After the Covid-19 restrictions were lifted a while ago, keeping in mind the necessary health guidelines, a flock of Bollywood celebrities packed their bags and escaped to Maldives. Their gorgeous sunkissed pictures transported us back to our holidays in the mountains and on the beaches, before the Covid-19 pandemic locked us inside our homes. So, in case, Maldives made your travel-hungry soul yearn for another vacation, we have some good news for you. India has established Air Travel Arrangements or Transport Bubbles with several countries

WHAT ARE TRANSPORT BUBBLES?

Transport Bubbles are temporary arrangements between two countries aimed at restarting commercial passenger services when regular international flights are suspended as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The bilateral corridor allows for international flights between both countries, without a need to register with the government for flying permissions.

Right now, India has Travel Bubble arrangements with 23 countries including Maldives, United Arab Emirates (UAE), United States of America (USA), United Kingdom, and Rwanda and the Netherlands, which were added recently.

So, if you are someone who holds an Indian passport and wishes to travel, while following all the health guidelines, there are a lot of options for you. To help you out, we decided to list all the countries that you can visit now.

WHERE CAN YOU TRAVEL WITH AN INDIAN PASSPORT?

MALDIVES

If Bollywood celebrities' Instagram wasn't enough, Google the scenic pictures to convince your mind. The pristine white beaches, luxurious resorts and the expanse of the Indian Ocean are a perfect escape. What's more? December-April is the time to visit this island country. And after the Travel Bubble arrangements, Indian and Maldivian carriers are now permitted to operate flights.

Any Indian national is allowed to travel to the country, given that they have a confirmed booking at a registered tourist facility and hold a negative PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test for Covid-19 before entry to Maldives. Additionally, tourists will be tested for Covid-19 upon arrival, then quarantined in their place of stay until they receive fresh negative results. Maldives even achieved the Safe Travels Stamp, granted by the World Travel and Tourism Council in September.

QATAR

In case Netflix's trending show Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives has convinced you to make Qatar your next travel destination, we have some good news for you. The State of Qatar currently is allowing inbound travel to the country, and the Indian government has also started Travel Bubble arrangements with them.

Indian nationals, upon arrival, are required to quarantine inside their hotels, after which they will have to take a Covid-19 test on arrival or in one of the centres approved by the Ministry of Public Health within 48 hours. If the test turns negative, the status on Ehteraz (app developed by ministry) will turn yellow, and another will be conducted on the 6th day after arrival. If the test turns negative, the status on the app will turn green on the end of 7th day.

Once you are done with all procedures, there's so much that this place has to offer, like the grand Arabian hospitality, a rich variety of food, adventurous activities, beaches, dune bashing and of course the sunsets.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Indian passport holders with a valid visitor visa can travel to the USA from India, under the current Travel Bubble arrangements. Upon arrival in the States, one has to stay in quarantine for 14 days and additionally consult all the additional guidelines, specific to the community, issued by the states and cities to plan a visit anywhere in the US. Since December-March is considered to be the best time to visit the northern half of the country, we suggest you take a trip to New York, San Francisco, Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, Vermont and Illinois, among other places. Once your Covid test and quarantine are done away with, that is.

UNITED KINGDOM

Though travel is restricted in the country due to Covid-19 guidelines, any Indian national holding a valid UK visa and destined for the United Kingdom only, can visit the country under the Travel Bubble arrangements. You'll need to self-isolate for 14 days when you arrive in England. One needs to provide their journey and contact details 48 hours before they arrive in the UK, through the online passenger locator form provided by the government. This is done so that the government can contact the person in case someone they have travelled with develops coronavirus symptoms.

Since the coming months are one of the most beautiful times to visit the UK, there are so many things that you can do, like enjoying the winter wonderland in several UK cities or enjoying scenic ice rinks or visiting the theatres and so on.

BHUTAN

Any Indian national is allowed to travel to Bhutan under the current Transport Bubble arrangement. All travellers entering Bhutan must produce an RT-PCR negative test certificate, taken not more than 72 hours before leaving the country of origin. All travellers will have to undergo mandatory facility quarantine for 21 days and testing, the cost of which will have to be borne by the tourists. Under the arrangements, DrukAir will operate 1 flight each to Delhi and Kolkata on every Monday and Friday respectively, from Paro.

So, in case you are ready to take all the precautions and undergo the quarantine, Bhutan's mystical monasteries, artistic fortresses, fascinating architecture (read The Tiger's Nest or Paro Taktsang) and enormous mountains await you with open arms.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE)

If sipping on champagne and enjoying a sunset at Burj Khalifa or skydiving in Dubai is something that you have been dreaming about ever since the global novel coronavirus lockdown was imposed, then this is your chance. This bubble is valid till December 31, 2020, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Any Indian national holding any type of valid UAE visa and destined for UAE only is eligible for travel here. Tourists must take two Covid-19 PCR tests - one before departure with a validity of 96 hours from the date of the test, and a second test upon arrival in Dubai. Additionally, the certificate must be a PCR test, as any other test certificates including antibody tests and home-testing kits are not accepted in Dubai.

