India is adjusting travel rules amid ongoing concerns over the Omicron COVID-19 variant. All international passengers entering the country from 00:01 Jan. 11 must quarantine at home for seven days and use the Air Suvidha online platform for uploading the negative results of an RT-CPR COVID-19 test taken on the 8th day to exit quarantine. Arrivals from high-risk countries like European nations must additionally take a self-paid on-arrival RT-PCR test and wait at the airport until negative results are out. All entrants must self-monitor their health up to 14 days of arrival; authorities may conduct random free-of-cost testing of passengers at airports. Those with symptoms or a positive COVID-19 test result at any point will face an extended home or institutional quarantine.

Varying domestic measures remain in effect across India. Businesses and transport services are operational. Facemask mandates, capacity limits for public venues and transport, as well as a ban on large gatherings, are underway in almost all states. Officials in some states continue to impose overnight curfews, as well as suspend educational institutions, sports facilities, recreational venues, religious sites, and tourist spots. Several states are mandating fines for violators of social distancing rules, though poor adherence and enforcement levels are reported.

Most states require domestic and international travelers to register on the national Aarogya Setu mobile application and/or state-specific online portals for contact tracing purposes. Most interstate passengers must carry negative results of a COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before departure or proof of completing vaccination at least 15 days prior to travel; some regions require such documents only for arrivals from designated high-risk domestic locations, or allow partially vaccinated individuals to enter. The enforcement level of the measures varies across states.

Areas with a high COVID-19 test positivity rate may implement localized and short-term stricter rules, including exit and entry controls and requiring residents to stay indoors. Curfews are also possible in localities with increased COVID-19 activity.

Northeastern States
Authorities in northeastern Indian states continue adjusting COVID-19 controls as of Jan. 12. Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura states have imposed statewide nightly curfews until Jan. 31 and Jan. 20, respectively. Curfews are also active in other regions. Nonessential activity is banned during curfews; cargo transit, specific industries, workplaces requiring continuous operations, limited transport services, and deliveries are typically exempt. Enhanced curbs such as stay-home orders and entry and exit controls are likely in areas with significant cases. Almost all states ban mass gatherings, limit the capacity of public venues and transport, and mandate facemasks in public.

Revised nationwide restrictions on international travel apply from Jan. 11; all entrants must carry negative results of a pre-departure COVID-19 test, and quarantine for seven days before taking another test. Passengers from designated high-risk locations such as China and European nations must undergo additional on-arrival testing. Authorities typically require domestic travelers to download the Arogya Setu mobile application and provide negative results of a COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before departure or proof of completing vaccination at least 15 days prior to travel.

As of Jan. 12, planned or active measures in the following states include:

Arunachal Pradesh: Curfew hours are 21:00-05:00 daily until at least Jan. 31. In-person educational classes are suspended; most businesses and workplaces may operate at 50-percent capacity until 20:00 daily. Pre- approved gatherings can occur with up to 100 partially or fully vaccinated people. The state allows entry to fully vaccinated individuals. Entrants without vaccination certificates or pre-departure test results must undergo on-arrival rapid antigen tests (RAT) and quarantine until negative results are returned.

Assam: Officials are implementing an extended 22:00-06:00 nightly curfew until further notice; modified curfew hours for the Uruka festival are 23:00 Jan. 13-04:00 Jan. 14. Eateries and shops can operate through 22:30. Gatherings are capped at half the venue capacity. Passenger vehicles can run at full capacity for people who have received at least one dose of the vaccine. Effective Jan. 15, only fully vaccinated individuals may enter most public venues and government offices, as well as use public and inter-district transport services. International entrants must undergo an RT-PCR test upon arrival; those who obtained a negative result from the RT-PCR test must quarantine at their residence for at least seven days.

Officials are maintaining the suspension of inbound international commercial flights through Jan. 31. Charter, repatriation, and approved commercial flights under bilateral “air bubble” agreements in and out of India can continue operating. Flight availability is subject to change at short notice due to travel restrictions affecting air carriers and travelers.

Authorities have resumed issuing visas to international tourists on chartered flights. International passengers must register online through the Air Suvidha portal and upload negative results of an RT-PCR test for COVID-19 taken no more than 72 hours before departure. Asymptomatic arrivals must undergo a week of home quarantine and take an additional COVD-19 test to exit quarantine.

Entrants from high-risk international locations must also undergo an RT-PCR test upon arrival; they can only leave the airport or take a connecting flight after receiving a negative result. High-risk areas as of Jan. 10 include all European countries, several African countries, Brazil, China, including the Hong Kong SAR, Israel, Kazakhstan, Mauritius, New Zealand, and the UK. Officials may amend the list on short notice in the coming weeks as new cases of the COVID-19 variant emerge in other locations; additional restrictions, including flight bans from affected locations, remain possible.

International passengers traveling for emergency reasons need prior approval to enter without negative results of an RT-PCR COVID-19 test and must undergo on-arrival testing. Entrants requiring on-arrival paid testing facilities – available at several airports, including Bengaluru (BLR), Cochin (COK), Delhi (DEL), Hyderabad (HYD), and Mumbai (BOM) – must pre-book tests via the Air Suvidha portal and wait up to six hours for negative test results before boarding a connecting flight or exiting the airport.

States may impose varying quarantine and testing requirements; those seeking exemptions and waivers must do so from authorities in all intended destination and transit states before arrival. Citizens, residents, and long- term visa holders of foreign countries looking to exit India must confirm entry eligibility with the intended destination country’s embassy and book their tickets through air carriers’ websites.