The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) refreshed its India travel advice page late on 27 July 2026, flagging two new entry requirements that came into force this week. All international passengers—regardless of nationality—must now complete an online health self-declaration within 24 hours of departure as part of India’s Ebola surveillance protocol. Additionally, the advisory outlines electronic updating procedures for holders of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards, following the Ministry of Home Affairs’ soft-launch of the e-OCI portal. Failure to complete the health form may result in denied boarding or quarantine on arrival. Travellers already inside India are unaffected, but those re-entering after short trips must file a new declaration each time. Airlines have begun embedding the link to the e-form in their online check-in flows, although implementation is uneven. For global-mobility programmes, the update means relocating employees and dependants must incorporate the e-form into pre-travel checklists alongside Air Suvidha vaccination uploads. The FCDO also warns that visa-overstay penalties will not be waived for travellers delayed by Middle-East airspace disruptions—a reminder for companies to monitor itinerary changes closely. The e-OCI note clarifies that card-holders whose old physical booklets expire after passport renewal can update details online rather than apply for re-issuance, reducing processing time from eight weeks to three working days. Mobility managers should cascade this to long-term expatriates to avoid inadvertent non-compliance during exit immigration checks.
Source: UK Government – GOV.UK
