Centre scraps filling Air Suvidha form requirement for international passengers

The government on Monday decided to discontinue the requirement for international passengers to fill the Air Suvidha form amid declining coronavirus cases in the country. The revised guidelines for international arrivals will be effective from November 22, according to a notification issued by the Union health ministry.

The government of India had made it mandatory for all international passengers arriving in the country to fill in the Air Suvidha Self Declaration Form. Passengers had to declare all details related to Covid-19 vaccination.

“The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has issued 'Guidelines for International Arrivals in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic and updated the same from time to time. The present guidelines are being revised in light of sustained declining Covid-19 trajectory and significant advances being made in Covid-19 vaccination coverage both globally as well as in India," the 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', reads the guidelines.

“In view of the aforementioned MoHFW revised guidelines, the extant guidelines of MoHFW on submission of self-declaration form on the online Air Suvidha portal stand discontinued," the order further read.

The notification added that all travellers should preferably be fully vaccinated as per the approved primary schedule of vaccination against Covid-19 in their country.

The notification, however, mentioned a statutory warning that the rule could be reviewed, if needed in view of the Covid-19 situation.