International Flights: Now, Indians can travel to 17 countries as the Ministry of Civil Aviation has established a separate bilateral air bubble arrangement with Ukraine for the operation of special international passenger flights between the two nations. “Transport Bubbles” or “Air Travel Arrangements” are temporary arrangements between the two countries aimed at restarting commercial passenger services when regular international flights are suspended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. They are reciprocal in nature, meaning airlines from both countries enjoy similar benefits.
Who can travel from India to Ukraine?
  1. Nationals/residents of CIS countries (excluding Russia)
  2. Any Indian national holding any type of valid visa of Ukraine including diplomatic and official passport holders and destined for CIS countries (excluding Russia). It would be for the airlines concerned to ensure that there is no travel restriction for Indian nationals to enter the country concerned with the particular visa category before the issue of ticket/ boarding pass to the Indian passenger.
From Ukraine to India:
  1. Indian nationals in CIS countries (excluding Russia)
  2. All Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders holding passports issued by Ukraine

Till now, India had formed such arrangements with 16 countries — Afghanistan, Bahrain, Oman, Canada, France, Germany, Iraq, Japan, the Maldives, Nigeria, Qatar, the UAE, Kenya, Bhutan, the UK, and the USA.

 

Who can travel to these 16 countries?

Afghanistan:

From India to Afghanistan

  1. Afghanistan nationals/residents and foreign nationals holding valid Afghanistan visas, if required
  2. Any Indian national holding any type of valid visa from Afghanistan and destined for Afghanistan only. It would be for the airlines concerned to ensure that there is no travel restriction for Indian nationals to enter Afghanistan with the particular visa category before the issue of ticket/ boarding pass to the Indian passenger.

From Afghanistan to India

  1. Indian nationals stranded in Afghanistan;
  2. All Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders holding Afghanistan passports
  3.  Foreigners (including diplomats) holding a valid visas issued by an Indian Mission in any category covered under Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines dated 30.06.2020 as amended from time to time.

Bahrain:

From India to Bahrain

  1. Bahraini nationals/residents;
  2. Any Indian national holding any type of valid visa from the Kingdom of Bahrain and destined for Bahrain only. It would be for the airlines concerned to ensure that there is no travel restriction for Indian nationals to enter Bahrain with the particular visa category before the issue of ticket/ boarding pass to the Indian passenger

From Bahrain to India

  1. Indian nationals stranded in Bahrain;
  2. All Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders holding Bahraini passports
  3. Bahraini nationals (including diplomats) holding a valid visas issued by an Indian Mission in any category covered under Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines dated 30.06.2020 as amended from time to time.

Kenya

From India to Kenya

  1. Nationals/residents of any country in Africa; and
  2. Any Indian national holding any type of valid visa from Kenya and destined for any country in Africa. It would be for the airlines concerned to ensure that there is no travel restriction for Indian nationals to enter the destination country with the particular visa category before the issue of ticket/ boarding pass to the Indian passenger.

From Kenya to India

  1. Indian nationals stranded in any country in Africa;
  2. All Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders holding passports of Kenya
  3. Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders holding passports issued by any country in Africa who are eligible to enter India as per MHA guidelines dated 30.06.2020 as amended from time to time; and

Bhutan: Indian and Bhutanese carriers were allowed to operate services between India and Bhutan and carry the following categories of persons on such flights:

From India to Bhutan

  1. Nationals/residents of Bhutan and foreign nationals holding valid visa from Bhutan, if required;
  2. Any Indian national. It would be for the airlines concerned to ensure that there is no travel restriction for Indian nationals to enter Bhutan with the particular visa category before issue of ticket/ boarding pass to the Indian passenger.

From Bhutan to India

  1. Indian nationals;
  2. All Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders holding passports of Bhutan
  3.  Bhutanese nationals/residents (including diplomats) and foreigners (including diplomats) holding valid visa issued by an Indian Mission in any category covered under Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines dated 30.06.2020, as amended from time to time.

