EXPLAINED: The current travel rules between India and Denmark
Due to the severe Covid-19 situation, there are strict travel regulations in place for travel from India to Denmark and vice versa at the moment. Here's what you need to know about the latest travel rules and conditions.
Currently in the midst of a major crisis, India has been recording over 300,000 new Covid-19 infections a day for the last two weeks.
Denmark has not joined Germany and other countries in imposing a strict ban on travel from India, but the country is one of only eleven worldwide classed as "red" under its traffic light travel entry system, meaning travel to Denmark is highly restricted.
India's eastern neighbour, Bangladesh, is also classed as "red".
Who can enter Denmark?
Denmark has a classification system that divides geographical regions into high risk "red countries", "orange countries", and lower risk "yellow countries".
Red countries, such as India, have the heaviest restrictions on entering Denmark, with only Danish citizens and foreigners with a residency permit to live in Denmark allowed to enter without a special purposes.
For entry from red countries, the list of valid exceptions is much smaller than for those coming from yellow countries.
If you are resident in a red country such as India, and are not a Danish citizen, you can only travel to Denmark if:
- You are the main carer for a minor living in Denmark
- A family member, partner, girlfriend or boyfriend of someone living in Denmark who is seriously ill or dying
- Are transporting goods in a professional capacity
- Are a crew member on a ship or plane, an offshore worker or maritime technician, who is travelling through Denmark as part of their home journey
- Are a diplomat or diplomatic courier, or if you enter Denmark to pay a service visit to a local diplomatic mission or if you are allowed to enter Denmark under a host country agreement.
You cannot travel to Denmark from a red country if:
- You have a job in Denmark
- You have business in Denmark
- You are studying in Denmark
If I have the right to travel to Denmark, what are the other requirements?
Even if you have the right to travel to Denmark, you will need to go into quarantine after arrival in Denmark, and show a negative coronavirus test less than 48 hours old before boarding the plane.
Here are the requirements:
- Show a negative Covid-19 test before boarding the plane
- Show documentation of your 'Special worthy purpose' on arrival at the Danish passport control
- Show a negative Covid-19 test before arriving in Denmark
- Show a negative Covid-19 test after arriving in Denmark
- Self-isolate for 10 days after arrival in Denmark
If you are travelling from India using two or more flights, you must take the test within 48 of boarding the first plane. On the final leg of your journey, flight staff on the plane must check that you have a negative test that was taken within 48 hours of boarding the first plane, with passengers required to show a boarding pass to prove when they boarded the plane.
Passengers can also take a test at one of their transit stops en route.
You can read more about who can enter Denmark and for what reasons on the Danish government's Coronasmitte.dk website here.
How soon and how long for do I need to self-isolate?
You need to enter self-isolation "without undue delay" on entry to Denmark. This means you can make your way to your hotel or host, but must do as little as possible that might expose you to others.
You need to go into isolation even if the test you take on arrival in Denmark is negative.
You can leave self-isolation if, after no fewer than four days, you test negative in a PCR test.
You can read more about the self-isolation rules here.
What if I've been fully vaccinated?
People travelling from 'red' countries such as India need to show a negative Covid-19 test on arrival in Denmark even if they have been fully vaccinated.
What about travel in the other direction?
The Danish foreign ministry currently advises against all travel to India due to "the Covid-19 situation and the presence of worrying virus variants".
According to the Foreign Office, airlines flying to India are only allowed to carry passengers who present a negative PCR test (max. 72 hours old).
Prior to travel, it is mandatory to complete a self-declaration form and upload the negative PCR test result.
A printout of the registration form, as well as a passport copy should be carried by passengers. The use of the Covid-19 tracking app Aarogya Setu is mandatory. Current information on entry, testing and quarantine regulations can be found on the New Delhi Airport website.
Keep in mind that there are varying local rules such as in the state of Maharashtra which has imposed a 14-day mandatory quarantine for travellers from the EU, the UK and the Middle East. Part of this must be spent in a state institution.
After entry to India, a further Covid-19 test, for which a fee is charged, must be carried out at the airport. Transit passengers are not allowed to leave the arrival area until the test result is received, which can take several hours.
Commercial international travel is currently prohibited in principle in India. Tourist travel remains banned until further notice.
Donating to India
Denmark at the start of this month announced that it was sending 53 ventilators to India to help treat Covid-19 patients, and donated €1m to the Indian Red Cross' work to fight the pandemic.
Ventilators from Denmark ready for dispatch to India. Thank you Denmark. @DrSJaishankar @JeppeKofod @DanishMFA @MEAIndia pic.twitter.com/EcZDJtkRAL
— IndiainDenmark (@IndiainDenmark) May 3, 2021
The Indian Embassy in Copenhagen has also tweeted out a list of credible non-profits people can donate to.
https://twitter.com/IndiainDenmark/status/1386699623096537092
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Currently in the midst of a major crisis, India has been recording over 300,000 new Covid-19 infections a day for the last two weeks.
