Immigration and Foreigners Bill, Foreigners Act, Immigration Law,
Immigration Rules
Synopsis
The New Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 is being
analysed. It will help keep India safe and make sure all visitors follow the
rules. People coming from other countries must register when they arrive.
Officers will have more power to check if visitors follow the rules. It will
also help keep track of visas and make the system better.
The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 was introduced in the
Lok Sabha on March 12, 2025. This new law is meant to make immigration rules
stricter and improve the way foreigners enter and leave India.
Key Rules in the Bill
Who Can Be Denied Entry?
Foreigners may not be allowed to enter or stay in India if they
are seen as a threat to national security, public health, or foreign relations.
Immigration officers will have the final say on who can enter or
stay in India. Their decisions cannot be challenged.
Tracking Foreigners - Colleges, hospitals, and nursing homes must
report foreign nationals to immigration authorities.
Strict Punishments
If someone enters India without valid documents, they can be
jailed for up to 5 years or fined Rs.5 lakh.
If they use fake documents, they can be jailed for 2 to 7 years,
with fines between Rs.1 lakh and Rs.10 lakh.
Overstaying, breaking visa rules, or entering restricted areas can
lead to 3 years in jail and a Rs.3 lakh fine.
What the Bill Changes
This bill will replace old laws like:
- The
Foreigners Act, 1946
- The
Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920
- The
Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939
- The
Immigration (Carriers’ Liability) Act, 2000
The main goal of the bill is to improve national security and
introduce stricter immigration rules.
Other Important Rules
- Registration
for Foreigners
- Foreigners
must register with authorities when they arrive in India.
- They
cannot change their name or move to restricted areas without permission.
Strict Rules for Airlines and Transport Companies
- Airlines
bringing foreigners without valid documents will be fined up to Rs.5 lakh.
- If
fines are not paid, their transport may be seized.
- If
a foreigner is denied entry, the airline must take them back immediately.
- Immigration
Officers Get More Power
- They
can arrest people without a warrant.
- The
central government can control the movement of foreigners.
- No
one can leave India if their presence is required by an official agency.
Existing Immigration Rules
Long-term Visa Holders Must Register
Foreigners staying in India for more than 180 days on student,
medical, research, job, or project visas must register within 14 days of
arrival.
Visa and Immigration Control
The Bureau of Immigration (BoI) issues e-visas to eligible
countries.
The BoI was created in 1971 under the Home Ministry.
Carriers’ Responsibility
The Immigration (Carriers’ Liability) Act, of 2000 makes transport
companies responsible if passengers violate passport rules.
Citizenship Act, 1955
This law explains how foreigners can become Overseas Citizens of India
(OCI).
This bill aims to tighten immigration laws, improve security, and
ensure foreigners follow all rules while in India.
New Rules for Foreigners Coming to India
The Indian government is making a new rule about foreigners
visiting the country. This rule will decide who can come, how long they can
stay, and what they need to do while they are here. It will also say what
happens if they break the rules.
What Does the New Rule Say?
The new law, called the Immigration and Foreigners Bill will bring
all the old rules about foreigners into one simple law. It will also help keep
India safe.
This law will give the government more control ove
- Who
gets a visa to come to India
- How
long they can stay
- Whether
they can study in Indian universities or get medical treatment in Indian
hospitals
Which Old Rules Will Be Removed?
Right now, there are four different laws about foreigners in
India. These were made a long time ago, even before India got independence. The
new law will replace them. These old rules are:
- Passport
(Entry into India) Act, 1920
- Registration
of Foreigners Act, 1939
- Foreigners
Act, 1946
- Immigration
(Carriers’ Liability) Act, 2000
What Will Change:
- The
new law will make things simpler. It has six parts and 35 rules that
explain:
- What
an immigration officer can do
- What
documents are needed to get a visa
- How
foreigners need to register in India
- The
Bureau of Immigration will have more power to handle visitors and make
sure only safe people enter India.
Can Foreigners Be Denied Entry?
Yes, the government will have the right to stop someone from
coming if they are seen as a threat to national security. This means if a
person is dangerous to the country, they will not be allowed in.
Even last month, an Indian-American politician named Kshama Sawant
was not given a visa to visit her sick mother in Bengaluru. She said she had
been denied three times, while her husband was given a visa.
Key Rules for Foreigners
Foreigners must always carry a passport or an official document.
Tourists can stay without registering only if they stay less than
180 days.
Foreigners who stay longer or come for work or study must register
with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office.
Why Is This Law Important?
The government says this law will make it easier to manage
foreigners coming to India. It will also help in keeping the country safe. The
new law will remove confusion by combining all old rules into one clear law.
The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025: Summary
The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 will replace four older
laws, including the Passport (Entry into India) Act of 1920 and the Foreigners
Act of 1946. The new bill simplifies existing rules while adding modern
measures to control illegal immigration and overstaying foreigners.
This law will also ease business operations and reduce unnecessary
paperwork. Indian embassies abroad will continue issuing physical or sticker
visas, while the Bureau of Immigration (BoI) will handle electronic visas for
citizens of 167 countries.
Travelers from Japan, South Korea, and the UAE (who previously
held an Indian visa) can also now get visas on arrival at six key airports.
The Immigration Bureau and state or Union Territory governments
will oversee the stay, movement, and exit of all foreigners in India.
Foreigners with long-term visas exceeding 180 days must register with the
Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) or Foreigners Registration
Officer (FRO) within 14 days of arrival. Pakistani citizens must register
within 24 hours.