Because of the progressing overall frenzy of the Covid-19 infection, the global tourism industry has basically halt. Despite the fact that a few countries have just opened their borders, uninhibited international travel is yet far away from picking up regularity in the tourism industry.
In such manner, India stays to be among the nations considering whether continuing international flights would be shrewd under the current situation. Despite the fact that the full-scale activity of international flight service is not possible now, India has set up air bubbles in association with some other nations, following strict rules and regulations.
What is an Air Bubble?
Air bubbles allude to bilateral agreements between two nations, building up a movement hallway so emergency travel is feasible from one of these nations to the other during COVID-19.
Countries Where Indians Can Travel To Via Air Bubbles
Till date, India has successfully established such air bubbles with 16 countries:
- The United States of America
- The United Arab Emirates
- Germany
- France
- United Kingdom
- Canada
- Japan
- Maldives
- Bhutan
- Nigeria
- Kenya
- Qatar
- Oman
- Bahrain
- Iraq
- Afghanistan
Who Can Book Flights To These Nations?
To travel through these nations, you should follow specific guidelines. Based on the nation of your visit, you have to follow certain guidelines. Additionally, if you are planning to travel to these locations for a vacation, you can unpack your sacks at this moment. These flights are operational only as a way to ship stranded nationals of different countries back to the shores where they live. So, you can’t jump on these flights on a tourist visa.
If You Are Flying To These Countries From India:
US citizens, OCI cardholders, diplomats and permanent residents of the United States are permitted to board a flight from India to the US. Also, Indians with a valid visa to the nation with a stay of 30 days, can travel via these flights. But most tourists’ visa holders are not allowed.
It You Are Flying To India From These Countries:
Any Indian citizen stranded at one of the following mentioned countries can opt for one such flight and return to India also.
Flying To The United States: What You Should Know
India had operated around 180 flights from a few Indian airports to different areas in the US between 22nd July and 31st August. Individuals who have traveled to different nations in the last 14 days are not allowed to enter US borders. Husband and wife and offspring of permanent residents and US citizens are permitted to travel. Legal guardians of underage US citizens or residents can also board these flights.
If you hold the accompanying visas – A-1, A-2, C-1, C-1/D, C-2, C-3, D, E-1, G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, IR-4, IH-4, NATO-1 through NATO-4, or NATO-6–you are cleared to travel to America. Furthermore, any individual who can give proof of invitation from the US Government for research and control of COVID-19 infection may likewise utilize these flights to arrive at the nation.
Flying To Canada: What You Should Know
Canadian nationals or citizens who are abandoned in India with a valid Canadian visa can travel utilizing these air bubbles. Foreign sailor’s nationalities, just as Indian sailors, with legitimate clearance from the Ministry of Shipping Indian nationals with a valid Canadian visa can board flights to Canada. But, airport authorities will decide if individuals with a specific class of visas are permitted to enter Canada or not.
Flying To The United Kingdom: What You Should Know
Indians with valid UK visas who are bound to travel to the United Kingdom can travel on such a flight. Sailors of foreign nationalities, alongside Indian sailors with Ministry of Shipping’s consent, can board such flights. Abandoned UK citizens or nationals in India, foreign nationals traveling through the UK or mates of these individuals can board these flights.
Flying To France: What You Should Know
French nationals who want to book a flight from New Delhi to Paris should know the following things-
Air travel between India and France initiated on 23rd July. Flights to Paris are planned to take off on a tri-week basis, i.e. on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. A French resident with his/her life partner and children are the ones permitted to travel using these flights. Besides the diplomats, OCI and permanent residents, healthcare workers heading out to battle COVID-19 will be permitted on such flights. Moreover, sailors and transport crewmembers can likewise avail flights to Paris from India.
All passengers intending to attempt this departure need to have an International Travel Certificate. You have to show this before boarding the flight and after landing at immigration. You can visit the French consular at the French embassy to get this certificate.
Flying To Germany: What You Should Know
German citizens who want to book a flight from New Delhi to Frankfurt should know the following points:
Flight operations between India and Germany resumed on 25th July. The four weekly flights to Germany are booked for Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Just individuals with residence permits or permanent residence permits of Germany will be permitted to board these flights. Travel to see relatives or look for work in Germany is at present not permitted.
Nonetheless, one can take a trip to Germany on a family reunion visa. As of October, all flights between Germany and India have been suspended depending on the situation. An unforeseen dismissal of its arranged flight schedule was answerable for this temporary travel ban. India is currently negotiating with German authorities with respect to the quantity of Indian airlines permitted to fly to Germany.
Flying To Maldives: What You Should Know
All resident nationals from Maldives and foreign nationals with valid visas to Maldives can board these flights. Indian nationals can fly to Maldives too as long as the airlines feel that there are no restrictions to stop Indian nationals from entering the foreign nation.
Flying To Japan: What You Should Know
Japanese nationals, citizens and different foreign nationals with a valid Japanese inclination can travel from India to Japan. Indians holding a legitimate Japanese visa can additionally travel in the flights, in the event that they are not dependent upon the travel restrictions and border measures as set by the authorities of Japan.
Flying To The UAE: What You Should Know
UAE voyagers need to go through a PCR test, which should not originate before their departure date by 4 days. Upon arrival, travelers should go through another COVID-19 test. International health insurance is mandatory for voyagers to enter the nation being referred to. Passengers must have the Covid-19 DXB app downloaded and all set on their phones.
Flying To Afghanistan: What You Should Know
Residents of Afghanistan or foreign nationals holding a valid visa to the nation can board flights to Afghanistan. Indian nationals from Afghanistan holding a valid visa to Afghanistan can board these flights. Nonetheless, airport authorities will utilize their prudence to decide if there is any restriction for Indians to enter Afghanistan with the concerned visa category.
Flying To Bahrain: What You Should Know
Nationals and citizens of Bahrain can travel on these flights. Indian nationals holding a visa from Bahrain and bound for Bahrain can also travel. Once more, airlines should decide if section is allowed for Indian nationals on the concerned visa category that the voyager holds.
Flying To Iraq: What You Should Know
Indian nationals holding valid visas from Iraq and bound to Iraq just can board flights to the nation. Iraqi nationals and citizens
Flying To Nigeria: What You Should Know
Sailors of other nationalities can venture out to Nigeria. Indian sailors can also board such flights with earlier leeway from the Ministry of Shipping. All abandoned Nigerians residents or nationals. All foreign residents holding a valid Nigerian visa can visit any African nation, along with their spouses. And Indian nationals with a valid Nigerian visa, who are intending to visit any African nation, can visit Nigeria.
Flying To Qatar: What You Should Know
All Qatari nationals can fly. Indians holding a valid Qatar visa and bound to Qatar can board such flights. In such cases, the airlines will see to that Qatar doesn’t confine the entry of Indian nationals on the visa class that a traveler is going.
Special Vande Bharat Flights To And From China
India has also operated two special Vande Bharat Flights between Indian and China on 23rd October and 30th October. These flights would move abandoned Indians from China back to their country. Moreover, Indians with valid Chinese work licenses can board a flight to China in one of these flights too. You should comprehend that air bubbles are uncommon and transitory arrangements for movement, due to the current pandemic situation.
When the number of infection cases begins to lessen in India, more nations would almost certainly open their borders to explorers from the nation. Nonetheless, in the current situation, voyaging universally is confined for most Indian nationals. However, the DGCA has updated in November and you can now book air tickets to Dubai and Maldives for a vacation provided you have a negative Covid-19 certificate and following certain terms and conditions.