Dubai: If you are travelling from the UAE to Mumbai, India, what are the documents you need to keep to apply for an exemption from institutional quarantine? This was a question raised by a Gulf News reader.
Gulf News reader, Imran Rajamiya, wrote in, asking: “I need to know what the procedure is for travel to India. I know there's the 72-hour PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) negative test along with the ‘Air Suvidha’ form. However, recently there was some news that those with two doses of vaccine don't need institutional quarantine. My question is: What documents does one need to show to authorities in India, to prove that that he or she has been vaccinated? I am strictly referring to travel to Mumbai.”
PCR test before travelling
Most countries have a requirement for presenting a negative COVID-19 test PCR rest result, which should be taken within a stipulated time before the flight. For travellers to India coming from the UAE, the test needs to be taken 72 hours before departure, with the negative report uploaded to the Air Suvidha portal - www.newdelhiairport.in.
Other PCR tests cost approximately Dh150.
PCR test on arrival
According to new travel guidelines issued by Indian authorities, which have been applicable since February 23, another test needs to be done on arrival in India. This will be paid for by the passenger.
The website of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSM International Airport) provides the following mandatory requirements for the RT-PCR test on arrival:
• Carry a valid ID Proof (Aadhar card, driving licence, passport or Voter ID card).
• Save a screen shot of the Token number to display at the site. The token is provided by airport staff, depending on your country of departure.
• Online reports will be available within 48 hours.
• International passengers registering at Mumbai Airport will get their reports within eight hours.
If you have any connecting flights within India, you would need to make the booking of the next flight keeping in mind the time it would take to receive the PCR test result.
Exemption from institutional quarantine for fully vaccinated passengers
Earlier, passengers arriving from or transiting through UK, Europe, Middle East, South Africa and Brazil were required to undergo mandatory institutional quarantine for seven days followed by seven days of home quarantine. However, according to the new circular the following categories of people are exempt from the requirement for institutional quarantine:
1. Elderly passengers above 65 years of age.
2. Pregnant woman in advanced stage of pregnancy.
3. Both parents accompanying children below five years of age.
4. Passengers having serious illness and require immediate medical attention such as cancer, severe physical disability, mental illness, cerebral palsy on production of supporting documents and medical conditions that need admission in medical institutions immediately.
5. Extreme family distress condition i.e. father, mother, son, daughter in critical condition (on death bed), severe accident in family, death of immediate family members (only on production of convincing support documents to the airport staff).
6. Passengers who have completed both their vaccine dosage (on production of both vaccination certificates and also a self-declaration in prescribed format has to be produced).
7. Medical professionals that intend to travel for performing life-saving surgery/attending critical patients (on production of proof from the hospitals where the surgery/medical service is intended to be performed).
How to get COVID-19 vaccine certificate?
As the exemption for vaccinated passengers requires production of vaccination certificates, here is how you can receive an official document if you were vaccinated in the UAE.
MOHAP
If you were vaccinated at a Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) centre, the vaccination card is given at the vaccination centre, with the timings and dates of both the doses mentioned.
The card can be used as a proof of vaccination for travel purposes, as it has the MOHAP seal, which is stamped after the second dose is received.
You can also see the vaccine dose details in the AlHosn app or the COVID-19 UAE app.
Seha
• Download the Seha app
• Select ‘English’ as the language
• Choose ‘Other Seha services’
• Select COVID-19 reports
• Click on ‘View’ to download your COVID-19 Vaccination Report
DHA
• Download the DHA app
• Use your MRN number to log in to your account.
• Click on ‘COVID-19 Vaccination card’.
• The app will then provide you with the details of both the doses, with the option to download, in case you need a print out.
How to create a medical record number (MRN)
Your MRN number is required when booking your COVID-19 vaccine appointment. You can create one by:
1. Visiting the DHA website - www.dha.gov.ae
2. Following the direct link - bit.ly/MRN_E
Once you enter your Emirates ID number, you will receive a one-time password on your registered mobile number. Once you confirm, you will receive your MRN number on the website.
