UAE-India travellers find Air Suvidha 2.0 quick to complete, but elderly passengers may need assistance with Ebola form.
UAE travellers heading to India are adapting to a new pre-arrival requirement after the country introduced Air Suvidha 2.0, a mandatory health self-declaration portal for all international passengers entering India.
For many Indian expats in the UAE, the process has brought back memories of Covid-era travel declarations. However, travellers and travel agents say the updated form is simpler, with most passengers able to complete it within a few minutes.
Despite the ease of use, concerns remain for elderly travellers and families travelling in groups, particularly those who may face difficulties with mobile verification and completing online forms.
Launched on June 25, the portal requires international passengers arriving in India to provide details of their travel history over the previous 21 days, any possible exposure risks and relevant health symptoms, if applicable, before completing immigration clearance.
The requirement follows the World Health Organization’s declaration of the Ebola/Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak in Congo and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on May 17, 2026, under the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005.
UAE travel agents say passengers are familiar with the process
Travel agents in the UAE said most passengers have accepted the new requirement, as many went through similar health declarations during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Lakshmii Annand, Managing Director of Travelzmind LLC, said travellers are already accustomed to such procedures, with the main difference being the health concern addressed by the latest form.
“Passengers can complete the form in advance or receive it during the flight. Most are not asking questions because similar processes have been in place since Covid. The only change is the virus name, which is now Ebola. Every traveller, including children, must complete the form,” she said.
Annand said her company shares the form with passengers before departure to help them avoid delays at immigration counters in India, although airlines also provide the forms onboard.
She added that the declaration is a simple one-page form applicable to both Indian and foreign nationals, with foreign travellers required to provide some additional details such as their address.
Air Suvidha 2.0 allows passengers to complete the Self Declaration Form (SDF) within 24 hours before their journey begins. Travellers are encouraged to complete the form during web check-in and carry a downloaded copy for presentation at the International Travel Health Desk or immigration counter.
Elderly passengers and families seek clarity on OTP process
The updated system enables information sharing with Airport Health Officers, the Bureau of Immigration, the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and State Surveillance Officers to help identify travellers who may require further health assessment.
Travel operators said the form itself is straightforward, but passengers must complete the process personally due to OTP verification requirements.
Reena M. Philip, Director and General Manager of Aurora Travel and Tourism, said passengers have generally accepted the requirement without major concerns.
“People are used to filling these forms since the Covid period. This time, we have not received any complaints. We provide guidance, but passengers need to complete the form themselves because they receive an OTP on their local number. They can fill it in advance or upon arrival, but they must present it at immigration,” she said.
Some travellers said the process was quick and uncomplicated. Dubai resident Mohammed Abbas said he completed the form within minutes.
“The process was very straightforward and took around five minutes. However, for families travelling together, completing all the details could take 15 to 20 minutes,” he said.
However, some passengers have raised concerns about elderly relatives who may struggle with digital procedures.
Dubai resident Srimanti Talwalkar said she only became aware of the requirement after a friend travelling to India informed her.
“I had no idea about this requirement until a friend mentioned it after arriving in Bengaluru. I am travelling on Tuesday and hope the form is not as complicated as the Covid-era declarations. My in-laws will travel from Dubai to Mumbai on July 20, and I am concerned about how they will manage,” she said.
Talwalkar said difficulties with mobile phones and OTP verification could create challenges for some senior passengers.
“My father-in-law does not use a mobile phone, and my mother-in-law often finds OTP verification confusing. I hope my husband can complete the form for them in advance,” she added.
Indian authorities have advised all international passengers to complete the self-declaration accurately before travel to ensure smoother arrivals and strengthen public health monitoring.
