India Discontinues Suvidha Forms For International Passengers

India-West News Desk

LOS ANGELES, CA – Indian Americans will have one less form and requirement to fill out when making travel plans to India. The self-declaration forms for Covid vaccination that had to be filled in by incoming international passengers on the Air Suvidha portal will no longer be necessary, with immediate effect, the Indian government has said.

The requirement of the form, which many Indian American travelers found out about the hard way – after getting to the airport – has been viewed with some irritation by passengers.

A notice from the Indian civil aviation ministry said, “In the light of sustained declining COVID-19 trajectory and significant advances being made in COVID-19 vaccination coverage both globally as well as in India, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has issued revised ‘Guidelines for International Arrivals”.

The ministry, however, said it was preferred that the passengers be fully vaccinated. It was also preferable that all precautionary measures for Covid, including the use of masks and social distancing at airports, continue.

The Indian aviation ministry, however, added a statutory warning that the rule could be reinstated if the Covid situation demanded it.  

The form on the aviation ministry’s Air Suvidha portal was mandatory for those traveling to India, including of course Indian Americans. In it, passengers had to declare their vaccination status, including the number of doses received and their dates.

India said the decision was taken in line with the government’s policy of a graded approach to Covid-19 management.