This is what India’s recently created travel bubbles with the UK, US, Germany, France, UAE, Canada and Maldives, means for international flyers. By Tanvi Jain
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In order to restore international travel, India has so far created individual bilateral travel bubbles with seven countries including the UK, US, Germany, France, UAE, Canada and Maldives. This means that apart from the citizens of these countries, foreign nationals willing to take transit through these countries, and Indian nationals, will be allowed to travel to and from these countries, subject to conditions.
Moreover, Indian nationals having a visa valid for a minimum of one month except for tourism purpose will also be allowed to travel to these countries. While the UAE has reopened borders for tourists, the US Embassy in India has also recently started processing student visa on a limited basis. Furthermore, Indian nationals holding student, business or work visa can easily travel outside of the country.
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Meanwhile, apart from Indian nationals willing to travel back to their homeland, certain categories of foreign nationals such as businessmen coming on a business visa other than B-3 visa for sports, healthcare workers including doctors, researchers, lab technicians, engineers, etc., invited to work in the Indian health sector; and engineering, design and managerial specialists coming to work in Indian offices of foreign companies, are also allowed to travel to India.
In fact, as per a recent update by the MHA, foreign nationals holding Journalist visa – J-1 or J-1X — have also been permitted to visit India with their family. The Ministry said in an official statement that not only do these visas if suspended stand restored effective immediately, but fresh J-1 and J-1X visas can also be obtained in case one has exceeded the validity period.
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While, Air India has started operating flights from Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram and Amritsar to Birmingham, London, Paris, Frankfurt, San Francisco, Newark, Washington DC, Chicago; international airlines such as Air France, United, Air Canada, Lufthansa, Etihad, Virgin Atlantic and Emirates, have also been allowed to operate two–way flights.
Some airlines have even revealed their plans to operate flights to and from these destinations. For example, while Lufthansa has said that it will operate flights from Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai, and from Munich to Delhi; Virgin Atlantic has said that starting September, it will operate two-way flights from London to Delhi thrice a week, and by mid-September, London to Mumbai and back.
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Similarly, Vistara is likely to start operations between Delhi and London’s Heathrow Airport, and later to Paris and Frankfurt, and SpiceJet is planning to start one flight every day from multiple Indian cities to London’s Heathrow Airport.
India is currently negotiating with 13 more countries i.e. Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Bahrain, Nigeria, Kenya, Israel, Russia, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand and Singapore, to create similar travel bubbles as soon as possible.
Related: What Does India’s Newly Created Air Bubbles Actually Mean For Regular Travellers?
