Government Delays and Eases Polio Vaccination Requirement
February 14, 2014
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The Indian government is changing and delaying polio vaccination requirements for travelers from countries in which outbreaks of polio have been identified. The vaccination requirements will now take effect on March 1, 2014, rather than February 14.
When applying for an Indian visa, resident nationals of Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, and Syria will be required to present an oral polio vaccination certificate issued at least four weeks prior to their application, regardless of their age or prior vaccination history.
Only resident nationals of the seven listed countries require polio vaccination certificates. Israel was removed from the list of affected countries, while Syria was added. India will amend this list based on updates from the WHO. Foreign residents of the listed counties and individuals transiting through them will be exempt.
Vaccination certificates must be obtained within four weeks before an application for an Indian visa is submitted, not six weeks as previously indicated. However, for an initial period, consular officials will accept vaccine certificates that were issued less than four weeks before the visa application, so the new requirements should not result in immediate delays in travel dates for affected travelers.
Though vaccination certificates are now required at the visa application stage in the listed countries, travelers should still carry their certificates when seeking entry to India, as they may be asked to produce them at Indian ports of entry.
Indian nationals traveling to any of the seven listed countries from India will be required to obtain a vaccination at least four weeks prior to departure, regardless of age or prior vaccination history. Foreign residents of India are not required to obtain a vaccination before travel to a listed country, though the Indian government suggests these travelers receive a vaccination booster before travel.
What This Means for Foreign Nationals
The recently released vaccination requirement guidance provides additional clarity for travelers to India. Exemptions for third-country national residents and individuals transiting through the listed countries will prevent travel delays for these individuals. Resident nationals of the listed countries will still need to take into account the vaccination requirement when planning travel dates.
We worked closely with Fragomen Immigration Services India (Pvt.) Limited ("Fragomen-India") to prepare this alert. It is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the global immigration professional with whom you work or send an email to [email protected].
When applying for an Indian visa, resident nationals of Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, and Syria will be required to present an oral polio vaccination certificate issued at least four weeks prior to their application, regardless of their age or prior vaccination history.
Only resident nationals of the seven listed countries require polio vaccination certificates. Israel was removed from the list of affected countries, while Syria was added. India will amend this list based on updates from the WHO. Foreign residents of the listed counties and individuals transiting through them will be exempt.
Vaccination certificates must be obtained within four weeks before an application for an Indian visa is submitted, not six weeks as previously indicated. However, for an initial period, consular officials will accept vaccine certificates that were issued less than four weeks before the visa application, so the new requirements should not result in immediate delays in travel dates for affected travelers.
Though vaccination certificates are now required at the visa application stage in the listed countries, travelers should still carry their certificates when seeking entry to India, as they may be asked to produce them at Indian ports of entry.
Indian nationals traveling to any of the seven listed countries from India will be required to obtain a vaccination at least four weeks prior to departure, regardless of age or prior vaccination history. Foreign residents of India are not required to obtain a vaccination before travel to a listed country, though the Indian government suggests these travelers receive a vaccination booster before travel.
What This Means for Foreign Nationals
The recently released vaccination requirement guidance provides additional clarity for travelers to India. Exemptions for third-country national residents and individuals transiting through the listed countries will prevent travel delays for these individuals. Resident nationals of the listed countries will still need to take into account the vaccination requirement when planning travel dates.
We worked closely with Fragomen Immigration Services India (Pvt.) Limited ("Fragomen-India") to prepare this alert. It is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the global immigration professional with whom you work or send an email to [email protected].