SOUTH AFRICA

Indians wishing to travel to South Africa can now visit the country after it reopened its borders for international tourists. One will have to go under partial quarantine after reaching South Africa, and it is compulsory to present a negative PCR test, taken not more than 72 hours before the time of flying. Also, passengers can only land at Cape Town, Durban or Johannesburg.

Upon arrival, the traveller will be screened for any Covid-19 symptoms. Travellers will also need to provide proof of accommodation at the time of arrival in the country.

So, in case you were always enamoured by the beaches of the Western Cape, lush wine lands around Paarl, cliffs at the Cape of Good Hope or the wild safaris at Kruger, why not visit the country to have these experiences, while following the health guidelines.

TANZANIA

Any Indian national destined for any country in Africa and holding a valid visa for the destination country is allowed to travel to Tanzania, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA). According to the government guidelines there, all travellers will be subjected to enhanced screening for Covid-19 infection. Although there will be no 14 days' mandatory quarantine upon arrival, Indians will have to submit a Covid-19 negative certificate. Tourists will also be asked to fill out Traveller's Surveillance Form, to be submitted to the Port Health Authorities upon arrival.

Tanzania is home to some of Africa's most famous national parks, safaris, the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro and the beautiful beaches of Zanzibar, among other destinations. So, clearly, it's worth a visit.

UKRAINE

Ukraine listed India in the Green Zone category, thus allowing travellers from the country to visit. People arriving in Ukraine from Green Zone countries will not be required to undergo self-isolation and will have to carry a Health Insurance Certificate covering Covid-19 treatment and observation. The insurance policy must be issued by a company registered in Ukraine. Moreover, the policy must cover the costs associated with the treatment of COVID-19, observation and the entire duration of stay in Ukraine.

Apart from its dark history and booming disaster tourism because of the Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe, Ukraine is home to bewitching landscapes, fairytale castles and mouthwatering dishes. From walking through the Tunnel of Love and the cobbled streets of Lviv, to visiting the abandoned city of Pripyat, there is so much to discover here.

AFGHANISTAN

After Air Travel Bubble arrangements, Indian carriers and Ariana Afghan Airlines are now permitted to operate services between India and Afghanistan. Any Indian national holding any type of valid visa from Afghanistan and destined for Afghanistan only can visit the country. So, in case the history and the rugged trails of the country allure you, you can travel here via the bubble arrangements.

BAHRAIN

Any Indian national holding any type of valid Bahraini visa and destined for Bahrain only will be allowed to visit the country. As per the Travel Bubble arrangement, both Indian and Bahraini national carriers will be permitted to operate a specified number of flights between India and Bahrain.

Bahrain, a multi-layered and multicultural destination, is often overlooked by tourists. So, this might be your chance to visit this Persian Gulf state, famous for its own Formula 1 Grand Prix track, marvellous art and food scene, and the Arabian lifestyle.

ETHIOPIA

The MoCA has established a separate bilateral air bubble arrangement with Ethiopia through which any Indian national destined for any country in Africa and holding a valid visa for the destination country can visit the nation. All passengers travelling to Ethiopia must present a negative PCR test certificate for Covid-19 before boarding a flight. The certificate validity shouldn't exceed 120 hours on arrival from the date the sample is given. As for after the arrival in Addis Ababa, no tests will be undertaken.

Now, with these special arrangements, you can enjoy a chance to appreciate the country's breathtaking natural beauty, diverse culture, soulful people, delicious cuisine and wildlife at the Bale Mountains National Park.

KENYA

With some of the most incredible experiences in-store, like awesome safari destinations, scenic beaches, snorkelling in the Indian Ocean, stunning treks and the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya holds some great treasures for its tourists.

Under the current air bubble arrangements with Kenya, any Indian national holding a valid visa from Kenya can travel to the country. Travellers arriving in Kenya must carry a PCR test with them, taken a maximum of 96 hours before departure. Before departure, travellers must fill in a Travellers Health Surveillance Form on the website of the Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority. An Indian national will have to spend 14 days in quarantine, upon arrival in the country.

NIGERIA

From visiting warm springs in the Ikogosi to revelling in the cultural art and cuisine scene of the country, Nigeria offers an endless number of unique experiences to travellers from around the world. And now, an Indian national holding a valid Nigerian visa can enter the country if they have tested negative for Covid-19 by PCR. The PCR test must be within 120 hours before departure and preferably within 72 hours pre-boarding. Moreover, on arrival, passengers will have to go on 7-day self-isolation. The Nigerian government has additionally mentioned several other rules that a person should follow on arrival in the country, which you can read here.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/lifestyle/travel/story/which-countries-can-you-travel-to-now-with-your-indian-passport-1748790-2020-12-11

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