Coronavirus: India issues FAQ on travel restrictions for expats

All incoming travellers shall be quarantined for a minimum of 14 days.

The Government of India has imposed mandatory quarantine on travellers, including Indian nationals, arriving from a list of WHO-mandated high-risk nations. 
Furthermore, Indians arriving to India from Italy and South Korea will have to produce a negative medical certificate for Covid-19, said the Indian Ministry of External Affairs on Twitter on Friday.
The Ministry of External Affairs has issued an FAQ on Covid-19 related travel restrictions for Indian expatriates and foreigners, shared by the spokesperson at the Ministry of Home Affairs official Twitter account. 

FAQs on new Visa restrictions in the context of #COVID19india #COVID19

This document addresses queries on travel and Visa restrictions in a comprehensive manner. @MEAIndia pic.twitter.com/0Hi3lzEvlW
- Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) March 13, 2020

All incoming travellers, including Indian nationals, arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea (ROK), France, Spain, and Germany after February 15 shall be quarantined for a minimum of 14 days, effective March 13 at the port of departure.
Incoming travellers, including Indian nationals, are advised to avoid non-essential travel and are informed that they can be quarantined for a minimum of 14 days on their arrival in India.

Pls see the latest advisory issued on 11.03.2020 on developments related to COVID-19 ?? pic.twitter.com/yyJzNrTTVo
- Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) March 13, 2020

International traffic through land borders will be restricted to designated check posts with screening facilities.
Furthermore, infants and parents of infants who are OCI card holders are required to get a fresh visa from their respective Indian missions. OCI card holders coming from ROK and Italy need to provide COVID-19 negative certificates. Here are a few takeaways from the FAQ.

FAQs

Indian nationals who want to return to India

1. Will I be quarantined upon arrival in India?
Only those who have visited China, Republic of Korea, Italy, Spain, France, and Germany on or after February 15 will be quarantined for 14 days.
2. Is a Covid-19 negative certificate mandatory for Indians?
Only for those coming from Republic of Korea or Italy.
3. Will Indians transiting through China, ROK, Iran, Italy, Spain, France and Germany be quarantined upon arrival in India?
No. Transit through airport is not considered stay.

Indian nationals who want to go abroad

1.  Are Indians allowed to go abroad?
Indians are strongly advised to avoid non-essential travel to COVID-19 affected countries. On their return from China, Republic of Korea, Italy, Spain, France, and Germany, they will be mandatorily quarantined.

• India

Dhanusha Gokulan

• dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com