Kuwait Issues New Travel Guidelines for Passengers Flying to India

Kuwait has rolled out updated travel guidelines for its citizens planning to travel to India, following India’s decision to strengthen health monitoring at its international airports in response to growing global concern over the Ebola disease outbreak.

Air Suvidha 2.0 Form Now Mandatory

Under the newly issued directives by Kuwaiti authorities, all passengers travelling from Kuwait to India are now required to complete the upgraded Air Suvidha 2.0 Self Declaration Form (SDF) prior to their arrival in India.

India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation and Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) have jointly introduced this enhanced digital health declaration system with the dual objective of strengthening surveillance at international entry points and expediting passenger clearance procedures.

Submission Deadline and Process

Passengers must submit the online Self Declaration Form no later than 24 hours before arrival in India. Authorities recommend completing the form during web check-in, prior to boarding the flight.

Upon landing, travelers will be required to present the downloaded form at either the International Travel Health Desk or the Immigration counter.

Data Collected Through the Portal

The upgraded Air Suvidha 2.0 portal collects comprehensive passenger information, including:

• A 21-day travel history
• Any potential exposure to infectious diseases
• Symptoms, if any, related to such exposure

This data will be shared in real time with relevant authorities, including airport health officials, the Bureau of Immigration, the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP), and state surveillance bodies, enabling prompt identification and referral of travelers who may require medical attention.

WHO Ebola Declaration: The Trigger

The new measures come in direct response to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration of the Ebola/Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005.

India’s proactive response reflects its commitment to safeguarding public health while maintaining the flow of international air travel.