Anyone caught using a forged passport or visa to enter, stay, or leave India could face up to seven years in jail and a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh under the proposed Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025. The bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha on 11 March, aimed to streamline immigration laws while tightening control over illegal migration.
The legislation, drafted by the Union home ministry, mandated that hotels, universities, hospitals, and other institutions report foreign nationals to authorities to help track overstayers.
Airlines and ships arriving in India will also be required to provide advance passenger and crew details at designated ports or places.
Under the proposed law, knowingly using or supplying fraudulent travel documents will attract a minimum sentence of two years, which could extend to seven years, along with a fine ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. Foreigners who enter India without valid travel documents could face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh.
The bill granted the Centre the authority to regulate premises frequented by foreigners. Property owners could be instructed to shut down, impose specific conditions, or deny entry to certain categories of visitors.
Replacing outdated laws
The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, seeks to consolidate and replace four existing laws, the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920, the Registration of FOther laws that cover foreigners in India include the Citizenship Act, 1955, which regulates acquisition and termination of Indian citizenship as well as acquisition and registration of foreigners as Overseas Citizens of India (OCI).
Foreigners Act, 1939, the Foreigners Act, 1946, and the Immigration (Carriers’ Liability) Act, 2000. The government said that the new legislation simplified and modernised immigration procedures while maintaining national security.
An official said, “The Bill will help in tackling the problem of illegal migration into India and facilitate tracking of movement of overstaying foreigners within India.It will also help in reducing the compliance burden.”
Travel regulations
Indian visas are currently issued in both physical and electronic formats. The Bureau of Immigration (BoI) grants e-visas under seven categories to travellers from 167 countries. Additionally, nationals from Japan, South Korea, and the UAE (subject to prior visa history) can obtain visas on arrival at six Indian airports.
Foreigners staying in India for more than 180 days on student, medical, research, employment, missionary, or project visas must register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) or the relevant Foreigners Registration Office (FRO) within 14 days of arrival. Pakistani nationals, however, must register within 24 hours.
Other laws that cover foreigners in India include the Citizenship Act, 1955, which regulates acquisition and termination of Indian citizenship as well as acquisition and registration of foreigners as Overseas Citizens of India (OCI).
Pakistani nationals are required to register within a day of their arrival.
India also maintains restricted areas where foreign visitors need special permits to travel. These include parts of the northeast, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and specific regions in Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
According to Home Ministry data, 98.4 lakh foreigners visited India between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024.