Canada: Indian carriers and Air Canada were operating services between India and Canada and carry the following categories of persons on such flights:

From India to Canada

  1. Stranded Canadian nationals/residents and foreigners with valid Canadian visa eligible to enter Canada;
  2. Indian nationals with valid visas eligible to enter Canada. It would be for the airlines concerned to ensure that there is no travel restriction for Indian nationals to enter Canada before issue of ticket/ boarding pass to the Indian passenger
  3.  Seamen of foreign nationalities; Seamen holding Indian passports would be allowed subject to clearance from the Ministry of Shipping

From Canada to India

  1. Stranded Indian nationals;
  2. All Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders holding Canadian passports
  3. Foreigners (including diplomats), who are eligible to enter India as per Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines dated 30.06.2020 as amended from time to time.

France

Indian and French carriers have been operating services between India and France and carry the following categories of persons on such flights:

From India to France

  1. Indian nationals who are permitted to travel abroad as per MHA guidelines dated 01.07.2020 and destined for EU;
  2. Stranded EU nationals/residents, foreign nationals destined for Europe and transiting through France or spouses of these persons, whether accompanying or otherwise
  3.  Seamen of foreign nationalities; Seamen holding Indian passports would be allowed subject to clearance from the Ministry of Shipping.

From France to India

  1. Stranded Indian nationals;
  2. Foreigners (including diplomats and OCI card holders), who are eligible to enter India as per Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines dated 30.06.2020 as amended from time to time.

Germany: Indian and German carriers were also permitted to operate services between India and Germany and carry the following categories of persons on such flights:

From India to Germany

  1. Indian nationals who are permitted to travel abroad as per MHA guidelines dated 01.07.2020 and destined for EU;
  2. Stranded EU nationals/residents, foreign nationals destined for Europe and transiting through Germany or spouses of these persons, whether accompanying or otherwise
  3. Seamen of foreign nationalities; Seamen holding Indian passports would be allowed subject to clearance from the Ministry of Shipping.

From Germany to India

  1. Stranded Indian nationals;
  2. Foreigners (including diplomats and OCI cardholders), who are eligible to enter India as per the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines dated 30.06.2020 as amended from time to time.

Iraq: Indian and Iraqi carriers carry the following categories of persons on such flights:

 

From India to Iraq

  1. Nationals/residents of Iraq
  2. Any Indian national holding any type of valid visa from Iraq and destined for Iraq only. It would be for the airlines concerned to ensure that there is no travel restriction for Indian nationals to enter Iraq with the particular visa category before issue of ticket/ boarding pass to the Indian passenger.

From Iraq to India

    1. Indian nationals stranded in Iraq;
    2. All Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders holding passports of Iraq
    3. Nationals of Iraq (including diplomats), holding a valid visas issued by an Indian Mission in any category covered under Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines dated 30.06.2020 as amended from time to time.

Japan: Indian and Japanese carriers carry the following categories of persons on such flights:

From India to Japan

  1. Stranded nationals/residents of Japan and foreign nationals holding valid Japanese visas subject to the border measures and travel restrictions imposed by the government of Japan at the time of travel; and
  2. Any Indian national holding any type of valid visa from Japan subject to the border measures and travel restrictions imposed by the government of Japan at the time of travel. It would be for the airlines concerned to ensure that there is no travel restriction for Indian nationals to enter Japan with the particular visa category before issue of ticket/ boarding pass to the Indian passenger.

From Japan to India

    1. Stranded Indian nationals
    2. All Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders holding passports of Japan
    3. Foreigners (including diplomats), holding valid visa issued by an Indian Mission in any category covered under Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines dated 30.06.2020 as amended from time to time.

Maldives: Indian and Maldivian carriers operate flights between India and Maldives and carry the following categories of persons on such flights:

From India to Maldives:

  1. Maldivian nationals/residents and foreign nationals holding valid Maldivian visas, if required;
  2. Any Indian national. It would be for the airlines concerned to ensure that there is no travel restriction for Indian nationals to enter Maldives before issue of ticket/ boarding pass to the Indian passenger.

From Maldives to India:

  1. Indian nationals
  2. All Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders holding Maldivian passports
  3. Foreigners (including diplomats) holding valid visa issued by an Indian Mission in any category covered under Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines dated 30.06.2020 as amended from time to time.

