Late on 20 July the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) amended its India travel advice to reflect sweeping changes introduced by the Indian government for international arrivals. The guidance highlights three new obligations that took effect this week: 1. Electronic Overseas Citizen of India (e-OCI) cards have been formally recognised as a valid travel document, removing the need for physical OCI booklets at immigration counters. British nationals of Indian origin who hold, or are eligible for, OCI status are now advised to download the digital card to a mobile device before departure. 2. A mandatory health-self-declaration must be completed on the upgraded Air Suvidha 2.0 portal no earlier than 24 hours before arrival. The digital form captures 21-day travel and exposure history and generates a QR code that must be shown at the Port Health desk and again at immigration. Completion during online check-in is recommended to avoid queues. 3. Enhanced Ebola surveillance has been activated at all Indian airports and seaports. Travellers arriving from, or transiting through, countries with active outbreaks will be subject to temperature screening and may be referred for secondary medical assessment. Airlines have been told to deny boarding to passengers who fail to show the Air Suvidha confirmation. Although the UK notice primarily targets British citizens, the practical impact is global: international carriers must integrate the new document check into their Departure Control Systems, and multinational companies moving staff to India must update pre-trip compliance packs immediately. Failure to complete the form could trigger fines, detention at the airport or forced re-routing—costly delays for business travellers on tight schedules. Employers are therefore urged to add a ‘digital documents ready’ step to their travel policies. Mobility teams should brief travellers to: download the e-OCI (if applicable); complete the Air Suvidha form within 24 hours of arrival; keep screenshots of both confirmations; and factor in possible health inspections that could add 30–45 minutes to clearance times. The update also reminds passengers that continuing Middle-East hostilities are causing sporadic air-space closures and urges real-time monitoring of flight status.
