Travel Guide to Goa: Updated Guidelines

It is mandatory for all passengers arriving in Goa from other States/UT to have RT-PCR/TrueNAT/CBNAAT/Rapid Antigen Test negative report from ICMR accredited labs done within the last 48 hours.

The testing timeline starts from the swab collection time. Passengers not fulfilling the requirements shall be denied boarding at the origin station.

All passengers must download Aarogya Setu App on their mobile and mark them SAFE.

There is currently no quarantine in place for travellers arriving at Goa.

• Travellers can take a flight from the closest airport to The Dabolim Airport or Goa International Airport to reach Goa. Upon arriving, you must have a negative RT-PCR report, which should be no more than 72 hours, since the time of taking the sample.
• Certificate of full vaccination is accepted.
• If both are not available, then a Rapid-Antigen test would be done at the airport. This new initiative from the government has made it convenient for the traveller to save time and to get the result faster. The cost can vary from Rs 450-270/- per head and the cost to be borne by the traveller.
• The authorities have also introduced rules for travelling to Goa and also charge a fine for those who are not wearing their mask during commute/entering the border. The passengers will be photographed and fined for their actions.
• Once you are inside Goa, a face mask should be on all the time when you are outside or visiting places, or it would result in a fine.
• All passengers must download Aarogya Setu App as it can be checked on your mobile anywhere during your travel and also once you are inside Goa.

• If you are planning to travel by road, you can hire a car or drive yourself from the state border to your accommodation.
• A negative RT-PCR report is a must for entering the border, and the timing of the report should not be more than 72 hours, since the time of taking the swab sample.
• Certificate of full vaccination is accepted.
• If both are not available, then a Rapid-Antigen test would be done at the state border. This new initiative from the government has made it convenient for the traveller to save time and to get the result faster. The cost can vary from Rs 450-270/- per head and the cost to be borne by the traveller.
• All passengers must download Aarogya Setu App as it can be checked on your mobile anywhere during your travel and also once you are inside Goa.

There are no hassles in entering Goa, provided you have all the necessary documents in place. The authorities are very cooperative and there is no rush or long waiting lines at the state border and all this is done for your and residents protection. It is advisable to book your accommodation in advance so that your stay can be comfortable and you don’t have to waste much time on the road in search of accommodation. For booking your accommodation, you can visit www.visit-goa.com to choose among the properties and have a pleasant stay in Goa.

• Conditions for entering Goa by train remains the same as in place for travel by Air or by Road.
• Negative Rt-PCR report, should not be more than 72 hours from the time of taking the swab sample.
• Certificate of full vaccination is accepted.
• If both are not available, then a Rapid-Antigen test would be done at the airport. This new initiative from the government has made it convenient for the traveller to save time and to get the result faster. The cost can vary from Rs 450-270/- per head and the cost to be borne by the traveller.
• All passengers must download Aarogya Setu App as it can be checked on your mobile anywhere your travel and also once you are inside Goa.

Goa tourism guidelines have been issued by the state tourism ministry and travellers are advised to follow them to the core. Lates Covid guidelines including the lockdown status can be accessed through the link https://www.goa.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Curfew-Extended-25-07-2021-COLS.pdf

The Union health ministry had issued a set of revised guidelines for international arrivals amid the spread of mutant variants of coronavirus in many countries.

All international travellers will have to submit a self-health declaration as well as a declaration to comply with the government’s rule of home quarantine/self-monitoring for 14 days, on the online Air Suvidha portal before the scheduled travel.

They will also have to upload a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR report of a test within 72 hours of the journey, and also give a declaration concerning the authenticity of the report.

International travellers arriving through seaports will also have to undergo the same protocol, except that facility for online registration is not available for such passengers currently, as per the civil aviation ministry guidelines.

A negative COVID-19 PCR test is required to enter India. The following are the revised guidelines:

All passengers, including children and infants, must upload their COVID‑19 RT‑PCR results on the Air Suvidha online portal for a test taken 72 hours before the start of their journey.

All passengers must carry a hard copy of a negative COVID 19 RT‑PCR certificate test at the time of departure. Digital copies will not be allowed. The certificate should be in English, specifying the name of the passenger and the outcome of the test.

Arrival in India without a negative COVID‑19 RT‑PCR test report will only be allowed in cases of the exigency of death in the family. Passengers can apply for such an exemption on the online portal at least 72 hours before boarding. The decision taken by the government as communicated on the online portal will be final.

All passengers, including infants and children, without any exception, are to undergo self‑paid tests upon arrival at the Indian airports (port of entry). Passengers must carry adequate funds for the same.

All passengers can leave their entry point in India after taking the on‑arrival molecular tests except for the following:

Passengers travelling from the United Kingdom, Brazil and South Africa and arriving at Bangalore airport must wait for their results before leaving the airport or connecting to another flight.

Connecting passengers travelling from the United Kingdom, Brazil and South Africa and transiting at Indian airports must wait 8‑10 hours at the entry airport in India before taking their connecting flights.

All passengers who test positive for COVID‑19 during the on‑arrival tests will undergo treatment per standard health protocol. If they’re travelling from the United Kingdom, Brazil and South Africa they will be isolated in an institutional isolation facility coordinated by the respective state health authorities

All the travellers arriving from/transiting through flights originating in the United Kingdom, Europe or the Middle East shall be mandatorily subjected to self-paid confirmatory tests on arrival at the Indian airports concerned (port of entry).

All travellers from Europe and the Middle East shall give samples at the designated area and exit the airport. If the test report is negative, they will be advised to self-monitor their health for 14 days. If the test report is positive, they will undergo treatment as per standard health protocol.

As we recover from this pandemic, safety must be the primary concern while travelling. This post-Covid travel guide to Goa is your one-stop solution for trip planning and itinerary. Keep yourself updated regarding the destination before starting your journey. We have tried to be as informative as possible in this article for your safe travel to Goa. Keep yourself updated on the latest news and make sure that you follow all the Goa tourism rules for a safer travel experience.

** Disclaimer: The guidelines issued by the state government are subject to change as per the situation, so travellers are advised to check the Goa tourism website for any updates before embarking on their journey. All the relevant information have been acquired from the official website of the Goa government.