If you’re travelling from the UAE to India, there’s a new travel requirement you shouldn’t miss.

India has introduced Air Suvidha 2.0, a mandatory online health declaration system for all international arrivals. The form must be completed within 24 hours before your flight and is required before passengers are allowed to board.

The new system was introduced by India’s civil aviation authorities as a precautionary measure in response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak.

What is Air Suvidha 2.0?

Air Suvidha 2.0 is an online self-declaration portal where travellers must provide their recent travel and health information before flying to India.

Passengers will be asked to submit details including:

• Their travel history over the past 21 days
• Any possible exposure to infectious diseases
• Whether they are experiencing any related symptoms

Once the form is submitted, it is automatically shared with the Airport Health Organisation (APHO) under India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Is the form mandatory?

Yes. All international passengers travelling to India are required to complete the Air Suvidha Self Declaration Form before boarding their flight.

Airlines may ask passengers to show proof that the form has been submitted before allowing them to travel.

Do you need a printed copy?

No. After submitting the form, travellers will receive a confirmation by email, which can simply be shown on a mobile phone upon arrival in India. There’s no need to carry a printed copy.

Completing the form in advance also helps speed up the arrival process by reducing paperwork at the airport.

India’s Embassy in Abu Dhabi awarded Kerala-based Alhind Group a multi-year outsourcing contract to manage consular support services for more than four million Indians living in the UAE. Beginning July 1, Alhind will officially replace BLS International, which has handled Indian consular services in the UAE since 2011.

The company will launch 16 centres across all seven emirates, including smaller cities such as Al Ain, Kalba and Khor Fakkan, in one of the largest overhauls of Indian consular operations in the Gulf.

The centres will process passport renewals, OCI cards, police clearance certificates and Indian visa applications, alongside apostille, attestation and Global Entry verification services.

A flat Dh19 service fee above government charges will be applicable when using a new digital back-office system aimed at reducing processing times.

Locations of centres

The locations of all 16 centres. Abu Dhabi will have six branches located in Al Khalidiya, Al Reem Island, Musaffah, Madinat Zayed, Ghayathi and Al Ain.

Dubai will be served by centres in Bur Dubai and Dubai Investment Park (DIP), while Sharjah will have locations in Al Majaz and Rolla. Additional centres will operate in Ajman, Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, Kalba and Khor Fakkan.

The Indian Embassy has advised applicants to monitor official channels for updated document checklists and transition procedures. Existing BLS appointments scheduled after June 30 are expected to be shifted automatically to the nearest Alhind centre.

The Dubai Electronic Security Centre (DESC) has issued a warning over a growing number of scams involving fake QR codes, especially those sent through email.

According to the authority, cybercriminals are exploiting how quickly information spreads by sharing QR codes that appear to offer urgent updates or important services. However, scanning these codes can expose users to serious risks.

DESC explained that such QR codes may install malware on devices or redirect users to fake websites designed to steal personal and financial information.

How to protect your device

Residents are being urged to stay cautious by verifying the source of any email before scanning QR codes, avoiding suspicious messages, and never entering sensitive details on untrusted links.

To boost online safety, DESC also recommends using the RZAM app, which provides real-time alerts about unsafe websites and allows users to scan links before opening them.