Frequently Asked Questions about travel to India

1. Who is eligible to travel to India under current COVID-19 situation?

a) Indian Nationals stranded in Canada

b) All Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders holding Canadian passports or

Foreign passport holders having permanent residency of Canada

c) Foreigners including Canadians, who do not have OCI, require a fresh visa from

the Consulate as all types of existing visas have been suspended until further

notice.

2. Do I require a visa? How can I obtain visa for India?

Foreigners including Canadians, who do not have OCI, require a fresh visa from

the Consulate as all types of existing visas have been suspended until further

notice.

For obtaining visa from Consulate, please take a prior appointment from

visa.toronto@mea.gov.in

3. What is the Registration requirement for travel to India?

All Indians nationals/Foreigners including Canadians with OCI and valid visas for

India (obtained recently), desirous of travelling to India must register on Consulate’s

website – www.cgitoronto.gov.in at the given link - https://bit.ly/2Wtmv3A

In case more than one family members are travelling, please register each family

member separately.

All travelers are also required to register on Air India’s website. It is a mandatory

requirement. The auto generated number after registration will be required while

booking the passage with Air India.

4. I have registered with Indian Consulate but did not receive any registration

number. How can I receive the same?

No registration number is generated upon registering with the Consulate,

however registration is mandatory. While booking tickets online, on Air India’s

website, travelers will need to register separately as a ‘New User’

5. I’ve registered with the Consulate. Should I wait for an approval from the

Consulate for my travel?

No approval from the Consulate is required. You can directly book tickets online

if you are eligible to travel (refer to Question 1 for the permitted categories to

travel)

6. I want to travel to India. Which flights can I take?

Air India is currently operating flights to India under Vande Bharat Mission to

Delhi and extended destinations in India. You can book directly on Air India’s

website upto your final destination with same fare as for Delhi (subject to State

Govt. regulations).

In addition, Ministry of Civil Aviation has also entered into Air Transport Bubbles

agreement with various countries including Canada.

7. How can I book tickets?

a) Booking of Tickets with Air India – All flights are open for direct booking through

Air India website. Passengers are requested to make their bookings with Air India

on the link - http://www.airindia.in/index.htm

b) Booking of air ticket through Consulate - Those passengers who have problem in

making direct bookings on Air India website; those who are unable to pay

through their credit cards; and those who already hold an existing Air India ticket,

may contact the Consulate and email the following required documents (available

on Consulate’s website under Vande Bharat Mission – documents to be

submitted) by return to the email to – cons.toronto@mea.gov.in

 Undertaking for Air India (Annex.I)

 A signed Undertaking (Annex.II). Original signed Undertaking is

required to be submitted to Air India official at the time of check-in at

the Airport.

 Copy of Indian Passport / copy of Canadian or Foreign passport along

with OCI or Visa.

 Credit card authorization and copy of back and front of the credit card for

onward transmission to Air India for issuance of air ticket.

 Please note that AMEX card is not accepted by Air India.

Those holding an existing Air India ticket may provide a copy of the air ticket

issued by Air India or a Travel agent that starts with 098………).

8. What are the main requirements to be fulfilled for travelling to India?

a) Registration with Indian Consulate and Air India’s website (Question 2 refers)

b) A signed Undertaking (Annex.II).is required to be submitted to Air India official at

the time of check-in at the Airport (Form can be downloaded from the website)

https://www.cgitoronto.gov.in/docs/1597375317Undertaking%20Revised%20-

%20Annexure-II%20-%208.8.2020.pdf

c) All travelers should submit self-reporting form on the online portal

(www.newdelhiairport.in) preferably 72 hours before the scheduled travel.

d) All Travelers are required to undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days i.e. 7

days paid institutional quarantine at their own cost, followed by 7 days isolation at

home with self-monitoring of health.

Requests for exemption from Institutional quarantine in certain cases (details

shared in further questions) are to be uploaded on www.newdelhiairport.in

9. I’m traveling on an Air Bubble flight, but I’m unable to register on the portal.

Please advice.

As per MHAs guidelines dated 22

August, 2020, Registration is not mandatory

for those travelling by flights operated under the Air Bubble agreement.

10. We already have an existing Air India ticket, but could not travel as the flight was

cancelled due to COVID-19. Do we need to book a fresh ticket and make payment

again?

Passengers holding an existing ticket of Air- India should get in touch with

sales.yto@airindia.in to get their ticket revalidated with no additional cost.

However, if there is any problem/issue, Consulate can be contacted at

cons.toronto@mea.gov.in

11. I’m travelling from India to Canada. Do I need to take approval from the Indian

Consulate in Toronto?

Consulate has no role in this. You are requested to get in touch with Canadian

Immigration authorities.

It would be for the airlines concerned to ensure that there is no travel restriction

for Indian nationals to enter Canada with the particular visa category before issue

of ticket/ boarding pass to the Indian passenger.

12. I’m an international student in Canada and have valid visa. Can I travel to Canada

now?

All universities/colleges are conducting online classes till 31 December 2020

which can be attended remotely. There is no need as such for the student to be

physically present in Canada for these classes, however, before your travel to

Canada, please obtain a written letter/recommendation from your

university/college stating that your physical presence is required in Canada for

your studies.

It would be for the airlines concerned to ensure that there is no travel restriction

for Indian nationals to enter Canada with the particular visa category before issue

of ticket/ boarding pass to the Indian passenger.

