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Schengen Countries Vaccine Validity

Shortening of Vaccine Certificates’ Validity for intra-EU travel.

To facilitate safe, free movement during the COVID-19 pandemic, the European Parliament and the Council announced that EU Digital Covid vaccine certificates would only be valid for nine months (270 days) without a booster shot for Intra EU Travel. The purpose of the EU Digital COVID Certificate is to help facilitate free movement and travel within the EU for both EU citizens and non-EU nationals already in the European Union.

This means that all those vaccinated over nine months ago should receive a booster dose in order for their pass to remain valid. Those who do not have the booster shot will have to test for COVID-19 in several situations, including when traveling to the country.

A booster dose following a two-dose full vaccination should record as “3/3” in the certificate. A single-dose vaccination followed by a booster should read “2/1.”

The new rule will come into force on February 1, 2022, and will apply to the 27 EU states. Some countries have mandated it since January 2022.

  • Austria is one of the first countries to shorten the validity of vaccination certificates (since December 6, 2021).
  • Similarly, the Czech Republic and Switzerland also changed their rules (from January 2022).
  • Iceland from Jan 15, 2022.
  • The Netherlands from Feb 1, 2022.
  • Hungary cuts down Vaccine Certificate validity to 6 Months from February 15, 2022.
  • Latvia also set an expiration date on vaccination certificates.
  • Greece, too, has shortened the validity of vaccination certificates for 7 months (From February 1, 2022). Those who don’t receive a booster shot within a seven-month time frame would be considered unvaccinated and would be subject to restrictions.

With the prevailing restrictions, Can non-EU citizens travel to the EU?

Under the current EU proposal, non-EU travelers who are fully vaccinated with an EMA (European Medicines Agency) – authorized vaccine should be able to travel to the EU for any purpose.

The EU Member States could accept vaccination certificates from non-EU countries comprising the required data – identification of the person (passport details), type of vaccine, date of vaccination & looking at the ingenuity to verify the authenticity, validity, and integrity of the certificate.

Get up-to-date information on travel and health procedures in European countries, including on quarantine and testing requirements from Reopen EU. This should support you plan your travel in Europe, while staying healthy.

! Disclaimer: The information contained on this blog is for general guidance only. You should not rely upon this information as a basis for making any travel plans, business, legal, or other decisions. While we endeavor to keep the information up to date and correct, “Aaditya Tours and Travels” make no representations of any kind, express or implied about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, or validity. Any reliance you place on this information is, therefore, strictly at your own risk.

Travel Safe 😷 Stay Healthy 🙂

Link your Passport to Covid Certificate

Planning to travel abroad? Here’s how you can link your passport with your Covid-19 vaccine certificate.

While the COVID-19 pandemic still refuses to alleviate in many parts of the world, there is an increasing number of countries that are now open or opening to tourism.

Thankfully, linking passport numbers with the Covid-19 vaccination certificate is straightforward and you can effortlessly do it on the COWIN website. All you need to do is follow these simple 7 steps mentioned below:

Step 1:

Go to the official CoWIN website https://www.cowin.gov.in/

Now go to the Account Details section and click on the ‘Raise Issue’ button.

Step 2:

Here you will see three options – Select the “Click on Add Passport Details” option.

Step 3:

Now, you will be redirected to the page where you select the Mame of the person whose passport you want to link.

Step 4:

Select the name of the person in the drop-down menu (if you have multiple names registered on Cowin) and then type the passport number in the ‘Enter Beneficiary’s Passport Number’ section.

Step 5:

Now, check the declaration box that says – “I declare that this passport belongs to the beneficiary……………….”

Step 6:

Click on the Submit Request button. Now, you will get an SMS on your registered mobile number confirming that your request has been submitted.

Step 7:

Go back to the Account Details page and click on the Certificate button next to the name of the person for whom you have raised the request to download.

Now you are ready to travel abroad with your New Vaccination certificate linked to your passport. Needless to say, you should still need a valid visa for the countries that demand a sticker visa or an e-Visa or check with me for options of countries that offer On Arrival visa for Indian Passport holders.

The world is calling. Contact me at +919840056156 for help on planning your next vacation.

