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IMMIGRATION AND FOREIGNERS ACT, 2025
I
1. Short title and commencement 1
2. Definitions 2
CHAPTER II MATTERS RELATED TO IMMIGRATION
3. Requirement of passport or other travel document and visa 4
4. Immigration posts for entry or exit 6
5. Bureau of Immigration 7
CHAPTER III MATTERS RELATED TO FOREIGNERS
6. Registration of foreigners 7
7. Power to issue orders, directions or instructions 7
8. Obligation of keeper of accommodation and others to furnish particulars 9
9. Obligation of Universities and Educational Institutions 9
10. Obligation of hospital, nursing home or any other medical institution 9
11. Visit to Protected or Restricted area or prohibited places 10
12. Change of name of foreigner in India 10
IMMIGRATION AND FOREIGNERS RULES, 2025
1. Short title and commencement
3. Other functions of Immigration
4. Other functions of Bureau of
5. Manner of appointment of officers of Bureau of Immigration
6. Other functions of Commissioner of Bureau of Immigration
7. Conditions for issuance of other travel document
8. Conditions for issuance of passport
9. Authority authorised to grant or cancel visa
10. Registration Officer
11. Conditions and manner for foreigners arriving in India to report at immigration post
12. Conditions and manner for foreigners arriving in India to register with Registration Officer
13. Certificate of Registration
14. Production of proof of identity
15. Report of absence from address, change in address or changes in other particulars
16. Manner of report by University and Educational Institution or any other institution
17. Manner of report by keeper of accommodation
18. Manner of report by hospital, nursing home or any medical institution
19. Change of name of a foreigner
20. Restriction on dispatch of articles to or for foreigner
21. Conditions for exercise of power of civil authority to control places frequented by foreigners
CHAPTER IV
OBLIGATION OF CARRIERS
22. Obligation of carrier to provide certain information
23. Manner of appeal by carrier
24. Liability of carrier to furnish information
25. General Declaration furnished by carrier to Immigration Officer
IMMIGRATION AND FOREIGNERS ORDER, 2025
1. Short title and commencement
2. Definitions
CHAPTER I
ENTRY INTO, STAY IN, MOVEMENT WITHIN AND EXIT FROM INDIA OF PERSONS
3. Power to refuse entry into or stay in India
4. Landing of seaman and crew of aircraft
5. Power to grant permission to depart from India
6. Power to examine foreigner
7. Capturing of biometric information
CHAPTER II
RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN ACTIVITIES OF FOREIGNERS
8. Power to impose restrictions
9. Restrictions on employment
10. Restrictions on certain activities
11. Restrictions on mountaineering expeditions
CHAPTER III
PREVENTION, DETECTION, RESTRICTING MOVEMENTS AND DEPORTATION OF ILLEGAL MIGRANTS
12. Power to prevent, detect, impose restriction on movement and deportation of illegal migrants 61
13. Expenses of deportation 62
CHAPTER IV
AND RESTRICTED AREAS
Protected area or Restricted area
CHAPTER VI
16. Constitution of Foreigners Tribunals
17. Procedure for disposal of questions referred to in sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 16
18. Procedure for disposal of questions referred to in sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 16
19. Procedure for disposal of appeal referred to in sub-paragraph (3) of paragraph 16
20. Procedure for setting aside ex parte order
21. Powers of Foreigners Tribunal
FIRST SCHEDULE: List of mountain peaks opened for mountaineering expeditions by foreigners
SECOND SCHEDULE: Application form for seeking prior permission for climbing mountain peaks in India Expedition details
THIRD SCHEDULE:
FOURTH SCHEDULE: Restricted Areas
FIFTH SCHEDULE: Application form for Protected Area Permit (PAP)/ Restricted Area Permit (RAP)/Prohibited Place Permit (Pr PP)
SIXTH SCHEDULE: Format of the Protected Area Permit (PAP)/Restricted Area Permit (RAP)/Prohibited Place Permit (Pr PP) 98
IMMIGRATION AND FOREIGNERS (EXEMPTION) ORDER, 2025
1. Short title and commencement 99
2. Definitions 99
3. Exemptions 99 NOTIFICATIONS 102
Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025
[13 of 2025]1
An Act to confer upon the Central Government certain powers to provide for requirement of passports or other travel documents in respect of persons entering into and exiting from India and for regulating matters related to foreigners including requirement of visa and registration and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
BE it enacted by Parliament in the Seventy-sixth Year of the Republic of India as follows:—
CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
Short title and commencement.
