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Even those countries that took a rather cautious approach to the pandemic are finally reopening their borders. New Zealand has started allowing travellers in again, South Korea is reopening next month and Thailand is scaling back its strict testing requirements. Now, after two years cut off from the world, India is also reopening to travellers.
Until this week the country had only been letting in chartered flights, meaning it was essentially off-limits to most international visitors. But as of this weekend, 66 airlines from 41 countries – including the UK, US and Australia – will be allowed to fly a limited number of weekly flights to the country.
Testing requirements are pretty simple, too. Before boarding, visitors have to fill out a self-declaration form, detailing vaccination status. If you’re double-jabbed, there’s no requirement to take a test before the flight or on entry, although you can expect random tests at the airport. If you’re not vaccinated, you can still visit, but you’ll need to have proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of your flight. Children under five are exempt from testing.
Sure, the restrictions may well change again soon, so you should definitely keep an eye on India’s official tourism website. But in the meantime, we reckon you can go ahead and book that trip of a lifetime.
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