Which Countries Are Asking for Negative RT PCR Report From International Travellers?

Posted on: Jan 12, 2023 | | Written by:

Which Countries Are Asking for Negative RT PCR Report From International Travellers?

Published on January 12, 2023. EST READ TIME: 3 minutes

The end of 2022 saw a fresh outbreak of COVID-19 with a new variant - omicron BF.7 - in China and rapidly spreading to some other Asian countries. This induced a global scare among people, making them rethink their travel plans. However, none of the countries in the world has closed borders or restricted travellers from entering their territories. That being said, ministries and authorities worldwide are taking precautions to restrict the spread of the virus. If you are planning to fly at this time, it is better to get International travel insurance that will cover you for any medical emergencies and provide financial aid in case of an unforeseen event like loss of baggage, flight delays or loss of essential documents. HDFC ERGO’s International travel insurance provides coverage for coronavirus hospitalisation too.

Planning an International trip amid COVID-19 scare

Till now, none of the countries worldwide has imposed any travel restrictions or rules on Indian travellers, which means at least you don’t have to postpone your travel plans. However, it is advisable to check the travel guidelines, rules and regulations of the country you are visiting to be prepared beforehand. Here are a few things that you should do:

1. Check the tourism ministry website of the country you wish to travel, and learn about any new COVID-19-related travel rules and restrictions. Remember, travel rules and restrictions keep changing as the number of cases fluctuates globally.

2. Ensure you have all your documents with you – your passport, vaccination certificate, recent RT PCR test report (if required), travel insurance copies or another documents needed to enter your destination. Have copies of the same or keep them safe in DigiLocker, a secure cloud-based platform for storing, sharing and verifying documents & certificates.

3. Pack wisely and pack for emergencies – like having extra face masks and shields, hand sanitisers and paracetamol strips. Even clothes to keep you warm, in case you fall sick.

4. Keep a list of your travel insurance provider’s network hospital/doctor’s list handy.

5. Try to practice touchless travel as much as you can.

6. Practise basic hygiene rules like washing hands frequently (especially after coming in contact with unknown persons or touching surfaces which could be a potential virus carrier), wearing a mask when in public, avoiding crowded places and trying to maintain social distancing.

7. Carry a Forex card preloaded with enough cash to last you for your vacation.

8. Learn about the local restrictions of the place you intend to visit. For example, if some places are sealed or labelled as high risk, avoid going to such places.

Should you get an RT PCR done before leaving from India?

Until now, some countries have made it mandatory for travellers from China and other high risk Asian countries to get an RT PCT done 72 hours before departure. Countries that have started this practice since 1st January 2023 are – Britain, Canada, France, Australia, Belgium, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Morocco, Spain, South Korea and India.

India has made it mandatory for travellers from - Hong Kong, China, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand – to get an RT PCR done 72 hours before their departure and upload the negative report on the government’s Air Suvidha Portal.

However, no country has made any additional requirements for Indian travellers yet. Therefore, if you are vaccinated and have all your documents in place, visiting an international destination wouldn’t be much trouble, even during these unprecedented times.

Wrapping it up

While it is great to travel to new places and make memories of a lifetime, don’t forget to get travel insurance online to safeguard your trip and be prepared for any medical or dental emergencies while holidaying.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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