International travel continues to remain the most complicated phenomenon even though we are heading into 2021. In India alone, the entry requirements and quarantine regulations vary from state to state making it difficult for international arrivals during the pandemic. For instance, Chennai and Kolkata require international travellers to arrive with a negative RT-PCR certificate, whereas asymptomatic people flying into Bangalore, Kerala, or Odisha directly from abroad don’t need an RT-PCR test. Normal/regular international travel will not resume until the unprecedented regulations for US to India travel or travel to some other country are eased.
Picture Credit: IATA
A digital travel pass is underway to facilitate safe resumption of air travel across geographies. The IATA Travel Pass is all set for a pilot trial early in 2021. On successful completion of the trial period, the IATA Travel Pass will be implemented worldwide in a bid to end the impasse that currently exists due the scattered information about international travel amid the pandemic. Expected to be a most vital travel app, the travel pass will give seamless access to the information about country-specific entry requirements, visa restrictions, travel regulations, etc. It will also be a key source of information about where and how to take a COVID test for hassle-free travel in 2021.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is a major driving force catapulting international air travel beyond the restrictions and reinstating the flying public’s confidence. The objective of the Travel Pass that IATA worked on in collaboration with International Airlines Group (IAG) is defined as below:
“Informing passengers on what tests, vaccines and other measures they require prior to travel, details on where they can get tested and giving them the ability to share their tests and vaccination results in a verifiable, safe and privacy-protecting manner is the key to giving governments the confidence to open borders.”
IATA says that the Travel Pass will be an all-in-one solution to the chaos existing in global field and that the app will secure the user’s personal information against unauthorized access. Decentralized block chain technology will be used to ensure that the IT infrastructure for the digital travel pass does not integrate a central database and thereby preventing hacking of the user’s personal details. The global implementation of the IATA Travel Pass depends on successful completion of the trial period – which will convince all partners that the app is safe and secure.
“The IATA Travel Pass is expected to be a revolutionary solution both for travelers and aviation authorities. In a country like India where COVID testing guidelines, entry requirements and quarantine regulations are so volatile that we struggle to keep our customers informed about do’s and don’ts related to their departure, transit and arrival. Though we are striving to dish out the latest information through our travel news portal, many travelers are puzzled over what forms to be filled out, what apps to be installed, what portals to register on, what COVID tests are considered valid, etc. Hence, a uniform solution such as IATA’s digital travel pass is a boon to everyone,” said the chief information officer of Indian Eagle.
The Travel Pass in question will also mitigate the risks of importing the Novel Coronavirus once borders reopen for normal international flights. While supporting the travel pass, the Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH) has requested Indian Government to revoke the suspension of e-visa and tourist visa for the countries with which India has established an air bubble travel corridor. IATA elaborates on the benefits of its digital travel pass:
“It will travelers to create a ‘digital passport’, receive test reports and vaccination certificates and verify that they are sufficient for their itinerary, and share test reports and vaccination certificates with airlines and authorities to facilitate travel. This app can also be used by travelers to manage their travel documentation digitally and seamlessly throughout their journey, improving travel experience.”
We are scheduled to travel to Bangalore from USA( Indianapolis) in January 2021 by Delta and Air France. Our flights are routed through Paris. Is flying through Paris safe? Please advise. Thanks.
I’m coming from USA on April 2 to Delhi
I hope by then I can have my visa!!!
Where can I get the info about when can I apply for my visa
Hi Silvia! If you are a US national (not of Indian origin), you can’t travel to India until India lifts entry restrictions for foreigners. Please watch out our FB page for the upcoming updates related to USA-India air travel and visa.
Please explain how you are able to get to India from USA. I am American with emoyment in India and cannot get a work visa. Tourist visas not allowed. I need to be in India in March. I am not of Indian origin.
Hi Don! Currently foreigners are barred from traveling to India except for diplomatic purposes.
Sir
Planning to come from UK on 24 Jan 2021 from London to Bangalore.
Can you update the quarantine rules in bangalore airport
I am travelling with RTpcr test report.
kindly help
Hello Dr. TK! Travelers from the UK must carry a negative RT-PCR test report and take a COVID test upon arrival at Bangalore Airport. If the test taken at the airport is negative too, you will be exempted from institutional quarantine. However, you may be advised home quarantine.
We r planning to travel from SFO to Chennai in March.
Kindly advice
Hi Ranganathan! If you are an Indian national with/without green card or a US national with/without an OCI card, you can travel. May we know your exact query?
hi team,
can USA National(us citizen) without holding OCI can travel to India ?
Hi Tejaswi! US nationals of Indian origin, without an OCI card, can travel to India if they have a valid visa based on their purpose, like business visa/student visa/medical visa/regular or emergency entry visa other than tourist visa which is currently suspended.
This is a very bad idea. It seems like a money grab by pharmaceutical industry to sell vaccines on a yearly basis to travel. It’s has Bill Gates signature all over it. The IATA should be banned and any airline or country participating should be protested.
Brilliant! One sane person on board. Everyone is falling for this scamdemic.
I was born in India and now a US Citizen and needing to travel to New Delhi. I have a tourist visa with multiple entires. Is this sufficient for travel?
Hi Sam! India banned travel on tourist visa 6 months ago. The ban is still in effect. Hence, you need an entry visa to visit India in view of the suspended tourist visa.
I am travelling from London on business to Bangalore for 4 days.
I need RT PCR test, return ticket, hotel reservation, business invitation
Can I go to Mumbai for last day of my trip and then fly back to London from there?
Hi DOV! You can, but note it is subject to approval at BLR Airport.
I have purchased a air ticket to India from Indianeagle website. I am travelling to Ahmedabad (AMD) from Houston Texas (IAH) on November 16 , 2021. I am a US Citizen with OCI. My flight is from Houston to JFK to Dubai to Ahmedabab. Airlines are Jet blue and Emirates. There are news from last week that India has extended the international travel ban till Nov.30, 2021. Is it going to affect my travel plans? Can I still travel to India or do I have to cancel this ticket and get United airlines with different dates after Nov.30.
Hi Minesh! No worries! The government of India extended the continued suspension of regular/normal scheduled international flights through November 30, 2021. It has nothing to do with the current operations of air bubble flights. Thank you for choosing Indian Eagle as your travel-booking partner!
Praful Patel 2021-11-09 at 0144pm
I have purchased Qatar Airways ticket to travel on November 25, 2021, from Atlanta to Ahmedabad. I am a US citizen with valid OCI documents.I have taken Both vaccines as well as Booster shot also. So, now what type of Covid test I need to perform and when for safe entry at Ahmedabad airport. I am 82 yrs old travilling with my wifwe of 80 yrs age.Hence I need hastle free travel guidance.
Hello Sir! You (and your spouse) must take an RT-PCR test within 72 hours prior to the scheduled departure from Atlanta. Please make sure to upload the negative reports on Air Suvidha and fill out a self-declaration form there.
Hi,
I was an Indian citizen till 2016 but now I am a US citizen, without the OCI card. What type of visas are available as of today? Is the 10 year, multiple entry tourist visa available?
Hi Deepika! Currently, only single-entry tourist visas are available for 30-day stay in India. If you are planning to stay in India for more than 30 days, you can apply for an entry X visa.