With Ebola declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by WHO in May, India has quietly rebuilt its pandemic-era arrival infrastructure. An IndianImmigration.org explainer updated on 3 July 2026 details two new compulsory steps for all foreign travellers and OCI card-holders: (1) the Air Suvidha 2.0 online health declaration, and (2) a separate e-Arrival immigration card. Air Suvidha 2.0, launched 25 June, collects 21-day travel history, exposure data and self-reported symptoms. The form must be submitted up to 24 hours before arrival and shown—QR code or print-out—at airport health desks. Failure triggers secondary screening and longer queues. The Bureau of Immigration has integrated the portal with state surveillance units, enabling real-time alerts if a passenger has visited Ebola-affected regions. The e-Arrival Card, meanwhile, replaces the legacy paper disembarkation form and can be filed within 72 hours of travel via the Indian Visa Online portal or the Su-Swagatam mobile app. Importantly, it is not a visa: travellers still need an e-Visa or sticker visa in hand.
![Air Suvidha 2.0 and Digital e-Arrival Card: What International Travellers Must Do Before Flying to India]()
For travelers who’d rather not navigate these new procedures alone, VisaHQ’s India specialists can secure your e-Visa and walk you through both the Air Suvidha 2.0 health declaration and the e-Arrival Card in one streamlined workflow—complete with pre-departure document checks and QR-code delivery. Learn more at
Airlines have begun issuing pre-departure reminders after several passengers were denied boarding in Frankfurt and Doha for missing the new form. Business-traveller impact: corporate mobility teams should update pre-trip checklists, add Air Suvidha QR-code validation to duty-of-care apps, and brief assignees on dual-form requirements to avoid airport fines (₹5,000 for non-compliance). Travel management companies are integrating the APIs into their booking flow so that PNRs will not ticket unless both declarations are recorded. With the busy festival season approaching, Delhi International Airport has opened “Digital Arrival Assistance” kiosks that print QR codes for passengers without smartphones—useful for senior executives arriving from low-connectivity regions. Expect other metros to copy the model before September.
For travelers who’d rather not navigate these new procedures alone, VisaHQ’s India specialists can secure your e-Visa and walk you through both the Air Suvidha 2.0 health declaration and the e-Arrival Card in one streamlined workflow—complete with pre-departure document checks and QR-code delivery. Learn more at
Airlines have begun issuing pre-departure reminders after several passengers were denied boarding in Frankfurt and Doha for missing the new form. Business-traveller impact: corporate mobility teams should update pre-trip checklists, add Air Suvidha QR-code validation to duty-of-care apps, and brief assignees on dual-form requirements to avoid airport fines (₹5,000 for non-compliance). Travel management companies are integrating the APIs into their booking flow so that PNRs will not ticket unless both declarations are recorded. With the busy festival season approaching, Delhi International Airport has opened “Digital Arrival Assistance” kiosks that print QR codes for passengers without smartphones—useful for senior executives arriving from low-connectivity regions. Expect other metros to copy the model before September.
