to be quarantined upon arrival?
Most countries open to Indian travelers have made a mandatory quarantine period mandatory after crossing their borders. The quarantine period varies for each country.
Countries that do not impose mandatory quarantine on arrival for Indians include Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Armenia, Maldives, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Senegal, South Africa, Zambia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Russia, Iceland, Costa Rica, Serbia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Guyana and Honduras.
However, with the situation changing rapidly given the upsurge in Covid cases in many places again, many of these rules are continually being updated.
If people want to visit any of those countries that are not among the nations with which India has an air bubble pact, they have to route their trip through countries with which India currently has services. operational flight.
Most of these countries, which do not impose quarantine on arrival, require travelers to be in possession of a negative RT-PCR report with the test performed no more than 72 hours before departure. In addition, there may be additional protocols in place, such as the need to be tested on arrival in certain countries. People who test positive will be placed in quarantine.
Indians fully vaccinated with Covishield are also allowed to visit 16 European countries now under the EU’s ‘green pass’ program.
Which European countries allow Indians to travel under the EU’s “green pass†program?
After the initial outcry over Covishield was excluded from the list of vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency, the jab made by the Serum Institute of India is now accepted by 16 European countries under the green pass program.
These 16 countries are France, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, the Netherlands, Slovenia, the ‘Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
The ‘Green Pass’ system is the EU’s Covid digital certificate program that was created to restore the public’s freedom of movement and remove barriers to entry imposed due to the pandemic.
The certificate is digital proof that a person has been vaccinated against Covid-19, or received a negative test result, or has recovered from the viral infection. The document is valid in all EU countries. The “green pass†device has been designed to make the travel experience hassle-free for people by removing restrictions, it is not absolutely mandatory.
Although holders of the “green pass†are not required to undergo a quarantine in general, there may be exceptions and each country can offer travel rules and restrictions of their choice. Additionally, travelers may require to produce a negative RT-PCR report with the test performed within 72 hours of boarding their flight and must undergo a mandatory Covid test upon arrival.
Those who do not have the certificate can still travel but will be subject to the usual restrictions and quarantine rules that are in force in each country.
What other countries allow Indian travelers but impose quarantine measures?
Some of the countries that now allow Indians to visit but have restrictions in place, including a mandatory quarantine on arrival, include Montenegro, Bahrain, Qatar, Rwanda, Barbados, Bermuda, Mexico, Turkey and Panama.
The mandatory quarantine period varies from country to country. Additionally, many of these countries require a negative RT-PCR report with the test done within 72 hours of boarding and a mandatory Covid test on arrival.
