India on Wednesday released new guidelines for international travellers entering the country that require all to show they were Covid-19 negative before boarding flights and impose additional restrictions on visitors from “countries at risk”.

The guidelines released by the Union health ministry require travellers — whether fully, partially, or not vaccinated — from the “countries at risk” to home quarantine for seven days, take a post-arrival Covid-19 test and a re-test on day eight.

The guidelines also list a set of so-called “Category A” countries that have established reciprocal arrangements with India for mutual acceptance of Covid-19 vaccines. Fully vaccinated travellers from Category A countries will only need to self monitor their health for 14 days.

The countries at risk include nations in Europe — including the UK — Bangladesh, China, Brazil, Botswana, Mauritius, New Zealand, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

The Category A countries include the UK, Armenia, Belarus, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Lebanon, Nepal, Serbia and Ukraine, which have signed pacts with India for mutual recognition of vaccination certificates and exempt Indian citizens fully immunised with nationally approved or World Health Organisation recognised jabs.

But travellers from Category A countries who are partially vaccinated or not vaccinated would need to take a post-arrival test, home quarantine for seven days and go for a retest on the eighth day.

The guidelines require airlines to ensure that all travellers have Covid-19 negative test reports before they board flights.

Any traveller who is found symptomatic during screening on arrival will be isolated, taken to a medical facility and tested for Covid-19.

For anyone who tests positive, the co-passengers in the same row, three rows in front and three rows in the rear of the aircraft, and the cabin crew will be considered contacts and will also be asked to quarantine for 14 days.