Air Suvidha Form No Longer Requirement for Travel to India
Updated on May 25rd, 2023
Under the new guidelines for international arrivals to India (introduced on 21 Dec 2022 and in effect from 24 Dec 2022), the Air Suvidha form was briefly reinstated on 1 Jan 2023 for six nations: Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Thailand, and China.
Note: However, this mandate has now been lifted once more, now no one require to fill Air Suvidha Self-Declaration Form.
The below information is currently redundant, but is preserved for potential future reference should the form be reinstated.
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The Reasons Behind India's Decision to Cease the Air Suvidha Form Requirement
The Indian government terminated the necessity for the Air Suvidha form to ease the process for passengers travelling internationally to India. Given that the form’s “edit” and “track” features were causing frequent problems, the Union Ministry chose to eliminate the root of the issue, i.e., the completion of the Self Declaration form on the Air Suvidha portal.
Announcement from the Ministry | Official Statement
Considering the consistent decrease in COVID-19 cases and significant progress in global and national COVID-19 vaccination coverage, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has released revised 'Guidelines for International Arrivals'.
Updated Guidelines for International Arrivals in India
One significant update states, “All travellers should, ideally, be fully vaccinated following the approved primary schedule of vaccination against Covid-19 in their country.” The term “ideally” is crucial here. So, if you're not fully vaccinated, you can now visit India without incurring any fines. This will certainly be a welcome change for many.
The Return of Air Suvidha: Why?
“The health ministry is contemplating the reimplementation of obligatory ‘air suvidha’ forms for international arrivals, including details of an RT-PCR test conducted 72 hours prior to travel or full vaccination evidence for passengers arriving from China and other countries reporting a high count of Covid cases.”
What Was Air Suvidha?
Air Suvidha was a digital, contactless solution initiated by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Delhi Airport on behalf of the Ministry of Health and FW (MOHFW India) for all international passengers entering India. Launched in August 2020, it was a Self Declaration Portal for International arriving passengers designed to streamline the process for international travellers coming to India.
Whether your destination was Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, or Kolkata, the same Air Suvidha form found on the Delhi IGI Airport website was required. This one-stop solution was applicable for all international arrivals in India, regardless of their entry airport and ultimate destination in India.
Air Suvidha Exemption Form
The Air Suvidha exemption form was previously discontinued. Now, the general Air Suvidha form itself has been suspended.
Air Suvidha Form History
Interested in how the form was filled out? Here’s a brief overview.
Neither RT-PCR Nor Vaccination Certificates Required to be Uploaded
The Indian government has stopped requiring the upload of either RT-PCR or vaccination certificates on the Air Suvidha form. This move is a relief, given frequent website downtime that made uploading documents troublesome.
However, be aware that the completion of the Air Suvidha form remains compulsory for international arrivals in India. You are still required to have –
An RT-PCR test carried out within 72 hours of your departure (if unvaccinated) OR
Evidence of completion of the full primary vaccination schedule
Airport officials will check and verify these documents on arrival.
Instructions for Completing the Air Suvidha Self-Declaration Form
Following the new guidelines released on 10 February 2022 (effective from 14 February 2022), if travellers can present their full Vaccination Certificate, the obligatory RT-PCR test conducted 72 hours prior to the scheduled departure is no longer needed. However, children under 5 years of age are exempt from RT-PCR tests regardless of their vaccination status.
Please note, only passengers from 133 countries can display their primary vaccination schedule completion certificate. Travellers from other countries must show the RT-PCR test result. Check the complete list here.
Here’s the procedure for completing the Air Suvidha form:
- Access the e-Visa website Air Suvidha form portal.
- Provide the following details –
- Your Full Name (as it appears on your passport)
- Your Flight Number (Arriving in India) Ex: AZ123 / AZ1234
- Your Nationality
- Your Passport Number
- Your Date of Arrival (DD/MM/YYYY)
- Your Country of Departure (Origin)
- The Date of Your Final Dose of Vaccination (If you’re fully vaccinated)
- The Date of the RT-PCR Test Taken (Leave blank if you’re fully vaccinated)
- First Airport of Entry State/Union Territories
- Your Mobile Number (+91) – (Ensure to provide a valid and functioning phone number in India. Incorrect information could lead to a punishable offense under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code and Disaster management Act. If you do not have a personal number, you may provide a relative’s number instead.)
- Your Email ID
- Number Of passengers traveling
- Provide Final Destination Information –
- Address
- State/Union Territories
- District/City
- Pincode
- Tracking Your Air Suvidha Self-Declaration Form
- If you’ve completed the Air Suvidha self-reporting form and want to know the self-declaration status, enter your –
- Request Number (SRxxxxxxxx)
- Passport Number
- Email Id
- After submitting these details, you can conveniently track your Air Suvidha self-declaration status.
Editing Your Air Suvidha Self-Declaration Form
To alter your self-reporting application form online, enter the following details –
- Registration Number
- Passport Number
- Email Id
After submitting these details, you can easily modify your Air Suvidha self-declaration form.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is there a specific time frame in which I need to complete my self-reporting form?
Ans: No, the Air Suvidha self-reporting form can be completed anytime before boarding.
Q: What happens after I submit the self-reporting form?
Ans: Upon submission, the compulsory self-reporting application is forwarded to the Airport Health Organization (APHO) under the Ministry Of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Travellers can then refer to their email inbox for the updated application document. This document must be presented upon arrival in India at the APHO counter before proceeding to immigration.
Q: Who is required to complete the Self Declaration Form for India?
Ans: All passengers travelling to India are required to have a completed Air Suvidha Self Declaration Form.
Q: Can a parent or legal guardian complete the self-declaration form on someone else’s behalf?
Ans: Yes, parents or legal guardians can complete the Indian Self Declaration Form on behalf of any children who are too young to fill one in themselves.
Q: Where can I find the self-declaration form in India?
Ans: The Self-Declaration Form for travellers to India is exclusively found online and must be completed and submitted electronically. Failure to complete the form will result in boarding restrictions.