How To Avoid Quarantine on Arrival in India

Photo: Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport

As per the guidelines issued by the  Ministry of Home affairs, an international passenger should undergo a mandatory 7 Day Institutional Quarantine and 7 Days Home Quarantine while arriving in India.

However, according to the latest Air India statement, International passengers may seek exemption from institutional quarantine by submitting a negative RT-PCR test report while entering India. This test should have been conducted within 96 hrs prior to undertaking the journey. The test should be uploaded on the www.newdelhiairport.in for consideration.

Each traveler should also submit a declaration regarding the authenticity of the report and would be liable for criminal prosecution,if found otherwise.The test report could also be produced upon arrival at the point entry airport in India, the statement said.

The exemption form can be filled post going for the test up to 72 hours before departure. In case the report is not available in time, the form can be filled with proof of test and on arrival, passengers are expected to show a covid negative certificate along with exemption approval. Passengers with covid negative certificate can travel in public transport including domestic flights to reach their final destinations.

For passengers with no test report, have to undergo mandatory 7 days of institutional quarantine, at their own cost and another 7 days of home quarantine on arrival in India.

WHO ARE EXEMPTED FROM INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

Apart from the passengers who attach RT PCR negative certificates, there are four other categories who can also seek exemption from institutional quarantine and which include:

1. Pregnant women

2. Suffered a death in the family

3. Suffering from serious illness (Description to be provided)

4. Parents accompanied by children below 10 years

However, if the respective state government rejects the application, the passenger should be subjected to the institutional quarantine as per the govt. rules at the approved centers. Refer to the Important Quarantine Guidelines to know more about the institutional quarantine.

Although it was the Delhi airport which launched the first RT-PCR test facility at the Terminal 3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport, now Mumbai International Airport has also started this facility for passengers. For other airports, travelers have to produce COVID-19 certificate done 92-hour prior boarding a flight.

Cost of RT PCR test

According to the News 18 report, the cost of package starts at Rs 5,000 at the Delhi Airport which includes both the testing and waiting at international lounge till the report arrives. The service and facility is being provided in collaboration with Premium Plaza Lounge and Genestrings Diagnostic Centre, a Delhi-based laboratory, which is currently associated with Delhi government to test COVID-19 samples. The charge is Rs 1,600 at the Mumbai Airport.