Govt. notifies changes in Immigration
and Foreigners Rules, 2025
The foreigners coming to India on a visa for 180
days or less will now have to register themselves "any time before the
expiry of the said period of 180 days" in case they want to stay beyond
the visa period, according to changes in the Immigration and Foreigners Rules,
2025 notified by the Union home ministry.
The new provision, notified on Monday, will replace
the previous rule that required the registration "within fourteen days
after the expiry of one hundred and eighty days of arrival in India."
"The Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025 (hereinafter referred to as
the said rules), in rule 12, ' (a) in sub-rule (1), ' (i) in the third proviso,
for the words "within fourteen days after the expiry of one hundred and
eighty days of his arrival in India", the words "any time before the
expiry of the said period of one hundred and eighty days" shall be
substituted," the notification published in the gazette said.
The foreigners on a visa for more than 180 days with
a stipulation that "each stay shall not exceed 180 days" and who wish
to stay in India beyond that period on any single occasion or in the aggregate
in a calendar year shall have to register "anytime before the expiry of
180 days". The new rule has now made it clear that such registration will
now be granted "only in emergent circumstances".
The new rules also provide slight relief to children
born to parents where either or both parents are foreigners.
Previous rules stipulated that upon the birth of the
child in such cases, parents had to electronically intimate the registration
officer within 30 days for availing visa services, including the grant of new
visa and exit permission on the designated online portal or the mobile
application.
According to the notification, this sub-rule shall not
apply in cases wherein either of the parents is an Indian citizen and such
parent wishes to retain the Indian citizenship of the child.
It, however, says that if the child acquires
citizenship of a foreign country while in India at a later stage, either of the
parents shall intimate the position to the registration officer within thirty
days of acquiring the citizenship of the foreign country by the child.
The notification also revises provisions relating to
reporting requirements and administrative procedures for every hospital,
nursing home or any other medical institution providing medical, lodging or
sleeping facility in their premises.
www.thehindubusinessline.com,
dt. 03-06-2026