Vaccines & USA to India Travel – Everything You Need to Know

Last Updated on Jul 11th, 2024 by Heena Ganotra, 2 comments

Now that 30% of the US population has received at least the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, questions whether they can travel to India from USA, are rife among travelers. With a steep rise in everyday queries, MyTicketsToIndia thought of catering to these queries publically. 

Discussed below is everything you need to know about India travel from us. Let’s get started, shall we?

Can Fully-Vaccinated US Citizens Travel Within USA Without COVID-19 Test?

Yes.

According to new travel guidance issued on 2nd April 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated how fully vaccinated people can travel freely within the USA. 

Fully vaccinated people need to neither take the COVID-19 test nor undergo quarantine afterward. 

Note: A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the final dose of the vaccine. 

However, they are bound to follow all the precautionary measures like wearing a mask, socially distancing, and washing hands frequently.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky urged caution and said she would “advocate against general travel overall” given the rising number of infections.

“If you are vaccinated, it is lower risk,” she said. Adding to this, she even mentioned how important it is “to update the public on the latest science about what fully vaccinated people can do safely, now including guidance on safe travel.” 

Even airlines do not require COVID-19 tests or proof of vaccination for travel in the US. 

Can Fully-Vaccinated US Citizens Travel Internationally Without COVID-19 Test?

Yes and No. Since there’s a disparity here, let’s learn the nuances of the same to sort this out.  

The guideline regarding international travel for US citizens is as follows –

• Fully vaccinated people can travel internationally without getting a COVID-19 test before travel unless it is required by the international destination.

This means that the COVID-19 test requirement relies on the destination country. If the destination country needs you to show it, you will have to get the test done.

Can Fully-Vaccinated US Citizens Travel To India From USA Without COVID-19 Test?

No. 

COVID-19 test is required to travel to India from USA. However, it’s solely the travelers’ choice to get it done from USA or after landing in India. Two of the Indian airports – Indira Gandhi International Airport (Delhi) and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (Mumbai) offer COVID-19 testing facilities. 

Do Fully Vaccinated Travelers Need To Self-Quarantine After Returning To USA?

No. 

Fully vaccinated people do not need to self-quarantine after returning to the United States unless required by a state or local jurisdiction.

However, fully vaccinated people must still have a negative COVID-19 test result before they board a flight to the United States and get a COVID-19 test 3 to 5 days after returning from international travel.

What If I’m Going To India Without Vaccinations?

The new guidelines issued by CDC do not change the existing guidelines for unvaccinated people. 

Unvaccinated US travelers should still get tested 1-3 days before domestic travel and again 3-5 days after travel. They should stay home and self-quarantine for 7 days after travel or 10 days if they don’t get tested at the conclusion of travel.  The guidelines for international India travel remain the same.

What Vaccines Do You Need To Travel To India?

If you’re wondering what general vaccines you should get before traveling to India from USA, here’s the list is given by WHO. Along with this, one should be up to Date with Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccinations.

• Adult Diphtheria and Tetanus Vaccine
• Hepatitis A vaccine
• Hepatitis B vaccine
• Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV)
• Typhoid Vaccine
• Varicella Vaccine
• Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine
• Meningococcal Vaccine
• Rabies Vaccine
• Yellow Fever (YF) Vaccine

  

Is There Any New Update Regarding OCI Card Holders Traveling To India?

Yes.

The Indian Embassy in the US (Washington, DC) has announced that OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cardholders are no longer required to carry their old passports while traveling to India.

Moreover, the Government of India has also decided to grant further extension of time till 31st December 2021 to get the OCI cards re-issued.

Relaxation in OCI Guidelines till 31st December 2021-

• The following OCI guidelines have been in force since 2005:

• The Government of India has decided to grant further extension of time till 31st December 2021 to get the OCI cards re-issued in accordance with the above guidelines.

• The requirement of carrying old and new passports, along with the OCI card, has been done away with. Henceforth, an OCI cardholder traveling on the strength of the existing OCI card bearing an old passport number is not required to carry the old passport. However, carrying the new (current) passport is mandatory.

Do you have any other questions that we can answer for you?

Feel free to get in touch with us by either dropping a comment or getting on a call. You can even join the live chat.

With this, we hope that every citizen gets vaccinated as soon as it’s their turn, so the government, as CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said, “can begin to safely take steps back to our everyday lives. Vaccines can help us return to the things we love about life, so we encourage every American to get vaccinated as soon as they have the opportunity.”

Looking at situations being eased for the travelers, hope has been ignited in the hearts of the travelers. Let’s hope for the best! 

Meanwhile, if you need to book India International flights from USA or international flights to USA, all you need to do is ask for a free quote and we’ll gladly help you out.