The central government has officially notified amendments to immigration regulations, easing passport and visa requirements for several categories of foreign nationals currently residing in India. Published in the official Gazette, the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) (Amendment) Order, 2026, aims to streamline the residency status of individuals who have faced challenges in maintaining valid travel documentation.
Under the revised provisions, Pakistani citizens who entered India on or before December 31, 2009, with the intent of settling permanently, are now exempt from standard passport renewal requirements. This relief applies specifically to those unable to renew their travel documents due to the lack of a computerised national identity card issued by Pakistan. To benefit from this exemption, these individuals must fulfill specific criteria, including obtaining an appropriate visa to maintain their legal residency in India.
The order also extends similar exemptions to a specific category of male members of the Muslim community. This applies to those who were originally Indian citizens, migrated to Pakistan between August 15, 1947, and December 31, 1965, and subsequently returned to India by December 31, 2009. Eligible individuals must have settled in Kerala, must not have married or acquired immovable property in Pakistan, and must have left behind family members who held Indian citizenship.
Additionally, the government has provided relief to persons of Indian origin who acquired citizenship in Malaysia or Singapore and returned to India on or before December 31, 2009, on passports that have since expired and are non-renewable. Similar to the other categories, these individuals are required to secure an appropriate visa to continue their stay in the country. Furthermore, registered Sri Lankan Tamil nationals who sought refuge in India before January 9, 2015, are now relieved of general passport and visa requirements, as are Tibetan nationals who entered India using specific entry permits issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.
A significant portion of the amendment addresses minority refugees from neighbouring nations. Members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan who arrived in India on or before December 31, 2024, are exempted from standard travel document rules. This applies even if they entered without valid passports or possess expired documentation. These individuals, however, are still required to obtain a valid visa following their entry to formalise their continued residence.
The notification also clarifies travel protocols for Indian citizens travelling to Nepal and Bhutan. Passengers may present any identity document specified in the government’s Visa Manual in lieu of a passport when travelling by land or air. This reciprocal arrangement also applies to Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens entering or leaving India. However, the order stipulates that Nepalese and Bhutanese nationals who have transited through or embarked from mainland China, Macau, Hong Kong, or Pakistan must possess both a valid passport and a visa for entry.
These changes reflect a targeted effort by the government to address the long-standing documentation issues faced by specific immigrant communities in India. By providing these exemptions, the administration intends to simplify the process for long-term residents to secure their status while maintaining clear guidelines for cross-border travel in the South Asian region. Affected individuals are advised to follow the updated protocols to ensure their stay remains in accordance with the new legal framework.
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