Mumbai or the Mayanagri, the largest city and the financial centre of India, is frequented by business as well as leisure travellers. The city houses many historical and cultural sites and is popular among movie buffs, foodies and shopaholics as well. However, just when things were getting back to normal after the first wave of the deadly COVID-19 disease in 2020, the situation is grim again, and Mumbai is seeing an unprecedented surge due to mutant variants of the virus. And now, with the situation getting worse by the day, the government has imposed new restrictions for domestic as well as international air travellers. Those travelling by train or road must also take all necessary precautions and follow Mumbai quarantine rules and COVID-19 testing guidelines to stay safe.
Here’s detailed information for those travelling by air, train or road.
Mumbai Quarantine Rules for International Passengers
If you are coming or transiting through flights originating from the United Kingdom, Middle East, Europe, South Africa or Brazil, you must abide by the following rules:
- If you are arriving from any of the above-mentioned countries, you must undergo mandatory institutional/home quarantine for 7 days.
- International passengers arriving from any other country should home quarantine for 14 days.
- Before the travel date, you must submit Air Suvidha Self Reporting Form for COVID-19 online on Air Suvidha Portal. This is mandatory for all passengers, including children and infants.
- You must take the COVID-19 RT-PCR test within 72 hours of departure and upload the negative test report on Air Suvidha Portal.
- On arrival, you must fill a hard copy of self-declaration form with respect to the authenticity of the report and submit it to MCGM.
- Passengers arriving without a negative RTP-CR report must quarantine themselves for 14 days.
- You must carry a physical or digital copy of the self-health declaration form submitted online on Air Suvidha Portal and your RT-PCR report as well, to board the flight.
- Passengers will be exempted from RTP-CR negative reports if they are travelling to India in case of death in the family. However, passengers must apply for such exemption online on newdelhiairport.in at least 72 hours before departure.
- All passengers will undergo thermal screening at the airport.
- If you are arriving or transiting through flights from the United Kingdom, Europe or the Middle East, you must take a self-paid COVID-19 test on reaching Mumbai airport.
- If you are coming from the United Kingdom, Brazil or South Africa, and your journey ends in Mumbai, you must undergo a self-paid molecular test on reaching Mumbai airport and then go for home quarantine without waiting for the test results.
- If you have an onward connection, you must wait for the test results. You can take the next flight only if your test result is negative.
- If you have an onward flight via Mumbai to any other city in Maharashtra, you will be quarantined in Mumbai before you can take the next flight.
- Many premium and budget hotels in the city have been turned to quarantine centres. So, passengers can also choose one of Mumbai’s quarantine hotels for paid isolation.
- Passengers transiting to any other state in the country outside Maharashtra will not be quarantined in Mumbai, provided they have a negative RTP-CR report issued within 72 hours of departure. However, they will have to take an RT-PCR test on reaching Mumbai airport. Passengers from UK, Brazil and South Africa must wait for the test report before proceeding to their destination.
As per the latest norms, the following international passengers will be exempted from institutional quarantine on the production of the required certificates/documents:
- Passengers above 65 years of age.
- Women in an advanced state of pregnancy.
- Parents travelling with kids below 5 years of age.
- Passengers with a distressing condition in the family.
- Passengers suffering from serious illnesses and requiring immediate medical attention.
- Passengers who have taken both doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
- Medical professionals travelling to attend critical patients or for performing surgery.
Mumbai Quarantine Rules for Domestic Flights
Domestic passengers reaching Mumbai must follow these rules:
- If you are travelling from Delhi/NCR, Gujarat, Goa, Rajasthan and Kerala, you must carry an RT-PCR negative test report with you. The test sample should be collected 72 hours before arrival.
- If you do not have an RT-PCR test report, you will have to take the test at Mumbai airport at your own cost, before entering the city.
- If you undergo an RT-PCR test at the airport, share your contact details with authorities. In case the test result is positive, state officials will contact you.
- The thermal screening will be done for all passengers arriving from Delhi/NCR, Gujarat, Goa, Rajasthan and Kerala.
- All passengers must download the Aarogya Setu app on their smartphones.
- No quarantine for domestic passengers.
Mumbai Quarantine Rules for Train Travel
Passengers travelling by train must follow these rules:
- If your train originated from or had a stop in Delhi, Rajasthan, Goa, Gujarat or Kerala, you must carry a negative RT-PCR test report. The test sample should be collected 96 hours before your scheduled arrival in Mumbai.
- If you do not have a negative RT-PCR test report, you will have to take a self-paid Rapid Antigen test at the railway station.
- Symptomatic passengers will also have to take the Antigen test.
- All passengers must install the Aarogya Setu app on their mobile phones.
Mumbai Quarantine Rules for Road Travel
If you are travelling to Mumbai by road, keep the following points in mind:
- You must carry a negative RT-PCR test report, which will be checked at district borders.
- Passengers will be screened at the borders. Those showing symptoms will either have to go back or take the Rapid Antigen test.
- All passengers must have the Aarogya Setu app on their smartphones.
Apart from keeping these Mumbai quarantine details in mind, passengers travelling by air, train or road must wear a mask, use hand sanitizer often, and carry food and other essentials to minimize contact. If you need to reach Mumbai quarantine helpline for more information, you can call Maharashtra helpline number 020-26127394 or the toll-free central helpline number (1075 + 91-11-23978043).
Also Read – State Wise Quarantine Rule