NEW DELHI: The Centre has relaxed passport and visa requirements for several categories of foreign nationals living in India, including certain Pakistani citizens, religious minorities from neighbouring countries including Bangladesh and Afghanistan, Sri Lankan Tamils and Tibetans.
The changes, notified by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), also simplify identification and travel requirements for Indian, Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens moving between the three countries.
The amendments were notified through the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) (Amendment) Order, 2026, published in the Gazette on Thursday.
Under the revised provisions, Pakistani nationals who entered India on or before December 31, 2009, intending to settle permanently will be exempt from the usual passport renewal requirements if they are unable to renew their travel documents because they do not possess a Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) issued by Pakistan.
The exemption is subject to several conditions. Applicants must not have married or acquired immovable property in Pakistan. They must also have no adverse police or security agency reports.
The order extends similar relief to people of Indian origin who acquired Malaysian or Singaporean citizenship and returned to India on or before December 31, 2009, using passports issued by those countries. The exemption applies if their passports have expired and cannot be renewed because they do not fulfill the respective countries’ renewal requirements.
The notification defines a person of Indian origin as a foreign national, other than citizens of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Nepal or China, who previously held an Indian passport or whose parents, grandparents or great-grandparents were born in and permanently resided in territories that now form part of India, as recognised under the Government of India Act, 1935, or subsequent territorial arrangements.
However, members of these categories must obtain an appropriate visa to continue residing in India.
The amended order also provides relief to members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who entered India on or before December 31, 2024, after fleeing religious persecution or the fear of persecution. The exemption covers those who entered without valid travel documents as well as those whose passports or other documents have expired. They must, however, secure the appropriate visa to continue their stay.
Registered Sri Lankan Tamil nationals, who took refuge in India on or before January 9, 2015, have also been exempted from the general passport and visa requirements.
The provisions further cover certain Tibetan nationals, who entered India on permits issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu between 1959 and May 30, 2003, or through special entry permits issued subsequently at designated immigration posts along the Indo-Nepal border. Such individuals must register with the competent authorities and obtain a registration certificate.
In a separate provision, the government has eased cross-border travel for Indian, Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens travelling directly between the three countries by land or air. They may use identification documents specified in the government’s Visa Manual instead of standard passports.
The exemption, however, does not cover Indian citizens travelling to or returning from countries other than Nepal and Bhutan through the Indo-Nepal or Indo-Bhutan borders. Such travellers must carry valid passports and use designated immigration checkpoints.
Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens entering or leaving India after travelling through or transiting via China, Macau, Hong Kong or Pakistan must also carry valid passports and visas. Standard documentation requirements will continue to apply to travel involving third countries.
The order additionally exempts Indian Army, Navy and Air Force personnel travelling on official duty from passport and visa requirements. The exemption extends to family members accompanying them on government transport.
Foreign crew members aboard military vessels visiting India for repairs are also exempt from passport requirements if they have been issued Military Ship Repair Permits by immigration authorities and carry valid military identification.
The notification defines foreign military vessels as warships and other government-operated ships used for non-commercial purposes by the armed forces of another country.
