QR code on COVID RT-PCR report a must for flyers from India starting May 22

Air India passengers boarding international flights from India to countries that require carrying a negative RTPCR test report will need to have a QR code linked to the original report from May 22 onwards.

“Effective May 22, 2021, passengers carrying negative RTPCR reports as per the requirement of their destination country, must ensure that the report has a QR code linking to the original report,” Air India Express tweeted on May 14.

It, however, clarified that the rule is only for the passengers who are required to carry a negative RT-PCR test report as per the guidelines/requirements issued by the destination country.

The new requirement has been mandated as a significant number of false or forged negative reports were being furnished by passengers travelling out of India.

This has been done, also to ensure minimum physical contact and smooth movement of passengers amid the ongoing pandemic situation, without compromising on the verification, said Air India in a statement.

Due to the massive surge in the COVID-19 cases amid the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, several countries including Canada, Hong Kong, New Zealand, UAE, Kuwait, Indonesia, Netherlands, and Australia, have banned passengers from India.