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If you are travelling to India in 2026, there is an important travel requirement you should know about before heading to the airport.
International passengers travelling to India must complete the Air Suvidha Self-Declaration Form before arrival. Air India is currently displaying this requirement in its passenger travel advisories and recommends completing the declaration before boarding to help avoid delays when arriving in India.
At Oceans Travel, we recommend that customers travelling from the UK to India check their travel documentation carefully before departure and complete any required online forms within the permitted timeframe.
This guide explains the Air Suvidha Self-Declaration Form, when you can complete it, what to do after submitting it and how it may affect passengers travelling to India.
The Air Suvidha Self-Declaration Form, often referred to as the Air Suvidha SDF, is an online declaration for international passengers arriving in India.
According to Air India's current travel information, international passengers travelling to India must complete the mandatory Air Suvidha Self-Declaration Form before arrival.
The system is designed to support smoother arrival procedures and public-health requirements at Indian points of entry.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has also publicised the launch of Air Suvidha 2.0, describing it as an upgraded contactless Passenger Health Self-Declaration Portal designed to strengthen public-health surveillance at points of entry.
For passengers, the important message is simple:
Do not leave the Air Suvidha declaration until you arrive in India. Complete it online before travelling.
According to Air India's current travel guidance, international passengers arriving in India must complete the mandatory Air Suvidha Self-Declaration Form before travel.
Air India is also displaying an advisory on its website stating that international passengers travelling to India must complete the mandatory declaration before arrival.
Passengers should therefore make the Air Suvidha form part of their pre-departure checklist for India alongside checking their passport, visa or OCI documentation, airline booking and any other applicable entry requirements.
Travel requirements can change at short notice, so passengers should always check the latest official guidance shortly before departure.
Air India's current passenger guidance states that the Air Suvidha Self-Declaration Form can be completed no earlier than 24 hours before arrival in India.
This is particularly important because passengers should not try to complete the form too early.
For example, if your flight leaves the UK today but arrives in India tomorrow, the relevant timing is based on your arrival in India.
We recommend setting a reminder before your journey so that you do not forget to complete the declaration once you enter the permitted submission window.
The process is completed online. Passengers should use the official Air Suvidha portal and enter the requested information carefully.
Before starting, have your travel information and identification documents available so that the information you enter matches your booking and travel documents.
Passengers should:
Do not rely solely on having internet access when you land. Saving a copy or screenshot on your phone can make it easier to produce the declaration if requested.
Passengers should use the official Government of India Air Suvidha portal:
Official Air Suvidha Self-Declaration Portal
Be careful when searching online for the Air Suvidha form. Travel-related searches can sometimes display unofficial websites, advertisements or third-party services.
If you simply need to complete the mandatory declaration, use the official Air Suvidha government portal.
Once you have successfully completed the Air Suvidha Self-Declaration Form, save a copy of the submitted declaration.
Air India's guidance recommends downloading or saving a copy, either digitally or in printed form. It may need to be presented at the International Travel Health Desk or Immigration Counter after arrival in India.
Although a digital copy may be sufficient, having the document easily accessible is important.
You may therefore want to save it:
The aim is to ensure that you can quickly produce your completed declaration if an airport or immigration official asks for it.
Passengers who arrive without completing required travel documentation may face additional checks or delays.
Air India specifically recommends completing the Air Suvidha form before boarding because completing it in advance can speed up arrival formalities and reduce waiting time at the airport.
This can be particularly important for passengers who have an onward connection within India.
For example, if you arrive in Delhi or Mumbai and then have a connecting domestic flight to destinations such as Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Goa, Hyderabad, Kolkata or another Indian city, additional delays during arrival procedures could reduce the time available to make your connection.
Completing the required documentation before travelling is therefore the safest approach.
Air India's current guidance says passengers should download or save a copy, digital or printed, of the submitted Air Suvidha form.
This means passengers should at minimum have an accessible digital copy.
However, Oceans Travel recommends keeping a printed copy as a backup where practical, particularly for elderly passengers, passengers who are less comfortable using smartphones or anyone whose phone battery or internet access may become an issue during the journey.
The current Air India guidance refers to international passengers arriving in India.
If several people are travelling together, make sure the required information has been completed correctly for everyone covered by the declaration process.
Do not assume that because you are travelling as a family or on one booking reference that no further action is required for individual travellers.
Check the instructions shown on the Air Suvidha portal when completing your declaration.
No.
The Air Suvidha Self-Declaration Form is not an Indian visa and does not replace your normal immigration or entry documentation.
