Air Suvidha India: Complete Guide for International Travelers
Updated: May 2026 | Official sources: Bureau of Immigration India, Ministry of Civil Aviation, indianvisaonline.gov.inAir Suvidha is gone. India’s pandemic-era travel declaration system was permanently shut down in February 2023.
What Was Air Suvidha?
Air Suvidha (Hindi: सुविधा = “convenience”) was a mandatory online health declaration portal introduced by the Indian government in 2020 to manage international arrivals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Every traveler flying into India — regardless of nationality — had to register on the portal before boarding their flight. The system collected:- Vaccination status and certificate details
- COVID-19 test results (RT-PCR)
- Travel itinerary and accommodation address in India
- Self-declaration of COVID-19 symptoms
Who Ran Air Suvidha?
Three government bodies jointly administered the system:- Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) — policy and oversight
- Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) — enforced compliance by airlines
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) — set health protocols and quarantine rules
Important: Air Suvidha Was Not a Visa
Air Suvidha had nothing to do with immigration status. It was a health monitoring and contact-tracing tool only. Travelers still needed a valid Indian visa (or OCI/PIO card) separately — Air Suvidha did not replace or substitute any visa requirement.Timeline: How Air Suvidha Was Phased Out
| Period | Status |
|---|---|
| 2020 | Launched — mandatory for international arrivals |
| 2021 | Integrated with quarantine protocols; universal registration required |
| Early 2022 | Suspended for fully vaccinated travelers from non-high-risk countries |
| November 2022 | Suspended for travelers as India eased COVID-19 restrictions |
| January 2023 | Briefly reinstated for arrivals from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand |
| February 2023 | Permanently discontinued — COVID-19 travel protocols removed |
| 2025 | India e-Arrival Card introduced as the permanent pre-arrival registration system |
Air Suvidha vs. India e-Arrival Card: Key Differences
These two systems are often confused, but they serve entirely different purposes.| Feature | Air Suvidha | India e-Arrival Card |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Discontinued (Feb 2023) | Currently active |
| Purpose | COVID-19 health monitoring | Immigration pre-registration |
| Who must register | Most international arrivals (COVID era) | Most international arrivals |
| Portal | newdelhiairport.in/airsuvidha | indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival |
| Fee | Free | Free |
| Administered by | MoCA / DGCA / MoHFW | Bureau of Immigration |
| Documents needed | Vaccination cert, RT-PCR test | Passport, visa, flight details |
| Launched | 2020 | 2025 |
India e-Arrival Card: Step-by-Step Instructions
The e-Arrival Card is the form you actually need for travel to India today. Here’s how to complete it.What to Prepare
Before opening the portal, have these documents ready:- Passport — must be valid for the duration of your stay
- Visa details — visa number, category, and validity dates (or OCI/PIO card number)
- Flight information — airline, flight number, and arrival date
- Port of entry — the Indian airport where you’ll land
How to Fill the e-Arrival Card
Step 1: Go to the official portal Open indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival in your browser. This is the only legitimate government portal. The service is completely free — any website charging a fee is a commercial third-party site. Step 2: Enter your passport details Provide your passport number and select your country of citizenship. Step 3: Fill in travel information| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Full name | Exactly as shown on your passport |
| Date of birth | DD/MM/YYYY format |
| Passport number | No spaces, exactly as printed |
| Nationality | Country of citizenship |
| Flight number | Your inbound flight to India |
| Arrival date | Date you land in India |
| Port of entry | Indian airport of arrival |
| Visa / OCI number | Your visa number or OCI card number |
How Air Suvidha Worked: Historical Reference
📋 For historical reference only. Air Suvidha is no longer active. This section documents how the system functioned between 2020 and 2023.
Documents Required Under Air Suvidha
Requirements varied based on vaccination status and country of origin: Fully vaccinated travelers:- Valid passport
- WHO-approved vaccination certificate (name, date of birth, vaccine type, dose dates)
- Flight details and accommodation address in India
- All documents listed above
- Negative RT-PCR test result (taken within 72 hours before departure)
- Partial vaccination certificate (if applicable)
The Registration Process
- Visit newdelhiairport.in/airsuvidha/apho-registration (now inactive).
- Enter personal details — name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, and expiry.
- Enter travel details — airline, flight number, departure city, arrival date, port of entry.
- Upload health documents — vaccination certificate and/or RT-PCR result.
- Submit self-declaration — confirm no COVID-19 symptoms in the past 14 days.
- Receive email confirmation — required at airport check-in.
Quarantine Rules That Applied
| Traveler Category | Quarantine Requirement |
|---|---|
| Fully vaccinated, non-high-risk country | No quarantine |
| Partially vaccinated | 7-day home quarantine |
| Unvaccinated | 7-day home quarantine |
| Arriving from a high-risk country | Arrival RT-PCR test + possible quarantine |
What Was APHO?
