As the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation established a separate bilateral air bubble agreement with Ukraine for the operation of the special international passenger flights between the two nations, Indians can now travel to more than 13 countries.

The “Air travel agreement” or “Transport Bubbles” are temporary arrangements between two countries that aim to restart commercial passenger services when regular international flights are suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. They are essentially reciprocal in nature, which means that airlines from the two countries enjoy similar benefits.

Who can travel from India to Ukraine?

• Excluding Russia, Citizens/residents of CIS countries can travel.
• Any Indian national holding a valid Ukrainian visa, including diplomatic and official passport holders, whose destination is the CIS countries (except Russia). 
• Concerned airlines should ensure that Indian nationals have no travel restrictions on entering countries concerned with specific visa categories before issuing air tickets/boarding passes to Indian passengers.

Travel From Ukraine to India:

• Indian nationals from CIS countries (excluding Russia).
• All Overseas Indian Citizens cardholders holding a Ukrainian issued passport can travel.

So far, India has formed such arrangements with 16 countries (Canada, France, Afghanistan, Oman, Bahrain, Nigeria, the UAE, Qatar, the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, Iraq, Japan, Maldives, Kenya, and Bhutan).

Who can travel to these 16 countries?

1. Canada

Canada and Indian carriers provide operational services between Canada and India and carry the following categories of personnel on such flights:

Travel from India to Canada

• Stranded Canadian residents/ nationals and foreigners who hold a valid Canadian visa and are eligible to enter Canada.
• Seafarers of foreign nationality; seafarers holding Indian passports will be allowed to obtain permission from the Ministry of Shipping.
• Indian nationals holding a valid visa are eligible to enter Canada. 
• The airline concerned should ensure that Indian nationals do not have travel restrictions to enter Canada before issuing air tickets/boarding passes to Indian passengers

Travel From Canada to India

• All Overseas Indian Citizens cardholders holding Canadian passports are allowed to travel.
• Stranded Indian nationals can travel.
• According to the guidelines revised by the MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) on June 30, 2020, foreigners (including diplomats) are eligible to enter India.

2. France

Airlines of France and India have been providing services between France and India, and carry the following categories of people on such flights.

From India to France

• Indian citizens are allowed to travel abroad and Europe according to the MHA guidelines issued on January 7, 2020.
• Seafarers of foreign nationality; seafarers holding Indian passports will be allowed to obtain permits from the Ministry of Shipping.
• Stranded EU citizens/residents, foreign nationals traveling to Europe and transiting through France or their spouses, whether accompanying or not can travel.

From France to India

• Stranded citizens of India are permitted to travel.
• According to the guidelines revised by the MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) on June 30, 2020, foreigners (including OCI cardholders and diplomats) are eligible to enter India.

3. Afghanistan
From India to Afghanistan

• Any Indian national who holds any type of valid visa obtained from Afghanistan and is only destined to Afghanistan can travel.
• Pertinent airlines should ensure that before issuing air tickets/boarding passes to Indian passengers, there are no travel restrictions for Indian nationals to enter Afghanistan under special visa categories.
• Afghan residents/ nationals and foreign citizens holding a valid Afghan visa (if required), can travel.

From Afghanistan to India

• Stranded Indian nationals in Afghanistan are permitted to travel.
• All Indian Overseas Citizens cardholders holding an Afghan passport can travel.
• Foreigners, including diplomats, who hold valid visas issued by the Indian delegation under any category are covered by the guidelines of the MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) as 30.06.2020 (revised from time to time)are permitted to travel.

4. Oman

From India to Oman:

• Omani nationals/residents can travel.
• Any Indian national who holds a valid residence permit in Oman and is only destined for Oman. 
• The concerned airlines should ensure that Indian nationals are eligible to enter Oman without any restrictions before issuing air tickets/boarding passes to Indian passengers.

From Oman to India

• Stranded Indian nationals/residents in Oman.
• All Overseas Indian Citizens cardholders holding Oman passports can travel.
• Omani nationals (including diplomats) who hold a valid visa issued by the Indian delegation, (subject to any category) on dated June 30, 2020, by the Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines (as amended from time to time).

