High Commission of India
Ottawa

Advisory relating to travel and visa restrictions for availing air flights under bilateral air travel arrangements (‘air bubble’ scheme) and ‘Vande Bharat Mission’ flights between India and Canada

1. The following categories of travellers can avail such flights for travel to India;
   1. All Indian nationals.
   2. All Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders citizen of Canada.
   3. Canadian Citizen can avail these flights if they possess fresh valid visa and belong to the following categories;
      1. Canadian nationals who are minor children where at least one of their parents is an Indian citizen or an OCI cardholder;
      2. Canadian nationals married to Indian citizens;
      3. Canadian nationals who are single parents of minor children holding Indian passports or OCI card;
      4. Students who are Canadian nationals where at least one of their parents is an Indian citizen or an OCI cardholder; and
      5. Dependent family members of Canadian diplomats and official/service passport holding service staff accredited to foreign diplomatic Missions, consular offices or accredited international Organizations in India.
      6. Canadian businessmen coming to India on a Business Visa [other than on B-3 Visa for sports]
      7. Canadian Healthcare professionals, health researchers, engineers and technicians for technical work at Indian health sector facilities, including laboratories and factories. This is subject to a letter of invitation from a recognized and registered healthcare facility, registered pharmaceutical company or accredited University in     India.
      8. Canadian Engineering, Managerial, Design or other Specialists travelling to India on behalf of foreign business entities located in India. This includes all manufacturing units, design units, software and IT units as well as financial sector companies (banking and non-banking financial sector firms).
      9. Canadian Technical specialists and engineers travelling for installation, repair and maintenance of foreign-origin machinery and equipment facilities in India, on the invitation of a registered Indian business entity. These could be for equipment installation, or under warranty or for after sales servicing or repair on commercial terms.
      10. Canadian nationals who hold Journalist (J-1) visa and their dependents who are holding J-1X visa. The validity of such visas stand restored immediately. However, if the validity of the visas has expired, fresh visas need to be obtained by approaching the High Commission or the nearest Indian Consulate.
      2. For the purpose of these flights, the right of multiple entry lifelong visa facility granted for any purpose stands restored with immediate effect to persons, citizens of Canada, who are registered as Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders.
      3. Canadian Nationals listed at 1 (c) (i)-(ix) above must obtain fresh emergency visa or fresh Business visa or Employment visa, as applicable, by approaching the High Commission or the nearest Indian Consulate. Long term Visas issued earlier, even if they have not expired, shall not be valid for travel to India in these flights and will need to be re-validated by the High Commission or the Post which issued the original visa. Any electronic visas obtained earlier shall not be valid.
      4. Existing restrictions on incoming passenger traffic into India through the Immigration Check Posts will not apply in the following cases;
         1. All OCI cardholders who are permitted to enter India as mentioned in 1 (b) above.
         2. Any movement of cargo or goods and supplies in any vehicle, aircraft, ship train etc. along with their crew, sailor, driver, helper, cleaner.
      5. All guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Health & Family Welfare shall be adhered to in respect of quarantine and all other health/ COVID-19 related matters. These advisories can be accessed at (https://boi.gov.in).
      6. All travellers arriving in India shall be subject to all prevailing health safety regulations and requirements in force. Non –compliance may lead to denial of entry into India and/or repatriation at the cost of the traveller.
      7. All travelers to India, when requested, must provide such information as mandated by the Government of India to facilitate implementation of quarantine and other health safety norms, including but not limited to contact details, mobile phone numbers and address details.
      8. All travelers should submit self-declaration form on the online portal (www.newdelhiairport.in) at least 72 hours before the scheduled travel.
      9. All travelers should also give an undertaking on the portal that they would undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days i.e. 7 days paid institutional quarantine at their own cost, followed by 7 days isolation at home with self-monitoring of health.
      10. Only for compelling reasons/ cases of human distress such as pregnancy, death in family, serious illness and parent(s) with children of the age of 10 years or below, home quarantine may be permitted for 14 days. If travellers wish to seek such exemption, they may apply on the online portal (www.newdelhiairport.in) at least 72 hours before boarding. The decision taken by the government as communicated on the online portal will be final.
      11. Travelers may seek exemption from institutional quarantine by submitting a negative RT-PCR test report on arrival. This test should have been conducted within 96 hrs prior to undertaking the journey. The test report should be uploaded on the portal for consideration.
      12. Each traveller shall also submit a declaration with respect to authenticity of the report and will be liable for criminal prosecution, if found otherwise. The test report could also be produced upon arrival at the point of entry airport in India.
      13. Airlines and Air-operators shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with conditions listed at 5-12 above. Non-compliance may result in denial of entry and/or repatriation at the cost of the traveller/airline.
      14. Any Indian national holding any type of valid visa of Canada can travel to Canada provided there is no travel restriction for entry of Indian nationals in Canada. It would be for airlines concerned to ensure that there is no travel restriction for Indian nationals to enter Canada with the particular visa category before issue of tickets/ boarding pass to the Indian passenger.
      15. Government of Canada has imposed restrictions on entry of foreign nationals into Canada even if they hold valid visas. For any further clarifications in this regard, travellers may approach Government of Canada agencies or the Airlines concerned. The High Commission or our Consulates will not be able to provide further information/guidance on the issue of eligibility and criteria for entry into Canada.

      Ottawa

      18 August 2020