Inter-State Travel: These States Require A Negative Covid-19 Test Report For Entry

Amid the fear of Covid-19 cases in the country, many states have been imposed fresh restrictions on inter-state travel and made it mandatory for visitors to produce negative Covid-19 (RT-PCR) test report for entry.

As of now, a total of 18 states has required negative RT-PCR tests report for visitors, especially those who are arriving by air.

Here is the list of all the states that impose restrictions on Inter-state travel and require Quarantine, e-Passes, and Negative RT-PCR Test Report on or before arrival:

1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands	12. Maharashtra
2. Andhra Pradesh	13. Manipur
3. Assam	14. Meghalaya
4. Bihar	15. Odisha
5. Chhattisgarh	16. Rajasthan
6. Delhi	17. Sikkim
7. Gujarat	18. Tamil Nadu
8. Jammu & Kashmir	19. Tripura
9. Karnataka	20. Uttar Pradesh
10. Ladakh	21. Uttarakhand
11. Madhya Pradesh	22. West Bengal
23. Himachal Pradesh	24. Kerala
25. Goa

1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands

All incoming passengers arriving at the airport shall have to carry RTPCR negative test reports issued from ICMR approved lab, subject to the condition that RT-PCR test should have been taken within 48 hours prior to commencement of journey.

Any passenger arriving without an RT-PCR negative test report will be deported on the same flight.

2. Andhra Pradesh

All travelers arriving in to the Andhra Pradesh will have to register themselves on the Spandana website and have the Aarogya Setu app. Passengers will undergo a thermal screening on arrival. 

3. Assam

The Govt. of Assam has made a negative Covid-19 (RT-PCR) report mandatory for all air travelers from Mumbai and Bengaluru.

This new rule will come into effect from 9 April. “All air travelers from Mumbai and Bengaluru arriving at any airport in Assam need to carry a negative RT-PCR report of test conducted within 72 hours of arrival, with effect from 9th April.”

4. Bihar

Passengers not carrying the RT-PCR negative report will have to undergo an RT-PCR test upon arrival.

5. Chhattisgarh

The government has ordered screening of people coming from Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Delhi to the state, irrespective of their modes of transportation, especially at Raipur and Jagdalpur airports.

Institutional quarantine for only for symptomatic passengers till the test results are available.

6. Delhi

The DDMA has issued new guidelines and makes 14 days of paid quarantine mandatory for all passengers arriving into the state from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

However, those who are successfully vaccinated (two doses) and produce a certificate or passengers with negative RT-PCR test report (not older than 72 hours) shall be allowed home quarantine for 7 days.

Moreover, a negative Covid-19 (RT-PCR) test report (not older than 72 hours before undertaking the journey) will be mandatory for all persons who are arriving from Maharashtra to Delhi by air.

7. Gujarat

The government of Gujarat announced that a negative Covid-19 (RT-PCR) test report will be mandatory for all passengers arriving from other states.

Earlier, the Gujarat Govt. had made negative test reports mandatory only for those coming from neighboring Maharashtra which has been worst hit by the pandemic.

8. Jammu & Kashmir

Passengers from all states arriving in Srinagar will have to provide a negative RT-PCR test report on arrival.

9. Karnataka

As per the ICMR’s advisory on COVID-19 testing during the second wave and considering the current situation, the process of verifying the RT-PCR negative test report for individuals arriving from Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, and Chandigarh has been stopped.

“However, it is still mandatory that those with COVID-19 symptoms should carry an RT-PCR negative test,” the circular added.

Earlier, the State Health Department has made the COVID-19 negative report mandatory for all passengers who arrive from Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, and Chandigarh, irrespective of the mode of travel.

10. Ladakh

All arriving passengers require a negative RT-PCR report, not more than 96 hours before arrival. If you don’t have a negative report, you will need to undergo a mandatory seven-day home quarantine and a COVID test.

Travelers are released from quarantine if their result is negative. If not, you will be transferred to a COVID facility for further processing.

11. Madhya Pradesh

If you’re flying into Indore or Bhopal from Maharashtra, you will need a negative RT-PCR report from an ICMR approved lab not earlier than 48 hours. If you do not have a negative report, you will be required to take the test on arrival and self to isolate until the results arrive. You will also need to download the Indore-311 app so your self-isolation status can be monitored. The same rules do not apply to arrivals from other states and UTs. 

12. Maharashtra

People traveling to Maharashtra from Delhi, Rajasthan, Goa, Kerala, Gujarat, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh will have to produce a negative RT-PCR test report on arrival, irrespective of the mode of travel. For air passengers, the test report should be within 72 hours prior to the flight.

Pune: Passengers not having RT-PCR reports must undergo RT-PCR tests at the airport at their own expense. Submit contact details to authorities in case the test result comes positive.

Mumbai: Mandatory for passengers arriving from Delhi, Rajasthan, Goa, Kerala, Gujarat, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh to carry RT-PCR report not earlier than 72 hours before the scheduled time of landing.

13. Manipur

The Covid-19 test is mandatory for passengers coming from Maharashtra and Kerala. This applies to passengers coming by air.

14. Meghalaya

All passengers require a negative RT-PCR test result, not more than 72 hours before arrival. If you don’t have a negative result, you will need to take the test on arrival. Before traveling to Meghalaya, make sure to generate your unique e-invite on the state’s official portal.

15. Odisha

The Odisha government on Saturday said that week-long home isolation will be mandatory for people coming to the state by plane or train from five high-risk states-Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, modifying its previous order of imposing the precautionary measures to those arriving from 12 states.

16. Rajasthan

All people traveling to Rajasthan are now require to show negative Covid-19 (RT-PCR) test reports for entry into the state.

Earlier negative Covid-19 (RT-PCR) report is only mandatory for passengers traveling from 6 states which include Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Kerala.

Now, it has been made mandatory for all states. Passengers will also be screened at the airport, bus stand, and railway station.

17. Sikkim

The Govt. of Sikkim issued a set of new Covid-19 guidelines which will be in force from April 1 up to April 30.

The new guidelines stated that hotel owners, travel agents, homestay owners will have to ensure that tourists staying in their establishments carry a negative RT PCR test report conducted 72 hours prior to their arrival.

18. Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu has not made a Covid-19 negative test certificate mandatory for passengers traveling to the state. However, travelers from Kerala and Maharashtra need to spend seven days in home quarantine and must monitor their health for another week.

19. Tripura

People arriving in Tripura from states having a high prevalence of Covid-19 will have to undergo mandatory testing at the Agartala airport.

20. Uttar Pradesh

Passengers arriving from Kerala and Maharashtra need a negative RT-PCR report from an ICMR-approved lab, done within 72 hours before arrival. All passengers will have to undergo a mandatory 14-day home quarantine unless they plan to exit UP within seven days of arrival. 

21. Uttarakhand

Covid test will be complimentary for all passengers. Passengers with positive Covid-19 results will be sent to the quarantine center for further processing. All passengers will be exempted from home quarantine if they arrive with an RT-PCR/TrueNAT/CBNAAT/Antigen test with a negative report of not more than 96 hours before arrival. This is not mandatory.

22. West Bengal

Starting from May 07 all passengers coming to Kolkata will require to show a negative coronavirus (RT-PCR test) report not older than 72 hours. This new rule will be applicable on all those who are travelling to the state by air, trains and buses.

“Incoming travelers on flights, long-distance trains, and inter-state buses must carry negative RT-PCR test reports,” CM Banerjee said.

23. Himachal Pradesh

Starting from April 16, passengers coming from seven states with high cases of Covid-19 include Punjab, Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh must have to bring RT-PCR negative report obtained 72 hours before entering the state. 

No Restrictions On Tourist Movement

At present, it is not right to stop the tourists from coming to Himachal Pradesh, we have issued guidelines to the Hotel Association in view of the epidemic, said Jairam Thakur in an interview.

24. Kerala

The Kerala government has announced new rules for inter-state travelers. Now, all passengers are coming to Kerala from outside the state should undergo an RT-PCR test before or after arriving in the state.

As per the guidelines issued by the state government on Tuesday (May 11), inter-state travelers can carry RT-PCR certificates taken within 72 hours before the start of the journey.

If any traveler is unable to produce a negative RT-PCR test report he/she needs to undergo compulsory 14-day hotel quarantine till they get the RT-PCR test after arrival.

According to the order issued by the Kerala Govt, all domestic travelers coming to Kerala should register on the COVID-19 Jagratha portal. 

25. Goa

All tourists entering Goa will have to produce a valid RT-PCR negative test reports (Not older than 72 hours) or proof of vaccination upon entering the state.

Exemptions with proof include residents of Goa, persons entering for work and medical emergency.

Also Read: ₹1000 Fine For Violating Covid-19 Safety Protocols At Mumbai Airport