Denmark has not joined Germany and other countries in imposing a strict ban on travel from India, but the country is one of only eleven worldwide classed as "red" under its traffic light travel entry system, meaning travel to Denmark is highly restricted.
India's eastern neighbour, Bangladesh, is also classed as "red".
Who can enter Denmark?
Denmark has a classification system that divides geographical regions into high risk "red countries", "orange countries", and lower risk "yellow countries".
Red countries, such as India, have the heaviest restrictions on entering Denmark, with only Danish citizens and foreigners with a residency permit to live in Denmark allowed to enter without a special purposes.
For entry from red countries, the list of valid exceptions is much smaller than for those coming from yellow countries.
If you are resident in a red country such as India, and are not a Danish citizen, you can only travel to Denmark if:
- You are the main carer for a minor living in Denmark
- A family member, partner, girlfriend or boyfriend of someone living in Denmark who is seriously ill or dying
- Are transporting goods in a professional capacity
- Are a crew member on a ship or plane, an offshore worker or maritime technician, who is travelling through Denmark as part of their home journey
- Are a diplomat or diplomatic courier, or if you enter Denmark to pay a service visit to a local diplomatic mission or if you are allowed to enter Denmark under a host country agreement.
You cannot travel to Denmark from a red country if:
- You have a job in Denmark
- You have business in Denmark
- You are studying in Denmark
If I have the right to travel to Denmark, what are the other requirements?
Even if you have the right to travel to Denmark, you will need to go into quarantine after arrival in Denmark, and show a negative coronavirus test less than 48 hours old before boarding the plane.
Here are the requirements:
- Show a negative Covid-19 test before boarding the plane
- Show documentation of your 'Special worthy purpose' on arrival at the Danish passport control
- Show a negative Covid-19 test before arriving in Denmark
- Show a negative Covid-19 test after arriving in Denmark
- Self-isolate for 10 days after arrival in Denmark
If you are travelling from India using two or more flights, you must take the test within 48 of boarding the first plane. On the final leg of your journey, flight staff on the plane must check that you have a negative test that was taken within 48 hours of boarding the first plane, with passengers required to show a boarding pass to prove when they boarded the plane.
Passengers can also take a test at one of their transit stops en route.
You can read more about who can enter Denmark and for what reasons on the Danish government's Coronasmitte.dk website here.
How soon and how long for do I need to self-isolate?
You need to enter self-isolation "without undue delay" on entry to Denmark. This means you can make your way to your hotel or host, but must do as little as possible that might expose you to others.
You need to go into isolation even if the test you take on arrival in Denmark is negative.
You can leave self-isolation if, after no fewer than four days, you test negative in a PCR test.
You can read more about the self-isolation rules here.
What if I've been fully vaccinated?
People travelling from 'red' countries such as India need to show a negative Covid-19 test on arrival in Denmark even if they have been fully vaccinated.
What about travel in the other direction?
The Danish foreign ministry currently advises against all travel to India due to "the Covid-19 situation and the presence of worrying virus variants".
According to the Foreign Office, airlines flying to India are only allowed to carry passengers who present a negative PCR test (max. 72 hours old).
Prior to travel, it is mandatory to complete a self-declaration form and upload the negative PCR test result.
A printout of the registration form, as well as a passport copy should be carried by passengers. The use of the Covid-19 tracking app Aarogya Setu is mandatory. Current information on entry, testing and quarantine regulations can be found on the New Delhi Airport website.
Keep in mind that there are varying local rules such as in the state of Maharashtra which has imposed a 14-day mandatory quarantine for travellers from the EU, the UK and the Middle East. Part of this must be spent in a state institution.
After entry to India, a further Covid-19 test, for which a fee is charged, must be carried out at the airport. Transit passengers are not allowed to leave the arrival area until the test result is received, which can take several hours.
Commercial international travel is currently prohibited in principle in India. Tourist travel remains banned until further notice.
Donating to India
Denmark at the start of this month announced that it was sending 53 ventilators to India to help treat Covid-19 patients, and donated €1m to the Indian Red Cross' work to fight the pandemic.
Ventilators from Denmark ready for dispatch to India. Thank you Denmark. @DrSJaishankar @JeppeKofod @DanishMFA @MEAIndia pic.twitter.com/EcZDJtkRAL
— IndiainDenmark (@IndiainDenmark) May 3, 2021
The Indian Embassy in Copenhagen has also tweeted out a list of credible non-profits people can donate to.
https://twitter.com/IndiainDenmark/status/1386699623096537092
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