Nigeria: Indian and Nigerian carriers operate flights between India and Nigeria and carry the following categories of persons on such flights:

From India to Nigeria:

  1. Stranded Nigerian nationals/residents, foreign nationals destined for Africa and transiting through Nigeria or spouses of these persons, whether accompanying or otherwise;
  2. Any Indian national holding any type of valid Nigerian visa and destined for any country in Africa. It would be for the airlines concerned to ensure that there is no travel restriction for Indian nationals to enter the destination country before issue of ticket/ boarding pass to the Indian passenger
  3. Seamen of foreign nationalities; Seamen holding Indian passports would be allowed subject to clearance from the Ministry of Shipping.

From Nigeria to India:

  1. Indian nationals stranded in any country in Africa;
  2. All Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders holding Nigerian passports
  3. Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders holding passports issued by any country in Africa who are eligible to enter India as per MHA guidelines dated 30.06.2020 as amended from time to time
  4. Foreigners (including diplomats) holding valid visa issued by an Indian Mission in any category covered under Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines dated 30.06.2020 as amended from time to time.

Qatar

From India to Qatar:

  1. Qatari nationals;
  2. Any Indian national holding any type of valid Qatar visa and destined for Qatar only. It would be for the airlines concerned to ensure that there is no travel restriction for Indian nationals to enter Qatar with the particular visa category before the issue of ticket/ boarding pass to the Indian passenger.

From Qatar to India:

  1. Indian nationals stranded in Qatar;
  2. All Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders holding Qatari passports
  3. Qatari nationals (including diplomats) holding valid visa issued by an Indian Mission in any category covered under Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines dated 30.06.2020 as amended from time to time.

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

From India to UAE:

  1. UAE nationals.
  2. ICA approved UAE residents destined for UAE only.
  3. Any Indian national holding any type of valid UAE visa and destined for UAE only. It would be for the airlines concerned to ensure that there is no travel restriction for Indian nationals to enter UAE with the particular visa category before issue of ticket/ boarding pass to the Indian passenger.

From UAE to India:

  1. Stranded Indian nationals;
  2. All Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders holding UAE passports
  3. UAE nationals (including diplomats) holding valid visa issued by an Indian Mission in any category covered under Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines dated 30.06.2020 as amended from time to time.

United Kingdom (UK)

From India to UK

  1. Stranded UK nationals/residents, foreign nationals transiting through UK or spouses of these persons, whether accompanying or otherwise;
  2. Any Indian national holding any type of valid UK visa and destined for UK only. It would be for the airlines concerned to ensure that there is no travel restriction for Indian nationals to enter UK with the particular visa category before issue of ticket/ boarding pass to the Indian passenger
  3. Seamen of foreign nationalities; Seamen holding Indian passports would be allowed subject to clearance from the Ministry of Shipping

From UK to India

  1. Stranded Indian nationals;
  2. All Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders holding UK passports
  3. Foreigners (including diplomats), who are eligible to enter India as per Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines dated 30.06.2020 as amended from time to time.
  1. United States of America (USA)

From India to USA

  1. US citizens, legal permanent residents, and foreign nationals holding valid US visas;
  2. Any Indian national holding any type of valid US visa. It would be for the airlines concerned to ensure that there is no travel restriction for Indian nationals to enter USA with the particular visa category before issue of ticket/ boarding pass to the Indian passenger
  3. Seamen of foreign nationalities; Seamen holding Indian passports would be allowed subject to clearance from the Ministry of Shipping

From USA to India

  1. Stranded Indian nationals;
  2. All Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders holding US passports
  3. Foreigners (including diplomats), who are eligible to enter India as per Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines dated 30.06.2020 as amended from time to time.

 From India to Oman:

1.Nationals/residents of Oman

2.Any Indian national holding valid residency permit of Oman and destined for Oman only. It would be for the airlines concerned to ensure the Indian nationals are eligible to enter Oman before issue of ticket/ boarding pass to the Indian passenger.

From Oman to India: 

1.Indian nationals stranded in Oman

2.All Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders holding passports of Oman

3. Nationals of Oman (including diplomats) holding valid visas issued by an Indian Mission in any category covered under Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines dated 30.06.2020 as amended from time to time.

Notably, scheduled international flights have been suspended in India since March 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, special international passenger flights have been operating in India under the Vande Bharat Mission since May and under bilateral air bubble arrangements formed between India and other countries since July.

 

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