On April 4, 2025, President Droupadi Murmu gave the green light to the Immigration Law and Foreigners Bill, 2025, turning it into law with an official announcement. This new rulebook covers everything about foreigners entering, staying in, or leaving India, making things stricter and simpler to follow.
No More Fake IDs
Got a fake passport or visa? This law isn’t messing around. If you’re caught sneaking in, sticking around, or slipping out with forged papers, you could be locked up for two to seven years and pay a fine between ₹1 lakh and ₹10 lakh. Even showing up without proper documents could mean up to five years in jail, a ₹5 lakh fine, or both. It’s all about locking down India’s borders!
Watching Foreign Visitors
Now, places like hotels, colleges, hospitals, and care homes have to tell the government about any foreigners staying there. This makes it easier to spot who’s overstaying their visa. Airlines and shipping companies also have to share passenger and crew details before they land or dock in India—helping officials keep an eye on who’s arriving or leaving.
Rules for Foreigner Hangouts
The government can now take charge of spots where foreigners often go. They might shut places down, set new rules, or keep certain foreigners out. It’s a way to keep everything safe and under control.
One Big Law Instead of Four
Before, India had four separate old laws handling this stuff:
The Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920
The Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939
The Foreigners Act, 1946
The Immigration (Carriers’ Liability) Act, 2000
The Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, is a comprehensive law designed to enhance India’s immigration system by introducing stricter penalties for violations, improving tracking mechanisms for foreigners, and consolidating outdated legislation. By addressing critical gaps in the existing framework, this law seeks to ensure better regulation of immigration while safeguarding national security.
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