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Enacted 2025

The Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025

In force 36 sections Home Affairs

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.

Act 13 of 2025 Enacted 04 Apr 2025 In force 01 Sep 2025 Department Department of Home

Administered by. Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Home · Other Acts of 2025

Preamble

THE IMMIGRATION AND FOREIGNERS ACT, 2025

ACT NO. 13 OF 2025

[4th April, 2025.]

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:---

What this Act covers

Summary of Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025

The Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 consolidates and modernizes India's immigration laws

Key Provisions

1. Entry and Exit Requirements

Valid Travel Documents: Every person entering or leaving India must possess a valid passport or other travel document, and foreigners must also possess a valid visa unless exempted.

Designated Immigration Posts: Entry into and exit from India is permitted only through notified immigration check posts.

2. Registration and Reporting

Registration of Foreigners: Specified categories of foreigners are required to register with the prescribed Registration Officer.

Mandatory Information: Hotels, educational institutions, hospitals, and other prescribed establishments must furnish information regarding foreign nationals staying or receiving services.

3. Powers of the Central Government

Regulation of Foreigners: The Central Government may regulate the entry, stay, movement, departure, and activities of foreigners in India.

Immigration Officers: Authorises immigration officers to examine travel documents, grant or refuse entry, and enforce the provisions of the Act. ([India Code][1])

4. Offences and Penalties

Illegal Entry and Overstay: Prescribes penalties for entering India without valid documents, overstaying visas, or violating conditions of stay.

Forged Documents: Imposes stringent punishment for using forged passports, visas, or other travel documents and for aiding illegal immigration.

Sections

Type to filter. 36 sections.

  1. 1Short title and commencement
  2. 2Definitions
  3. 3Requirement of passport or other travel document and visa
  4. 4Immigration posts for entry or exit
  5. 5Bureau of Immigration
  6. 6Registration of foreigners
  7. 7Power to issue orders, directions or instructions
  8. 8Obligation of keeper of accommodation and others to furnish particulars
  9. 9Obligation of Universities and Educational Institutions
  10. 10Obligation of hospital, nursing home or any other medical institution
  11. 11Visit to Protected or Restricted area or Prohibited places
  12. 12Change of name of foreigner in India
  13. 13Foreigners whose movements are restricted
  14. 14Power to control places frequented by foreigners
  15. 15Foreigner who is national of more than one foreign country
  16. 16Burden of proof
  17. 17Obligation of carriers and like
  18. 18Liability of carrier to pay penalty
  19. 19Liability of carriers for passengers brought into India
  20. 20Contravention or attempts to contravene provisions of Act
  21. 21Penalty for entry without valid passport or other travel document
  22. 22Penalty for using or supplying forged or fraudulently obtained passport or other travel document and visa
  23. 23Penalty for contraventions of other provisions of this Act
  24. 24Penalty for abetment
  25. 25Compounding of certain offences
  26. 26Power to arrest
  27. 27Power to give effect to orders, directions, and like
  28. 28Power to delegate authority
  29. 29Power of removal
  30. 30Power to make rules
  31. 31Rules to be laid Before Parliament
  32. 32Protection of action taken in good faith
  33. 33Power to exempt in certain cases
  34. 34Application of other laws not barred
  35. 35Power to remove difficulties
  36. 36Repeal and saving

Legislative history

Legislative History: The Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 Source: Official Record of Parliament, India Code, and Ministry of Home Affairs Act Title - The Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 Act Number - Act No. 13 of 2025 Act ID (India Code) - 202513 Presidential Assent date - April 04, 2025 Enforcement Date -September 01, 2025 Nodal Ministry - Ministry of Home Affairs Precedent & Historical Rationale ● Consolidation and Repeal of Legacy Frameworks: Repeals four outdated statutory enactments—The Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920; The Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939; The Foreigners Act, 1946; and The Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act, 2000—replacing fragmented colonial and post-independence laws with a single, modern code. ● Institutional Framework & Enhanced Monitoring: Codifies statutory backing for the Bureau of Immigration (BoI) and mandates digital reporting obligations for keepers of accommodation, educational institutions, and medical facilities hosting foreign nationals. ● National Security & Penalty Reforms: Enhances accountability across border posts, streamlines visa and registration procedures, and introduces stringent penalties for forged travel documents, unauthorized entry, and overstaying. Parliamentary Trajectory & Enactment ● Formulation: Introduced by the Ministry of Home Affairs to overhaul India's immigration architecture and align border management with modern digital tracking systems. ● Parliamentary Passage: Introduced in the Lok Sabha in early 2025 and passed by both Houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) during the Budget Session. ● Presidential Assent: Received the assent of the President of India on April 04, 2025. ● Enforcement: Enforced on September 01, 2025.

Related Acts

Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Every one of the 36 sections of this Act has its own page. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.