Sanitizer | Mask | Social Distancing.
New Way of Traveling. Observe safety protocols.

Travel Safe 😷 Stay Healthy 🙂

Statewide Travel Regulations

Statewide travel regulations

COVID-19 second wave: Here are the latest Statewide Travel regulations:

Amid the quandary of 2020, our work has continued. Our amazing community of stakeholders, including you, our staff, and, of course, our strategic partners, both in India and abroad, have continued to inspire us.

Just a month ago, with a simple routine and the travel we were looking forward to, our life was predictable. On the spur of the moment, all that’s left is uncertainty.

All and sundry pondered upon why is this Covid-19 second wave occurring now? Is it the laxity that is causing resurgence? When the government is taking precautionary measures to contain the disease, let’s pledge to adhere to the guidelines strictly to prevent ourselves from being infected with COVID-19.

WEAR MASK! TRAVEL SMART! STAY SAFE!

While the second wave of COVID-19 creating havoc across the country and yet, with so much still up in the air, we understand that committing to that next trip may still be difficult. We’ve pulled together sources of information that state governments have laid out their respective protocols for travel. Here’s what we know about Coronavirus travel restrictions and bans:

Andaman & Nicobar Islands:

Compulsory Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) shall be conducted on all incoming passengers at the Veer Savarkar International Airport, Port Blair, with effect from April 16, 2021. The Test conducted is free of cost. This will be beside the mandatory RT-PCR Negative Test Report to be carried by the Passenger.

https://www.andamantourism.gov.in/admin-pannel/whatsnew/1-71-Order.pdf

Karnataka:

Karnataka Govt. has announced 14-day complete lockdown from 6pm Tuesday, April 27, 2021 till May 10, 2021. However, essential services will be allowed. 

Regulations Published by IndiGo Airlines (Updated on April 26, 2021):

https://www.goindigo.in/content/dam/goindigo/6e-website/pdf/fare-sheet/State-Wise-Health-and-Safety-Requirements-Version-109.pdf

Disclaimer: This page was last updated on April 26, 2021. To our knowledge, the information on this page was correct at the time of publication. Given the circumstances, travel regulations will change by location and alter at brief notice. We strongly recommend you reading the Coronavirus travel advice from respective Airlines, State government authorities or the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, and for the latest government directive on Covid-19 protocol during air travel, Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

It’s time to fly again

India Resumes Domestic Passenger Flight Services from May 25, 2020.

After many disquiet moments, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, India, announced domestic flights will now resume operations for passenger travel from Monday, 25th May 2020, exactly 61 days after it had suspended flight operations because of the outbreak of Covid-19.

Howbeit, the ministry has put in place certain guidelines to be followed by air passengers. All air travelers will have to undergo thermal screening at airports, besides it is mandatory to have Aarogya Setu mobile app, self-declaration, Web Check-in, Self printed luggage tag, etc., Read the complete Guidelines issued by the Ministry of aviation at https://www.civilaviation.gov.in/sites/default/files/Guidelines_for_Air_Passengers_21May.pdf

AAI’s (Airports Authority of India) new Standard Operating Procedures say the passengers will have to reach the airport at least two hours before the departure and it will allow only those passengers to enter the terminal who have their flight scheduled in the next four hours.

Each state has also issued guidelines over quarantine and isolation of incoming passengers.

COVID-19 Advisory

Uncertainty about what is happening and fears surrounding the fast-spreading coronavirus are putting travelers on edge and travel professionals in a tough spot.

We have been challenged to keep on top of the situation and deal with the concerns of our understandably anxious customers. For many of us in the travel industry, it has been a busy couple of weeks of handling cancellations and rescheduling flights and itineraries.

As a travel agent, we give credence to our customers’ concerns and do not influence their decisions on whether to cancel a trip. Every traveler has their own comfort level, and it is our responsibility to help provide them with the most reliable information for them to make that decision on their own.

The Indian government has rescinded visas for travelers from China, Iran, the Republic of Korea, Italy, and Japan. Besides Visa restrictions already in place, passengers traveling from /having visited Italy or the Republic of Korea and desirous of entering India will need a certificate of having tested negative for COVID-19 from the designated laboratories authorized by the health authorities of these countries. This will be enforced from 0000 Hrs of 10th March 2020 and is a temporary measure until cases of COVID-19 subside.