APHO (Airport Health Organization) was the body responsible for health surveillance at Indian airports. Air Suvidha was directly integrated with APHO’s systems at Indira Gandhi International Airport. The APHO process worked as follows:- Traveler submits the Air Suvidha form before departure
- APHO receives and reviews the submission
- On arrival, APHO officers conduct thermal screening and additional checks as needed
- Travelers from high-risk countries undergo mandatory RT-PCR testing on arrival
- Quarantine instructions issued based on test results and vaccination status
Requirements by Traveler Nationality
US Citizens
US citizens were subject to the same Air Suvidha requirements as other international travelers — no nationality-based exemptions applied. Current requirements for US citizens entering India (2024/2025):- Valid US passport with sufficient remaining validity
- Valid Indian visa (tourist, business, e-visa, or other appropriate category)
- India e-Arrival Card — free at indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival
- No COVID documentation required
UK Citizens
UK citizens had the same Air Suvidha obligations as other international travelers. Current requirements for UK citizens entering India (2024/2025):- Valid UK passport
- Valid Indian visa — UK citizens are not visa-exempt for India
- India e-Arrival Card — free
- No COVID documentation required
NRI, OCI, and PIO Card Holders
NRI (Non-Resident Indians) traveling on Indian passports are generally treated as Indian citizens and are typically exempt from the e-Arrival Card requirement. OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) and PIO (Person of Indian Origin) card holders should verify their specific requirements at indianvisaonline.gov.in, as rules for these categories may differ from standard foreign nationals.Transit Passengers
Passengers transiting through Indian airports without entering the country were generally exempt from Air Suvidha, provided they:- Remained within the international transit zone
- Stayed within permitted transit duration limits
- Met applicable nationality and visa conditions
Children and Infants
Air Suvidha required individual registration for every traveler, including infants — no age-based exemptions existed. Parents or guardians could complete registrations on behalf of minors. The same rule applies to the current e-Arrival Card system.The Air Suvidha App: Discontinued
During its active period, Air Suvidha was available as a mobile app on both iOS (Apple App Store) and Android (Google Play Store). The Air Suvidha app no longer exists. It was removed from app stores when the program was discontinued. Any version still installed on older devices will fail to connect — the backend infrastructure has been shut down. If you still have the app installed:- Delete it — it has no function.
- Go to indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival in your browser.
- Complete the e-Arrival Card registration there
⚠️ Security warning: Do not download any app claiming to be “Air Suvidha” from unofficial sources. The official app no longer exists. Unofficial apps using this name may be designed to steal personal data or payment information.
Full FAQ: Air Suvidha and India e-Arrival Card
Is Air Suvidha still necessary? Air Suvidha was permanently discontinued in February 2023. No Indian government authority requires it. Any source telling you otherwise is outdated or incorrect.What replaced Air Suvidha? The India e-Arrival Card, available free at indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival. It is a permanent immigration pre-registration system — not a COVID measure.
When was Air Suvidha discontinued? February 2023. The Ministry of Civil Aviation removed all remaining COVID-19 travel protocols, including Air Suvidha, effective that month.
Is the Air Suvidha portal still accessible? The portal at newdelhiairport.in/airsuvidha/apho-registration is inactive. Attempting to access it will result in an error or redirect.
Do I need a COVID test or vaccination certificate to enter India? India removed COVID-19 entry requirements in February 2023. No RT-PCR test, vaccination certificate, or health declaration is needed.
What was the Air Suvidha self-declaration form? India’s mandatory COVID-19 health declaration for international travelers was active from 2020 to February 2023. Visitors declared vaccination status, COVID-19 test results, and travel details before boarding India-bound flights. It is no longer in use.
Is the e-Arrival Card the same as Air Suvidha? Air Suvidha was a temporary COVID health declaration (discontinued). The e-Arrival Card is a permanent immigration pre-registration tool (currently active). The e-Arrival Card does not involve vaccination certificates or COVID test results.
Which airlines required Air Suvidha? Airlines operating flights to India — including Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Emirates, British Airways, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Turkish Airlines, and all other carriers with India routes.
Do Indian citizens need the e-Arrival Card? Indian passport holders are generally exempt. OCI and PIO card holders should verify current rules at indianvisaonline.gov.in. Can I still download the Air Suvidha app? The app has been removed from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Any app claiming to be Air Suvidha on unofficial platforms is not legitimate. Is the e-Arrival Card required for children? Every traveler entering India — including infants — needs their own e-Arrival Card registration. Parents or guardians complete the registration on behalf of minors.
India Entry Requirements: Then vs. Now
| Requirement | COVID Era (2020–2023) | 2024/2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Air Suvidha form | ✅ Mandatory | ❌ Discontinued |
| COVID-19 vaccination certificate | ✅ Required (for some) | ❌ Not required |
| RT-PCR test result | ✅ Required (for some) | ❌ Not required |
| Quarantine on arrival | ✅ Required (for some) | ❌ Not required |
| India e-Arrival Card | ❌ Did not exist | ✅ Required |
| Valid Indian visa | ✅ Required | ✅ Required |
| Valid passport | ✅ Required | ✅ Required |