Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025

On 4 April 2025, the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 received Presidential assent. The Act repeals four existing laws and modernizes India’s immigration framework.

Area	Details
Repealed Laws	1. The Foreigners Act, 1946 2. The Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939 3. The Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 4. The Immigration (Carriers’ Liability) Act, 2000
Mandatory Travel Documents	Foreigners entering or departing from India must possess a valid visa along with a passport or other valid travel documents.
Bureau of Immigration	Establishes a new Bureau of Immigration to oversee visa issuance, entry, transit, stay, and exit of foreigners.
Registration of Foreigners	Foreigners must register with a Registration Officer upon arrival in India.
Information Sharing	• Carriers must furnish passenger and crew information to immigration authorities. • Hotels must report details of foreign guests. • Educational and medical institutions must provide prescribed information on foreign students and patients.
Expanded Definition of Carriers	Includes transport of passengers and cargo by air, water, or land.
Departure Clearance Requirement	Aircraft, vessels, and other modes of transport cannot depart from India without clearance from an Immigration Officer.
Revised Penalties	Unauthorized entry is punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment and a fine up to Rs. 5 lakh.
Power of Arrest	Police officers of rank Head Constable and above can arrest individuals without a warrant for illegal entry.

PT Facts

Presidential Assent: 4 April 2025.
Number of Laws Repealed: Four older laws.
New Authority: Bureau of Immigration.
Registration Rule: Foreigners must register with Registration Officer on arrival.
Institutional Duty: Hotels, carriers, educational institutions, and medical institutions must share prescribed information.
Penalty: Unauthorized entry can lead to up to 5 years imprisonment and Rs. 5 lakh fine.

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GS-II : miscellaneous polity topics Statutory topics

10 April, 2026
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Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025

On 1st September 2025, the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 came into effect. The Act replaces four older laws: the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920; Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939; Foreigners Act, 1946; and Immigration (Carriers’ Liability) Act, 2000.

Key Provision	Details
Valid Document	All entrants must carry a valid passport or travel document and, in the case of foreigners, a valid visa unless exempted by the Act or special government orders.
Entry Points	Entry and exit are allowed only through notified immigration posts such as airports, seaports, land borders, and rail posts.
Restriction on Exit	No person is permitted to leave India by air, sea, or land without holding a valid passport or travel document. In the case of foreigners, a valid visa is also mandatory. Even if documents are in order, a person may still be stopped from leaving the country if necessary.
Powers of Immigration Officer	Officers at notified immigration posts have final authority on entry, exit, and admissibility, and the power to validate or refuse entry or exit on national security grounds.
Bureau of Immigration	Establishes a Bureau of Immigration under the Central Government.
Offences	Penalises foreigners entering without a valid passport or travel documents with imprisonment of up to five years, fine up to Rs. 5 lakh, or both. Forged passports or visas attract 2–7 years jail and Rs. 1–10 lakh fine.
Power of Arrest	Empowers police officers not below the rank of Head Constable to arrest without warrant.

PT Facts

Effective Date: 1 September 2025.
Replaces: Four older laws related to passport entry, foreigners’ registration, foreigners’ regulation, and carriers’ liability.
Entry/Exit: Only through notified immigration posts.
Authority: Bureau of Immigration under the Central Government.
Penalty: Up to 5 years and Rs. 5 lakh for entry without valid documents.
Forgery Penalty: 2–7 years’ jail and Rs. 1–10 lakh fine.

Source:

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