Please also see recent Tweets of IRCC @CitImmCanada for any updates.

13. What is Air Suvidha?

Air Suvidha is a contactless solution by Ministry of Civil Aviation and Delhi Airport for all

international passengers coming to India. It is a Self Reporting and Exemption Form

Portal for International arriving passengers.

14. Are these forms created just for Delhi Airport or for all International Airports?

These forms are created for all International arriving passengers to India.

15. What is Self-Reporting Form?

All International arriving passengers are required to fill the self-reporting form as

mandated by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. Air Suvidha is an online system for

International passengers to submit mandatory Self-Reporting Form to declare their

current health status. This form is mandatory and should be filled anytime before

boarding.

16. What is the purpose of Self-Reporting form?

Yes, Self Reporting form has to be mandatorily filled by all international arriving

passengers.

17. Is there any cut-off limit for the self-reporting form?

There is no cut-off time limit for the self-reporting form. It can be filled anytime before

boarding. However, it is encouraged that you fill it well in advance.

18. What happens after I submit the self-reporting form?

On submission, the mandatory self- reporting application will be forwarded to the Airport

Health Organization (APHO) under the Ministry Of Health and Family Welfare,

Government of India. Passengers can then refer to their email inbox for the updated

application document. Passenger should show this document on arrival in India at the

APHO counter and proceed for immigration.

19. Where can I find the exemption form?

Please note, Exemption Request form can be filled and submitted online with supporting

documents 72 hrs. before boarding flight. Exemption Requests will be approved or

rejected online by respective state authorities. Passengers can apply online to seek

exemption from mandatory Institution Quarantine under five categories.

20. Who can apply for exemption from mandatory Institutional Quarantine?

Only International arriving passenger belonging to any of the below mentioned 5

category & having valid documents can apply online to seek exemption from mandatory

Institution Quarantine under five categories.

21. What are the exemption categories?

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 5.Covid-

19 negative certificate (attach RT PCR test only).

22. To fill exemption form, do I have to provide details again if it is already submitted

for self-reporting form?

Using the Self Reporting application’s request number, the details of the passenger get

auto-filled in application for exemption or vice versa.

23. How can I apply for exemption?

Passenger seeking exemption from mandatory Institution Quarantine can apply online

providing valid documents On submission of the form, an acknowledgment with a unique

reference number will be sent to the applicant's registered email Id.

24. What documents are required while applying in the portal for exemption?

Copy of the Passport in JPEG or PDF format 1. Pregnant woman - Attach doctors

recommendation letter 2. Parents accompanied by children below 10 years - Attach

passport copy 3. Suffering from serious illness - Attach medical certificate 4. Suffered a

death in the family - Attach death/ Doctor's certificate ; 5. Attach RT-PCR negative report

or a copy of RT-PCR tests where results are awaited. Please provide the original

negative report on arrival along with the exemption form. * Family as defined by Indian

Govt. consists of Spouse, Children, Siblings, Parents & Grandparents only.

25. How can I check the status of my application for exemption?

On submission of the form, an acknowledgement with a unique reference number will be

send to the applicant's registered email Id. Govt. health officials will confirm the status

(Approval or Rejection ) of your application through email . State Authorities at the first

port of entry will review exemption requests of all international arriving passengers.

26. How can the co-passenger accompanying the main applicant apply for

exemption?

Details of co-passenger needs to be submitted in the portal along with the main

applicant's form. Passengers can also submit group online requests through the same

form for the entire family travelling in the same flight.

27. What is Delhi Airport’s role in the entire process?

Delhi Airport is just facilitating all international arriving passengers on behalf of MOCA in

routing their applications on to the right govt authority. Final decision on the same is

taken only by the concerned govt authority.

28. If I have an approved exemption from institutional quarantine, can I take a

connecting flight?

As per current government guidelines passengers exempted from institutional

quarantine can travel by surface using personal mode of transport. Public transport

including domestic flights are not allowed till 14 days of quarantine period is complete.

Passengers with RT PCR negative certificate are allowed to take domestic connections.

29. What are the guidelines on RT PCR test for international travel to India?

The test taken within 92 hours of departure from the port of origin is valid on arrival in

India. 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.

30. What if my application gets rejected by respective state government?

If the respective state government rejects the application, the passenger shall undergo

the institutional quarantine as per the govt. norms at the approved centers. Refer to the

Important Quarantine Guidelines to know more about the institutional quarantine.

31. I’ve uploaded the documents, what is the status of my application?

Dear Name, you'll be notified via email within 72 hours of your request.

32. RT-PCR test result takes more than 24 hours, then how can one do the test within

96 hours of the flight and upload on portal at least 72 hours prior the flight?

Sample for COVID-19 test have to be taken within 96 hours of boarding. If the final

report is not available 72 hours prior the flight, passengers shall carry the report and can

show it on arrival at the airport. Also, such passengers can apply for exemption online &

upload proof of test mentioning that they are waiting for result to arrive.

33. Is RT-PCR test mandatory?

No, the RT-PCR test is not mandatory. 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.

34. Once docs uploaded, can I take a domestic flight, non VBM?

Dear Name, if your exemption request is approved, you'll receive an email

communication for the same. On arrival in India, you may present the same to the

authorities and can further take domestic flights to the destination state from Delhi

Airport.

35. Is the portal applicable to all international airports in India?

Dear Name, this is applicable to all international arrivals in India.