5. Bahrain

From India to Bahrain

• Nationals/residents of Bahraini.
• Only Indian nationals who hold any type of valid visa from the Kingdom of Bahrain and are destined to Bahrain.
• The airline concerned should ensure that Indian nationals have no travel restrictions to enter Bahrain with specific visa categories before issuing boarding passes to Indian passengers.

From Bahrain to India

• Stranded Indian nationals in Bahrain.
• All OCI cardholders holding Bahraini passports can travel.
• For Bahraini nationals (including diplomats) who hold a valid visa issued by the Indian delegation, in any category covered by the guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as of 30.06.2020 (amended from time to time).

6. Nigeria

Nigerian and Indian airlines operate flights between Nigeria​​ and India carry the following categories of people on such flights:

From India to Nigeria

• Stranded Nigerian citizens/residents, foreigners traveling to Africa, and transiting through Nigeria or their spouses, whether accompanying or not.
• Any Indian national who holds any type of valid Nigeria visa and travels to any country in Africa. 
• The airline concerned should ensure that there are no travel restrictions for Indian nationals to enter the destination before issuing air tickets/boarding passes to Indian passengers.
• Seafarers of foreign nationality; seafarers holding Indian passports will be allowed to obtain permits from the Ministry of Transport.

From Nigeria to India

• Stranded Indian nationals in any country in Africa.
• All OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cardholders holding Nigerian passports.
• The OCI cardholders hold passports issued by any country in Africa that is eligible to enter India in accordance with the MHA guidelines issued on June 30, 2020 (as amended from time to time).
• Foreigners (including diplomats) holding a valid visa issued by the Indian delegation belong to any category covered under the MHA guidelines dated 30.06.2020 (revised from time to time).

7. UAE (United Arab Emirates)
From India to UAE

• UAE nationals.
• ICA approved only UAE residents traveling to the UAE.
• Any Indian national who holds a valid UAE visa of any type and is only issued to the UAE. The airlines concerned should ensure that there are no travel restrictions on Indian nationals entering the UAE under certain visa categories before boarding passes/issuing air tickets to Indian passengers.

From UAE to India

• Indian nationals Stranded in UAE.
• All OCI cardholders who hold UAE passports.
• For UAE nationals (including diplomats) who hold a valid visa issued by the Indian delegation in any category covered by the MHA guidelines issued on June 30, 2020 (as amended from time to time).

8. Qatar

From India to Qatar

• Nationals of Qatar
• Any Indian national who holds a valid Qatar visa of any type and is only destined to Qatar. 
• The airlines concerned should ensure that before issuing air boarding passes/tickets to Indian passengers, there are no travel restrictions for Indian nationals to enter Qatar under a special visa category.

From Qatar to India

• Stranded Indian nationals are in Qatar.
• All Overseas Indian cardholders holding a Qatar passport.
• For Qatari nationals (including diplomats) who hold a valid visa issued by the Indian delegation in any class covered by the guidelines of the MHA on June 30, 2020 (revised from time to time).

9. United Kingdom

From India to the UK

• Stranded British nationals/residents, foreign nationals transiting through the UK, or their spouses, whether accompanying or not, can travel.
• Any Indian national who holds a valid UK visa of any type and is only destined to the UK. The concerned airlines should ensure that Indian nationals have no travel restrictions to enter the UK with specific visa categories before issuing boarding passes/air tickets to Indian passengers.
• Seafarers of foreign nationality; seafarers holding Indian passports will be allowed to obtain permission from the Ministry of Transport.

From the UK to India

• Stranded Indian nationals can travel.
• All OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cardholders holding British passports can travel.
• According to the guidelines revised by the Ministry of Home Affairs on June 30, 2020, foreigners (including diplomats) who are eligible can enter India.

10. United States of America 

From India to the USA

• U.S. citizens, foreign citizens, and lawful permanent residents holding a valid U.S. visa.
• Any Indian national holding any type of valid U.S. visa. Concerned airlines should ensure that there are no entry restrictions for Indian nationals for special visa categories before issuing boarding passes/ air tickets to Indian passengers.
• Seafarers of foreign nationality; seafarers holding Indian passports will be allowed to obtain permission from the Ministry of Shipping.