1. (1) This Act may be called the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025. (2) It shall come into force on such date2 as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
COMMENTS
SECTION NOTES
This Act comes into force with effect from 1-9-2025 [Notification No. S.O. 3981(E), dated 31-8-2025]
Repealed Acts
With effect from that date, this Act repeals and replaces the following laws (‘repealed acts’) :
The Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920, the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939, the Foreigners Act, 1946 and the Immigration (Carriers’ Liability) Act, 2000
1. Dated 4-4-2025.
2. With effect from 1-9-2025 vide Notification No. S.O. 3981(E), dated 31-8-2025.
There was a multiplicity of laws and overlapping provisions on the same or related subjects in the four repealed Acts as above. The Act has been enacted to avoid multiplicity and overlapping of laws on the same or related subjects and to comply with the Government of India’s policy of simplification of laws.
Definitions.
2 In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,––
(a) “accommodation” means a temporary or permanent premises of any nature, where a foreigner is accommodated;
(b) “carrier” means a person or entity, including any association of persons or company, whether incorporated or not, who is engaged in the business of transporting passengers or cargo by air, water or land by aircraft or ship or any other mode of transport;
(c) “civil authority” means such authority as may be appointed by the Central Government in this behalf for such area as it thinks fit;
(d) “entry” means entry by air, water or land;
(e) “exit” means exit by air, water or land;
(f) “foreigner” means a person who is not a citizen of India;
(g) “immigration function” means any one of the functions relating to—
(i) the visa issuance and regulation of entry into;
(ii) transit through;
(iii) stay in; or
(iv) movement within and exit from, India, under the provisions of this Act or rules or orders or directions made thereunder;
(h) “Immigration Officer” means any officer authorised by the Central Government to carry out immigration functions or such other functions as may be prescribed and includes the Chief Immigration Officer;
(i) “immigration post” means the point of entry into and exit from India for the purpose of immigration functions as may be notified by the Central Government;
(j) “keeper of accommodation” means the person in charge of the management of an accommodation and includes any person authorised by him to perform the duties of the keeper of the accommodation;
(k) “notification” means a notification published in the Official Gazette and the expressions “notify” and “notified” shall be construed accordingly;
(l) “order” means the instructions issued under any of the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder;
(
m) “other travel document” means the Emergency Certificate or Certificate of Identity or such other travel document which has been issued by or under the authority of the Central Government or Government of a
3 IMMIGRATION AND FOREIGNERS ACT, 2025 S. 2
foreign country or any other organisation as may be recognised for this purpose by the Central Government, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed;
(n) “passport” means a passport issued or deemed to have been issued under the provisions of the Passports Act, 1967 (15 of 1967) and includes a passport which have been issued by or under the authority of the Government of a foreign country subject to such conditions as may be prescribed;
(o) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(p) “Prohibited place” means any place as the Central Government may, by order, specify in this behalf;
(
q) “Protected area” means any area contiguous with India’s international border or any other area, as the Central Government may, by order, specify in this behalf;
(r) “Registration Officer” means a Registration Officer authorised by the Central Government in this behalf for such area as it thinks fit and includes such officer authorised by him with the approval of the Central Government to perform the duties of the Registration Officer on his behalf;
(s) “Restricted area” means any area within India and outside the protected area, as the Central Government may, by order, specify in this behalf;
(t) “visa” means an authorisation by such authority as may be prescribed in this behalf, permitting a foreigner to enter into or transit through or stay in or exit from the territory of India.
