India - Bio Security

COVID-19:

• All Covid restrictions were lifted in India at the end of December 2022.

Resources:

• Bureau of Immigration - with travel advisories
• https://www.mea.gov.in/guidelines-for-international-arrivals.htm
• Red Sea Passage Facebook Page (closed group)

History:

• Travel and visa restrictions began mid-March 2020 with prohibited entry from a large number of countries.
• On 24 March, India went into lockdown for 21 days. Air, road and rail transport systems were all suspended. No foreign yachts were permitted to enter. Foreign yacht crew in India had to stay on board and are were permitted to go ashore during the lockdown.
• Yachts with Indian crew were allowed to return to India but had to undertake a 14 day quarantine on arrival.
• During April the lockdown continued to be extended and all visas were suspended.
• For cruising boats stuck in the country, visas were extended automatically and foreign yacht crew were given 30 days in which to leave the country from the day lockdown was finally over.
• Mid-May 2020 a COVID-19 containment plan was announced, in which States were allowed to decide the Red, Green and Orange zones as per guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, thus allowing states to open the economy in parts.
• Domestic flight operations re-started in India.
• The marina at Cochin remained “open”, and there are a few boats there, but sea borders remain closed.
• October 15 the issuing of tourist visas began once more after 1.5 years of closure. To begin with to arrivals by charter flight only.
• From November 15th, 2021, all visas became available and the country opened to vaccinated travelers.
• From February 2022 unvaccinated travelers were able to enter India with pre-departure testing.
• December 24, 2022, all restrictions were lifted.