The new guidelines will come into force from August 8.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Sunday issued new guidelines for international passengers travelling to India. As per the new guidelines, all travellers should submit a self-declaration form on a portal — www.newdelhiairport.in — at least 72 hours before scheduled travel. The passengers will also have to give an undertaking on the portal that they would undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days — 7 days paid institutional quarantine at their own cost, followed by 7 days isolation at home with self-monitoring of health. The new guidelines will come into force from August 8.

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare issues new guidelines for international passengers arriving into India, which will come in force from 12:01 am on August 8.

All travellers should submit self-declaration form on https://t.co/Ms9U7ZnJPf at least 72 hrs before scheduled travel. pic.twitter.com/3GyOQabugq

— ANI (@ANI) August 2, 2020

The ministry says that travellers may also seek exemption from institutional quarantine by submitting a negative Covid RT-PCR test report on arrival. This test, however, should have been conducted within 96 hours prior to undertaking the journey. The report should be uploaded on the portal for consideration. According to the ministry, each passenger shall also submit a declaration with respect to authenticity of the report and will be liable for criminal prosecution if found otherwise.

The guidelines state that dos and don’ts will be provided along with ticket to the travellers by the agencies concerned. All passengers are advised to download Aarogya Setu app on their mobile phones. At the time of boarding the flight, only asymptomatic people will be allowed to board after thermal screening. “Passengers arriving through the land borders will also have to undergo the same protocol as above, and only those who are asymptomatic will be enabled to cross the border to India,” the Health Ministry guidelines said.

The Health Ministry has also said that states can develop their own protocol with regards to quarantine and isolation as per their assessment post arrival of passengers in the state concerned.