From America to India

• Stranded Indian nationals.
• All OCI cardholders who hold a US passport.
• According to the revised guidelines by the Ministry of the Interior (MHA) on June 30, 2020, foreigners (including diplomats) who are eligible to enter India can travel.
• Foreigners (including diplomats), who are eligible to enter India as per the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines dated 30.06.2020 as amended from time to time.

11. Kenya

From India to Kenya

• Residents of any country in Africa can travel.
• Any Indian national who holds any type of valid visa from Kenya and destined for any country in Africa.
• The airlines concerned should ensure that there are no travel restrictions for Indian nationals to enter destinations with specific visa categories before issuing boarding passes/ air tickets to Indian passengers.

From Kenya to India

• Stranded Indian residents in any country in Africa.
• All OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cardholders holding passports of Kenya can travel.
• Indian Overseas Citizens cardholders hold passports issued by any African country, is eligible to enter India in accordance with the MHA guidelines on June 30, 2020 (as amended from time to time).

12. Germany 

Airlines of Germany and India are also allowed to operate services between Germany and India and carry the following categories of personnel on such flights.

From India to Germany

• Indian nationals approved to travel to Europe according to the MHA guidelines on January 7, 2020.
• Stranded EU citizens/residents, foreign nationals traveling to Europe, and transiting through Germany or their spouses (whether accompanying or not).
• Seafarers of foreign nationality; seafarers holding Indian passports will be allowed to obtain permits from the Ministry of Shipping.

From Germany to India

• Indian nationals stranded in Germany.
• According to the revised guidelines by the MHA on June 30, 2020, foreigners (including diplomats and OCI card holders) are eligible to enter India.

13. Iraq & Bhutan

Indian, Iraqi & Bhutanese airlines are allowed to operate services between India, Iraq, and Bhutan and carry the following categories of persons on such flights.

From India to Iraq & Bhutan

• Any Indian national.
• Nationals/residents of Bhutan& Iraq and foreign nationals holding valid visas Iraq & Bhutan, if required.
• The airlines concerned should ensure that there are no travel restrictions for Indian nationals to enter destinations with specific visa categories before issuing boarding passes/ air tickets to Indian passengers.

From Iraq & Bhutan to India

• Stranded Indian nationals in Iraq & Bhutan.
• All overseas citizen of India cardholders who hold passports of Bhutan & Iraq.
• Iraqi & Bhutanese residents (including diplomats) and foreigners (including diplomats) holding valid visas issued by an Indian Mission in any category covered under Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines dated 30.06.2020, as amended from time to time.

14. Japan

Japanese and  Indian airlines carry the subsequent categories of people on such flights.

From India to Japan

• Japanese residents/nationals stranded holding a valid Japanese visa and foreign nationals holding a valid Japanese visa are subject to the border measures and travel restrictions imposed by the Japanese government while traveling.
• Indian nationals holding any type of valid visa from Japan must comply with the border measures and travel restrictions of the Japanese government while traveling.
• Relevant airlines should ensure that there are no entry restrictions for Indian nationals having special visa categories before issuing boarding passes/air tickets to Indian passengers.

From Japan to India

• • Indian nationals stranded.
  • All OCI cardholders holding passports of Japan.
  • Foreigners (including diplomats) holding a valid visa issued by the Indian delegation in any category following revised guidelines by the Ministry of the Home Affairs on June 30, 2020 (as amended from time to time).

15. Maldives

 Maldivian and Indian carriers operate flights between Maldives and India and carry the subsequent categories of people on such flights:

From India to Maldives:

• Maldivian residents/nationals and foreign nationals holding valid Maldivian visas.
• Any Indian national. 
• Relevant airlines should ensure that Indian nationals do not have travel restrictions to enter the Maldives before issuing boarding passes/ air tickets to Indian passengers.

From Maldives to India:

• Indian nationals.
• All overseas Indian (OCI) cardholders holding Maldivian passports.
• Foreigners (including diplomats) holding a valid visa issued by the Indian delegation belong to any category of the Ministry of the Interior (MHA) guidelines dated 30.06.2020 (revised from time to time).

It is worth noting that due to the coronavirus pandemic, scheduled international flights have been suspended in India since March 23. However, since May, with the support of the Vande Bharat Mission, bilateral bubble arrangements have been formed between India and other countries since July, and special international passenger flights have been operating in India.