Air Suvidha Self Declaration Form: Complete Guide
Last updated: May 2026 | Sources: Bureau of Immigration India, Ministry of Civil Aviation, indianvisaonline.gov.in Air Suvidha was India’s mandatory digital self-declaration portal for international travelers, introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. It no longer exists. The Indian government permanently shut it down in February 2023. Travelers flying to India today do not need to fill out any COVID-related form. What you need instead is the India e-Arrival Card — a free immigration pre-registration form at indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival. No vaccination proof. No PCR test. No quarantine.⚠️ STATUS UPDATE: Air Suvidha has been DISCONTINUED India no longer requires the Air Suvidha self-declaration form.
What Is Air Suvidha?
Air Suvidha (the word “Suvidha” translates from Hindi as “facility” or “convenience”) was a web-based health declaration system launched by the Indian government in 2020 to manage the flow of international passengers during the COVID-19 crisis. Every person boarding a flight to India — regardless of nationality — was required to register on the portal before departure. The system gathered:- Proof of vaccination and certificate details
- COVID-19 RT-PCR test results
- Flight itinerary and address of accommodation in India
- A self-declaration confirming the absence of COVID-19 symptoms
Who Administered Air Suvidha?
Three government bodies jointly ran the system:- Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) — sets policy and provides oversight
- Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) — required airlines to verify compliance before boarding
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) — defined health protocols and quarantine rules
Air Suvidha Was Not a Visa
Air Suvidha had no connection to immigration status. It was purely a health monitoring and contact-tracing instrument. Visitors still needed a valid Indian visa (or OCI/PIO card) separately — Air Suvidha did not substitute for any visa requirement.A Brief History of Air Suvidha (2020–2023)
| Year / Period | What Happened |
|---|---|
| 2020 | Portal launched — mandatory for international arrivals |
| 2021 | Integrated with quarantine protocols; universal registration enforced |
| 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 |
Is Air Suvidha Still Required?
Air Suvidha is not required for any traveler entering India. It was officially and permanently discontinued in February 2023 by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. No Indian government authority — immigration, health, or aviation — requires it today. Any website, travel agent, or information source claiming Air Suvidha is still active is either outdated or incorrect.What Replaced Air Suvidha?
The India e-Arrival Card replaced Air Suvidha as India’s pre-arrival registration system. It launched in 2025 and is currently active. Key differences:| Feature | Air Suvidha | India e-Arrival Card |
|---|---|---|
| Current status | Discontinued (Feb 2023) | Active |
| Purpose | COVID-19 health monitoring | Immigration pre-registration |
| Who must register | International arrivals (COVID era) | International arrivals |
| Official portal | newdelhiairport.in/airsuvidha | indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival |
| Fee | Free | Free |
| Administered by | MoCA / DGCA / MoHFW | Bureau of Immigration |
| Documents required | Vaccination cert, RT-PCR test | Passport, visa, flight details |
| Year launched | 2020 | 2025 |
What to Do Now: India e-Arrival Card Guide
If you are traveling to India, the e-Arrival Card is what you actually need.Documents to Have Ready
Before opening the portal, gather:- Passport — valid for the full duration of your stay
- Visa details — visa number, category, and validity dates (or OCI/PIO card number)
- Flight information — airline name, flight number, and arrival date
- Port of entry — the Indian airport where you will land
Step-by-Step: How to Fill the e-Arrival Card
Step 1: Open the official portal Navigate to indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival in your browser. This is the only legitimate government portal. The service is entirely free — any website charging a fee is a commercial third-party intermediary. Step 2: Enter passport details Input your passport number and select your country of citizenship. Step 3: Complete the travel information form| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Full name | Exactly as it appears 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 | The date you land in India |
| Port of entry | Indian airport of arrival |
| Visa / OCI number | Your visa number or OCI card number |
e-Arrival Card: Common Questions
Is the e-Arrival Card compulsory? Yes, for international travelers entering India. Indian passport holders are generally exempt — verify at the official portal before traveling. What does it cost? Nothing. It is a free government service. Any website charging for this is a commercial intermediary — not required, not recommended. When must I complete it? Before your flight departs. Check the official portal for the exact submission window. Do children need their own registration? Every traveler — including infants — requires an individual e-Arrival Card. Parents or guardians may complete registrations on behalf of minors.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
Conditions varied depending 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 of the above
- Negative RT-PCR test result (taken within 72 hours before departure)
- Partial vaccination certificate (if applicable)
The Registration Process (Historical)
- 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:- 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.
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: No Longer Available
During its active period, Air Suvidha was accessible 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 serves no purpose.
- 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.
Full FAQ: Air Suvidha and India e-Arrival Card
Is Air Suvidha still required in 2026? 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 all 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 visitors 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? All 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 — requires 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) | 2025/2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |