MHA issues SOP for international passengers under Vande Bharat, air bubble scheme

Ministry of Home Affairs on Saturday issued Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) for international travel on n-scheduled commercial flights under Vande Bharat scheme and air transport bubble arrangement.

Accordingly, persons desirous to travel to India on Vande Bharat flights will register mselves with Indian missions in country where y are stranded or residing, along with necessary details as prescribed by Ministry of External Affairs.

However, such a registration may t be required on flights operating under air transport bubbles arrangements, SOP said.

People who will travel to India by n-scheduled commercial flights as allowed by Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA) and ships as allowed by Department of Military Affairs (DMA) and Ministry of Shipping (MOS).

SOP for operations of se flights or ships will be as issued by MOCA or DMA or MOS from time to time.

India so far has bilateral air travel arrangements or air bubbles with US, UK, Germany, France, Qatar, Maldives, and UAE while negotiations are going on with 13 more countries.

Vande Bharat flights have been operating since May 6 and currently, Scheme is in Phase-5.

Only those crew and staff, who are tested COVID-19 negative, will be allowed to operate se flights and ships.

SOP said priority will be given to compelling cases of in distress, including migrant workers and labourers who have been laid off, short term visa holders faced with an expiry of visas, persons with medical emergency/ pregnant women and elderly persons or those required to return to India due to death of a family member, and students.

cost of travel, as specified by carrier, will be borne by such travellers.

Based on registrations received for Vande Bharat flights, MEA will prepare flight or ship wise database of all such travellers, including details such as name, , , mobile phone number, place of residence, place of final destination; and information on RT-PCR test taken and its result.

This database will be shared by MEA with respective State and UT in vance.

In case of flights operating under air transport bubbles, passenger manifest containing same details as given above for Vande Bharat flights or in a revised format as may be finalised by MEA with country concerned, will be submitted by airlines to Indian mission in country concerned.

For out-bound flights, category of persons, who will be eligible to travel on se flights, will be as permitted by MHA from time to time.

MOCA will display on its website category of persons eligible to travel out of India.

Such persons will apply to MoCA or to an ncy or ncies designated by MoCA for this purpose, along with necessary details, including places of departure and arrival.

travel from India shall be on n-scheduled commercial flights, as are allowed by MoCA.

Indian seafarers and crew seeking to accept contracts to serve on vessels abro can travel on n-scheduled commercial flights as allowed by MOCA or flights arranged by ir employers subject to clearance given by Ministry of Shipping.

Before tickets of such persons are confirmed, airline concerned will ensure that destination country allows entry of such persons with a valid visa in that country.

conditions, if any, imposed by destination country, will have to be fulfilled by person intending to travel.

(PTI Photo)