The Air Suvidha self declaration form is no longer in use. India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation permanently shut down the portal in February 2023 after pandemic-era entry restrictions were lifted, and no health declaration has replaced it as a standard condition of entry. If you are flying to India today, the form you actually need is the India e-Arrival Card, a free digital replacement for the old paper disembarkation card. You can submit it online up to 72 hours before landing.
What Happened to Air Suvidha
Air Suvidha launched during COVID-19 as a digital health screening tool. International passengers uploaded vaccination certificates or negative test results and declared their recent travel history before boarding a flight to India. As cases fell and vaccination rates rose, the government relaxed entry rules in stages, and by February 2023 the portal was closed.
India does not currently require proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test for entry. The one health-related exception is yellow fever: travelers arriving from a country with yellow fever risk must carry proof of vaccination or face possible quarantine or deportation at the airport.1U.S. Department of State. India Travel Advisory
The Form You Actually Need: The India e-Arrival Card
Effective October 1, 2025, all foreign nationals, including Overseas Citizen of India cardholders, are required to complete the e-Arrival Card before entering the country.2Consulate General of India, San Francisco. Digitization of Disembarkation Card for Foreign Nationals Visiting India It is the digitized version of the paper disembarkation card that airline crews used to hand out on flights, and it collects basic travel and identity information for Indian immigration.
The e-Arrival Card is not a visa. It does not replace or substitute for a valid Indian visa or e-Tourist visa; you still need proper visa documentation to enter India.3Indian Visa Online. e-Arrival Card It is separate from, and much narrower than, the old Air Suvidha declaration, which was a health screening tool rather than an arrival record.
When and How to File
The e-Arrival Card is available at indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival/. You can submit it up to 72 hours before your flight, and there is no fee. Paper disembarkation cards will continue to be accepted until March 2026, so if you miss the online window you can still fill one out on the plane or at the airport.1U.S. Department of State. India Travel Advisory
The portal generates a confirmation after submission. Keep it accessible on your phone or as a printout in case immigration officers reference it during processing.
Information the Form Asks For
The form does not save partial entries, so have everything ready before you start:
- Your full name exactly as printed in your passport, your nationality, and your passport number.
- Your purpose of visit: tourist, business, medical, Ayush, conference, research, study, employment, official/diplomatic, or other.
- Your arrival date in DD/MM/YYYY format.
- Any countries you visited in the last six days. If none, select “No Country Visited.”
- The street address where you will stay in India, along with the state and district.
- An email address, a phone number, and an emergency contact number.
The six-day travel history window is shorter than the 14 days Air Suvidha required, reflecting the shift away from pandemic health monitoring.3Indian Visa Online. e-Arrival Card Families traveling together can add additional travelers to one submission rather than filing separate cards.
Penalties for False Information
Fill the card out accurately. Under Section 212 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which replaced the Indian Penal Code in 2024, furnishing false information to a public servant carries up to six months of simple imprisonment, a fine of up to 5,000 rupees, or both. If the false information relates to preventing or investigating a crime, the maximum rises to two years of imprisonment.4Ministry of Home Affairs. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Could Health Declarations Come Back
Yes. The Indian government retains broad authority to reimpose health screening if a new epidemic or public health emergency arises. The Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897 allows the central government to prescribe regulations for inspecting aircraft and detaining passengers when a dangerous epidemic threatens India, with parallel powers held by state governments.5India Code. Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 The Disaster Management Act of 2005 goes further, authorizing state executive committees and district authorities to restrict entry and movement and to direct healthcare services during any disaster, which legally includes epidemics.6National Disaster Management India. Disaster Management Act, 2005 Both laws were invoked to justify Air Suvidha during COVID-19.
If either is activated again, the government could require a new health declaration, reinstate vaccination or testing rules, or launch a successor portal. During any outbreak, check the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare website and your country’s travel advisory before you fly.
What Else You Need to Enter India
Beyond the e-Arrival Card, international travelers need a valid passport and an Indian visa. U.S. citizens can obtain a 10-year visa from an Indian embassy or consulate, or apply for an e-Tourist visa online at least four days before arrival for stays under 60 days. The e-Tourist visa is only accepted at certain international airports and seaports, not at land border crossings.1U.S. Department of State. India Travel Advisory The e-Arrival Card sits alongside these documents; it does not stand in for any of them.