The Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025

(1) This Act may be called the Immigration and ForeignersAct, 2025. (2) It shall come into force on such date1as the Central Government may, by notification in theOfficial Gazette, appoint.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,--- (a) "accommodation" means a temporary or permanent premises of any nature, where a foreigneris accommodated; (b) "carrier" means a person or entity, including any association of persons or company, whetherincorporated or not, who is engaged in the business of transporting passengers or cargo by air, wateror land by aircraft or ship or any other mode of transport; (c) "civil authority" means such authority as may be appointed by the Central Government in thisbehalf for such area as it thinks fit; (d) "entry" means entry by air, water or land; (e) "exit" means exit by air, water or land; (f) "foreigner" means a person who is not a citizen of India; (g) "immigration function" means any one of the functions relating to--- (i) the visa issuance and regulation of entry into; (ii) transit through; (iii) stay in; or (iv) movement within and exit from, India, under the provisions of this Act or rules or orders or directions made thereunder; (h) "Immigration Officer" means any officer authorised by the Central Government to carry outimmigration functions or such other functions as may be prescribed and includes the ChiefImmigration Officer; (i) "immigration post" means the point of entry into and exit from India for the purpose ofimmigration functions as may be notified by the Central Government; (j) "keeper of accommodation" means the person in charge of the management of anaccommodation and includes any person authorised by him to perform the duties of the keeper ofthe accommodation; (k) "notification" means a notification published in the Official Gazette and the expressions "notify"and "notified" shall be construed accordingly; (l) "order" means the instructions issued under any of the provisions of this Act or the rules madethereunder; (m) "other travel document" means the Emergency Certificate or Certificate of Identity or such othertravel document which has been issued by or under the authority of the Central Government orGovernment of a foreign country or any other organisation as may be recognised for this purpose bythe Central Government, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed; (n) "passport" means a passport issued or deemed to have been issued under the provisions of thePassport Act, 1967 (15 of 1967) and includes a passport which have been issued by or under theauthority of the Government of a foreign country subject to such conditions as may be prescribed; (o) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act; (p) "Prohibited place" means any place as the Central Government may, by order, specify in thisbehalf; (q) "Protected area" means any area contiguous with India’s international border or any other area,as the Central Government may, by order, specify in this behalf; (r) "Registration Officer" means a Registration Officer authorised by the Central Government in thisbehalf for such area as it thinks fit and includes such officer authorised by him with the approval of theCentral Government to perform the duties of the Registration Officer on his behalf; (s) "Restricted area" means any area within India and outside the protected area, as the CentralGovernment may, by order, specify in this behalf; (t) "visa" means an authorisation by such authority as may be prescribed in this behalf, permitting aforeigner to enter into or transit through or stay in or exit from the territory of India.

(1) No person proceeding fromany place outside India shall enter, or attempt to enter, India by air, water or land unless he is inpossession of a valid passport or other travel document, and in case of a foreigner, also a valid visa, andany foreigner while present in India shall also be required to possess valid passport or other valid traveldocument and valid visa, unless exempted under section 33 or through intergovernmental agreements: Provided that notwithstanding anything contained in this sub-section, no foreigner shall be allowedto enter into or stay in India, if he is found inadmissible to do so on account of threat to national security,sovereignty and integrity of India, relations with a foreign State or public health or on such othergrounds as the Central Government may, specify in this behalf: Provided further that the decision of the Immigration Officer in this regard shall be final and binding. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 3 of the Passports Act, 1967 (15 of 1967), noperson shall depart or attempt to depart from India by air, water or land unless he is in possession of avalid passport or other travel document and in case of a foreigner, also a valid visa: Provided that notwithstanding anything contained in this sub-section, no person shall be allowed todepart or exit from India, if his presence is required in India by any authorised agency or on suchgrounds as the Central Government may, by order, specify in this behalf: Provided further that the decision of the Immigration Officer in this regard shall be final and binding. (3) The Immigration Officer may examine the passport or other travel document and visa of aforeigner during his entry into, transit through, stay in, movement within India and also require him tofurnish such information as may be necessary and appropriate. (4) The Immigration Officer may seize a passport or other travel document of any person which hasbeen declared as lost or stolen or considered as damaged or forged or fraudulently obtained or on thedirection of the passport issuing authority or courts. (5) The overall supervision, direction and control on visa and related matters shall vest in and beexercised by the Central Government.

(1) The Central Government may notify the designatedimmigration posts for entry into or exit from India at such places as may be specified. (2) A designated immigration post for entry into or exit from India shall be manned by anImmigration Officer or such other officers as may be specified by the Bureau of Immigration constitutedunder section 5.

(1) There shall be constituted a Bureau called the Bureau ofImmigration for performing the immigration functions and such other functions as may be prescribed. (2) The Bureau of Immigration referred to in sub-section (1) shall consist of such number of officersappointed by the Central Government in such manner as may be prescribed. (3) The general supervision, directions and control of the Bureau of Immigration, shall vest in andbe exercised by the Central Government and the overall supervision of the immigration functions andsuch other functions as may be prescribed, shall vest in the officer appointed by the Central Governmentas Commissioner of Bureau of Immigration. (4) The Commissioner, Bureau of Immigration shall, in discharge of his duties under this Act, beassisted by the Foreigners Regional Registration Officers, Foreigners Registration Officers, ChiefImmigration Officers and such Immigration Officers as may be authorised by the Central Governmentin this behalf.