Depending on your nationality and circumstances, you may still need an appropriate India visa, India e-Visa, OCI card or other permission to enter India.
Completing Air Suvidha does not automatically give a passenger permission to enter India.
Passengers should check all applicable Indian entry requirements separately before travelling.
Passengers should also be aware that Air India's current India travel information states that, effective 1 October 2025, foreign nationals arriving in India must complete the India Digital Disembarkation/e-Arrival form before arrival.
This is listed separately from the Air Suvidha Self-Declaration requirement.
Therefore, international travellers should not automatically assume that completing one online form means that every other immigration or arrival requirement has also been completed.
Check the requirements applicable to your nationality and journey before departure.
The Air Suvidha requirement is particularly relevant to the large number of passengers travelling between the UK and India.
Whether you are flying from London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester or another UK airport, make sure your required India travel documentation is ready before you leave for the airport.
At Oceans Travel, we regularly assist customers travelling from the UK to popular Indian destinations including:
Delhi, Amritsar, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Goa, Hyderabad, Kochi and other destinations across India.
Whether you are travelling directly or connecting through another airport, check your documents before departure.
Passengers travelling from the UK to Amritsar and Punjab should pay particular attention to the new requirement.
Many travellers visiting Punjab are travelling to see family and may not have travelled to India recently. Travel procedures can change between trips, so something that was not required on a previous journey may be required for your next one.
Before travelling to Amritsar, check:
Passport → India visa/OCI → Air Suvidha → applicable arrival documentation → airline booking → baggage allowance → flight status
Doing these checks before leaving home can make your journey much smoother.
If an elderly parent or relative is travelling to India, particularly if they are travelling alone, family members may want to help them complete the necessary online travel documentation before departure.
Make sure they have the completed declaration saved somewhere easy to find on their phone.
You can also give them a printed copy as a backup.
This is especially useful for passengers who may have difficulty accessing emails, downloading documents or navigating online portals while at the airport.
If you have an onward connection after arriving in India, completing your required documentation in advance becomes even more important.
International arrivals may need to complete immigration and other arrival formalities before continuing their journey.
For example:
London → Delhi → Amritsar or Birmingham → Delhi → Amritsar
Passengers should allow sufficient connection time and ensure their required arrival documentation has been completed.
Avoiding unnecessary administrative delays can make a significant difference when you have a connecting flight.
Before leaving for the airport, check that you have:
Remember that immigration, health and airline requirements can change, so always check current official information close to your departure date.
Air India's current travel information states that international passengers arriving in India must complete the mandatory Air Suvidha Self-Declaration Form before travel.
Air India's current guidance says the form can be completed no earlier than 24 hours before arrival in India.
Use the official Air Suvidha portal:
Complete the Air Suvidha Self-Declaration Form
Air India advises passengers to download or save a digital or printed copy of the submitted form.
Passengers are advised to complete the declaration before boarding rather than waiting until arrival.
Completing it beforehand can help reduce unnecessary delays.
No. Air Suvidha is a self-declaration and does not replace an India visa, e-Visa, OCI or any other required immigration documentation.
Yes. If you are an international passenger arriving in India, check the current Air Suvidha requirements before departure.
If you are entering India on an international journey, the requirement applies regardless of whether your final destination is Amritsar, Delhi, Mumbai or another Indian city.
Planning a trip from the UK to India?
Oceans Travel can help you search for competitive fares and suitable flight options to destinations throughout India.
Whether you are looking for cheap flights to India, flights to Amritsar, flights to Delhi, flights to Mumbai or connecting flights to destinations across India, our experienced travel team can help you find an itinerary suitable for your journey.
As well as finding the right flight, we encourage all our customers to check the latest travel and entry requirements before departure.
Travel regulations can change quickly, and passengers remain responsible for ensuring they hold the correct documents for their journey.
If you are travelling internationally to India, don't forget to check and complete the Air Suvidha Self-Declaration Form within the permitted timeframe before arrival.
Air India's current guidance advises international passengers to complete the declaration before travel, save a digital or printed copy and have it available for verification when arriving in India.
Completing your travel documentation before you leave can help you avoid unnecessary delays and make your arrival in India smoother.
For the official form, visit:
Official Air Suvidha Portal – Complete the Self-Declaration Form
For the latest airline-specific information, passengers can also check Air India before departure.
Oceans Travel – Helping you travel to India with confidence.
Travel requirements can change at short notice. Information on this page is intended as general travel guidance and was checked in August 2026. Passengers should always verify the latest requirements with the relevant government authorities and airline before travelling.
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