COMMENTS
SECTION NOTES
2.1 Entry
“Entry” means entry by air, water or land; [Section 2(1)(d)]
2.2 Exit
“Exit” means exit by air, water or land; [Section 2(1)(e)]
2.3 Foreigner
“Foreigner” means a person who is not a citizen of India; [Section 2(1)(f)]
2.4 Immigration function
Immigration function means any one of the functions relating to—
(i) the visa issuance and regulation of entry into;
(ii) transit through;
(iii) stay in; or
(iv) movement within and exit from, India, under the provisions of this Act or rules or orders or directions made thereunder; [Section 2(1)(g)]
2.5 Immigration Officer
“Immigration Officer” means any officer authorised by the Central Government to carry out immigration functions or other prescribed functions [See Rule 3 of the Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025] and includes the Chief Immigration Officer; [Section 2(1)(h)]
2.6 Immigration Post
“Immigration post” means the point of entry into and exit from India for the purpose of immigration functions as may be notified by the Central Government; [Section 2(1)(i)]
2.7 Other travel document
“Other travel document” means the Emergency Certificate or Certificate of Identity or such other travel document, which has been issued by or under the authority of the Central Government or the Government of a foreign country or any other organisation as may be recognised for this purpose by the Central Government, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed. [Section 2(1)(m)]
See Rule 7 of the Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025
2.8 Passport
Passport means an Indian Passport (passport issued or deemed to have been issued under the provisions of the Passport Act, 1967).
The term “Passport” also includes a foreign passport subject to such conditions as may be prescribed (See Rule 8 of the Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025) [Section 2(n)]
2.9 Visa
The term “Visa” means a visa issued by India to a foreigner. It is an authorisation issued by the prescribed Indian authority [See Rule 9 of the Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025, regarding Authority authorised to grant or cancel visa] to a foreigner, permitting the foreigner to enter into or transit through, or stay in or exit from the territory of India. [Section 2(t)]
The overall supervision, direction and control on visa and related matters shall vest in and be exercised by the Central Government [Section 4(5)]
CHAPTER II
MATTERS RELATED TO IMMIGRATION
Requirement of passport or other travel document and visa.
3. (1) No person proceeding from any place outside India shall enter, or attempt to enter, India by air, water or land unless he is in possession of a valid passport or other travel document, and in case of a foreigner, also a valid visa, and any foreigner while present in India shall also be required to possess valid passport or other valid travel document and valid visa, unless exempted under section 33 or through intergovernmental agreements:
Provided that notwithstanding anything contained in this sub-section, no foreigner shall be allowed to enter into or stay in India, if he is found inadmissible to do so on account of threat to national security, sovereignty and integrity of India, relations with a foreign State or public health or on such other grounds as the Central Government may, specify in this behalf:
5 IMMIGRATION AND FOREIGNERS ACT, 2025 S. 3
Provided further that the decision of the Immigration Officer in this regard shall be final and binding.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 3 of the Passports Act, 1967 (15 of 1967), no person shall depart or attempt to depart from India by air, water or land unless he is in possession of a valid passport or other travel document and in case of a foreigner, also a valid visa:
Provided that notwithstanding anything contained in this sub-section, no person shall be allowed to depart or exit from India, if his presence is required in India by any authorised agency or on such grounds as the Central Government may, by order, specify in this behalf:
Provided further that the decision of the Immigration Officer in this regard shall be final and binding.
(3) The Immigration Officer may examine the passport or other travel document and visa of a foreigner during his entry into, transit through, stay in, movement within India and also require him to furnish such information as may be necessary and appropriate.
(4) The Immigration Officer may seize a passport or other travel document of any person which has been declared as lost or stolen or considered as damaged or forged or fraudulently obtained or on the direction of the passport issuing authority or courts.
(5) The overall supervision, direction and control on visa and related matters shall vest in and be exercised by the Central Government.
COMMENTS
SECTION NOTES
3.1 Mandatory requirements of this Section as regards possession of valid documents for entry into India, stay in India, and exit from India
No person proceeding from any place outside India shall enter, or attempt to enter, India by air, water or land unless he is in possession of a valid passport or other travel document. [Section 3(1)]
A foreigner shall not enter, or attempt to enter, India by air, water or land unless he is in possession of a valid passport or other travel document and also a valid visa issued by India. [Section 3(1)]
Any foreigner while present in India shall be required to possess a valid passport or other valid travel document and a valid visa issued by India, unless exempted under section 33 or through intergovernmental agreements. [Section 3(1)]
3.2 Prohibitions imposed on foreigners by this section in certain cases
No foreigner (despite possessing a valid passport and a valid Indian visa) shall be allowed to enter into or stay in India, if he is found inadmissible to do so on account of a threat to the national security, sovereignty and integrity of India, relations with a foreign State or public health, or on such other grounds as the Central Government may, specify in this behalf. [1st proviso to section 3(1)] The decision of the Immigration Officer in this regard shall be final and binding. [2nd proviso to section 3(1)]
