India resumes quarantine-free entry for travellers from 99 countries

India is now open to fully vaccinated foreign travellers from 99 countries, including the United Kingdom, Qatar, the United States, Germany, United Arab Emirates, and France, who will now be able to travel quarantine free in the country. India has opened its borders now after remaining closed to international visitors for 20 months due to COVID pandemic.

The said decision comes after the country allowed foreign tourists on non-charters. As reported earlier, India had suspended tourist visas last March, which was resumed again from October 15 by allowing them in on charters.
As per the reports, travellers from these 99 countries (called Category A) will be required to provide a COVID negative report which they have taken within 72 hours of departure to India, and they will also need to upload their fully vaccinated certificate on the Air Suvidha portal.

However, travellers will have to monitor their health for the next 14 days, even if the country they are coming from has been deemed ‘at-risk.’ Whereas those arriving from countries that are not considered at risk, can skip quarantine, but will need to self-monitor for 14 days.
For fully vaccinated from Category A countries, the updated guidelines states, “If a traveller is coming from a country with which India has reciprocal arrangements for mutual acceptance of WHO approved Covid-19 vaccines (Category A): If fully vaccinated: They shall be allowed to leave the airport and shall self-monitor their health for 14 days’ post arrival.”

Further the guidelines adds, “Travellers from countries excluding those countries at risk, will be allowed to leave the airport and shall self-monitor their health for 14 days’ post-arrival. This is applicable to travellers from all countries including countries with which reciprocal arrangements for mutual acceptance of WHO approved Covid-19 vaccines also exist,” it adds.

Reportedly, countries missing from the said list of 99 countries include China, South Korea, Japan, and Indonesia.