Vidhi Codex

The Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025

The Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025

General202537 sections5 chapters

The Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 regulates how foreign nationals enter, travel, stay, and depart from India. It applies to all non citizens, international transport companies, and local entities like schools, hospitals, and hotels that accommodate foreigners. The law mandates valid passports, visas, and registration with civil authorities. This legislation matters because it replaces four outdated wartime and colonial laws with a single unified framework. By simplifying the rules, the government enhances Indian national security, increases surveillance capabilities over foreign visitors, and establishes strict financial and criminal penalties for individuals and carriers that violate these designated entry and exit procedures.

Start reading →Read full ActSections

Chapter II MATTERS RELATED TO IMMIGRATION →

  1. 3Requirement of passport or other travel document and visa.
  2. 4Immigration posts for entry or exit.
  3. 5Bureau of Immigration.

Chapter III MATTERS RELATED TO FOREIGNERS →

  1. 6Registration of foreigners.
  2. 7Power to issue orders, directions or instructions.
  3. 8Obligation of keeper of accommodation and others to furnish particulars.
  4. 9Obligation of Universities and Educational Institutions.
  5. 10Obligation of hospital, nursing home or any other medical institution.
  6. 11Visit to Protected or Restricted area or Prohibited places.
  7. 12Change of name of foreigner in India.
  8. 13Foreigners whose movements are restricted.
  9. 14Power to control places frequented by foreigners.
  10. 15Foreigner who is national of more than one foreign country.
  11. 16Burden of proof.

Chapter IV LIABILITY OF CARRIERS →

  1. 17Obligation of carriers and like.

Chapter V OFFENCES, PENALTIES AND APPEAL →

  1. 18Liability of carrier to pay penalty.
  2. 19Liability of carriers for passengers brought into India.
  3. 20Contravention or attempts to contravene provisions of Act.
  4. 21Penalty for entry without valid passport or other travel document.
  5. 22Penalty for using or supplying forged or fraudulently obtained passport or other travel document and visa.
  6. 23Penalty for contraventions of other provisions of this Act.
  7. 24Penalty for abetment.
  8. 25Compounding of certain offences.
  9. 26Power to arrest.

Chapter VI MISCELLANEOUS →

  1. 27Power to give effect to orders, directions, and like.
  2. 28Power to delegate authority.
  3. 29Power of removal.
  4. 30Power to make rules.
  5. 31Rules to be laid before Parliament.
  6. 32Protection of action taken in good faith.
  7. 33Power to exempt in certain cases.
  8. 34Application of other laws not barred.
  9. 35Power to remove difficulties.
  10. 36Repeal and saving.

PDF: pending for this language.