In making travel decisions, we recommended our customers follow directly with entities such as the World Health Organization (WHO) or Travel Advisory – Updated in http://www.mohfw.gov.in/, rather than relying on media or social media sources.

Do’s & Don’ts Issued by Health Ministry http://www.mohfw.gov.in/Poster_Corona_ad_Eng.pdf

Visa Free countries for Indian Passport holders

Passport / Visa and Visa-Free countries

Undeniably, you need a passport and visa to travel to International countries.

A Passport is a document issued by a country to its citizens as proof of citizenship and thus allowed you to travel abroad.

A Visa is an endorsement in your Passport or in Electronic form, issued by the immigration authorities of a country to show that it has granted you permission to enter the country for a temporary stay within a specified period.

Did you ever get a feeling that the Non-Immigrant Visa process will dishearten you visiting your dream country? Can a visa rejection affect your dream vacation plans?

We have come across many travelers getting discouraged with rigid visa processing. Most desired travelers experience stress and anxiety about specific documents, eligibility requirements, and procedures.

Visa rules for visitors vary from one country to another. If you have never traveled out of the country or applied for a visa, then you should know that citizens from developing countries have to submit proof of documents including – pre-arranged travel (flight tickets, hotel accommodation reservations, tour itinerary), bank statements for at least 6 months, and 3-Year Income tax returns. Besides this, few countries enroll Biometric information, which includes a digital photograph and a digital scan of your fingerprints for which you must attend at a visa application center with a prior appointment. The reasoning behind this is that embassies want to make sure, before they grant you a visa, that you will not become an illegal economic migrant in their country.

For those travelers, do you need the inspiration to assist you to plan your last moment vacation to another country, precisely a Visa-Free country? We have put together a quick list to tell you about the 18 Visa-Free countries that we propose for Indian passport holders. After all, “To travel, is to live”.

When traveling to visa-free countries, you just have to check in with your passport at the immigration counter at the airport. The immigration officer may ask for a copy of your hotel booking and/or return ticket.

List of Visa-Free countries for Indian Passport holders:

Country Visa requirement Remarks
Bhutan Visa not required Indian Nationals have to register themselves at the time of visit to Bhutan
Cambodia Tourist visa on arrival Approximately visa fee USD$35 to be paid.
Egypt Visa is required to visit Egypt. Group Tourist Visa can be obtained on arrival. For tourist groups from India, local authorized tour operators can arrange Visa on Arrival. The process takes a week to 10 working days.
Fiji Visa not required 4 months
Hong Kong Visa not required Pre-arrival registration before visiting Hong Kong
Indonesia Visa on arrival Visa on arrival for tourism purpose for 30 days. Select ports of entry.
Jordan Visa on arrival 2 weeks, must hold US$1000
Macau Visa not required 30 days
Madagascar Visa on arrival 30 days free of charge
Maldives Visa on arrival 90 days
Mauritius Visa not required Maximum 60 days subject to furnishing return air ticket.
Mexico Indian passport holder, who posses valid US visa, are allowed visa free entry upto 180 days
Mozambique Visa on arrival
Nepal Freedom of movement Indian citizens may live and work freely in Nepal under the terms of the1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship.
Seychelles Visitor’s Permit on arrival 1 month. Passport valid for 6 months; return/onward ticket; sufficient funds for period of stay and Hotel accommodation necessary.
Tanzania Visa on arrival Visa on arrival facility is available except for work visas. 90 days single entry fee $ 50/-. Business visa fee $ 250/- with invitation letter from sponsor. Transit visa for 14 days $ 30. Available at designated entry points.
Thailand Visa on arrival 15 days. Visa fee of 1000 Thai Baht* needs to be paid in Thai currency. Visa on Arrival has to be obtained at First point of Entry/Landing not the Final Destination.
UAE Visa on arrival Visa on arrival facility for Indians holding a valid US visa valid for 6months.

Note: The list of visa-free countries suggested for Indian passport holders changes every year. Some countries may discontinue accepting Indian tourists without a visa, while other countries that used to require a visa may allow visa-free entry in the future. Please check with us.