COVID-19 restrictions: List of airports in India need mandatory RT-PCR test report

In the wake of the second wave of coronavirus across the nation, the state governments have imposed restrictions and guidelines for travellers.

Earlier, the state government had made RT-PCR negative test mandatory to travel from one state to another due to rising COVID-19 cases. Several states and Union Territories have made it mandatory for visitors to produce negative COVID-19 test reports if they are coming from highly-affected states or Union Territories, including Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Chhattisgarh.

However, the fresh guidelines issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) have suggested the removal of mandatory RT-PCR tests for healthy people travelling across the country.

Though different states and UTs have formulated their own guidelines, many states still require negative RT-PCR tests from visitors.

List of airports in India that need mandatory RT-PCR test report:

Maharashtra

The state government has made it mandatory for passengers arriving from West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Kerala and Goa to carry the RT-PCR negative reports not older than 72 hours of arrival.

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Himachal Pradesh

With the Himachal Pradesh government announcing a fresh lockdown till 16 May, a negative RT-PCR test report not older than 72 hours prior to the journey has been made mandatory for those travelling to the state by air, rail and buses.

Chattisgarh

According to the state government guidelines, symptomatic passengers will be tested for RT-PCR or TRUENAT on arrival at the airport. If anyone is found positive they will have to undergo home isolation.

Gujarat

It is mandatory for passengers arriving at the airport from all states/UTs to carry an RT-PCR negative test report done within 72 hours of arrival. People who are not carrying negative certificates will be tested at the airport.

Goa

The state government has announced that tourists entering the state will either need to have a negative test report for COVID-19 or a certificate of full vaccination.

Jharkhand

It is mandatory for passengers arriving at the Ranchi airport from any state to carry an RT-PCR/TRUENAT negative report not older than 72 hours.

Jammu and Kashmir

It is mandatory for passengers, except defence personnel, arriving from all states and UTs to carry an RT-PCR negative test report done prior to 72 hours of arrival. Those who cannot provide a negative test report will undergo the test at the airport.

Delhi

The state government has made it mandatory for negative test reports for passengers coming from Maharashtra. The negative test report should not be older than 72 hours prior to departure for Delhi.

Kerala

Passengers flying in from other states will have to show a mandatory negative RT-PCR test report not older than 72 hours of departure to be allowed entry into the state.

Bihar

Passengers arriving at the Patna or Darbhanga airports from Maharashtra, Kerala and Punjab have to produce a negative RT-PCR report issued from a lab prior to 72 hours of travelling. Those who are unable to produce a negative test report will go through a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) at the airport.

West Bengal

All travellers arriving in West Bengal need to carry a negative report of COVID-19 done within 72 hours of arrival.

Madhya Pradesh

For passengers arriving from Maharashtra in Bhopal, it is mandatory to carry a negative RT-PCR report not earlier than 72 hours. Those arriving in Indore from Maharashtra should carry a negative test report not older than 48 hours.

Those who are unable to furnish negative RT-PCR reports will have to undergo tests at the airport for a fee.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

All incoming passengers arriving at the airport shall have to carry RT-PCR negative test reports issued from ICMR approved lab, subject to the condition that RT-PCR test should have been taken within 48 hours prior to commencement of journey. Any passenger arriving without an RT-PCR negative test report will be deported on the same flight.

Assam

Assam government made it mandatory for all air passengers arriving in the state to undergo the rapid antigen test (RAT) which will be done free of cost.

If passenger tests positive, he/she will have to undergo home isolation or get admitted to a private hospital or government health institution depending on his/her medical condition, the order said.

If an air passenger tests negative, then he/she will have to undergo a confirmatory RT-PCR test at the airport at the maximum approved rate of INR 500, it added.

Uttarakhand

It is mandatory for passengers arriving from all states and UTs to carry a negative RT-PCR test report not older than 96 hours of arrival. It is mandatory for all visitors to register on the state website.

Meghalaya

It is mandatory for passengers arriving from all states and UTs to carry an RT-PCR negative test report done within 72 hours of arrival. It is mandatory that every individual registers for an e-invite on Meghalaya's official site before entering the state.