Govt relaxes passport, visa norms for select foreigners residing in India

The government has relaxed passport and visa requirements for several categories of foreign nationals residing in India, including certain Pakistani citizens, minority refugees, registered Sri Lankan Tamils and Tibetans. The Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) (Amendment) Order, 2026, published in the Official Gazette by the Home Ministry. It introduced a definition of the Visa Manual issued by the Central Government from time to time, which incorporates instructions relating to visas, immigration, and other connected matters. Under the revised provisions, Indian citizens travelling to Nepal or Bhutan by land or air will be exempt from the passport requirement, subject to producing any one of the identity documents specified in the Visa Manual before an Immigration Officer. They will also be required to provide any information sought by the officer. Similar provisions apply to citizens of Nepal and Bhutan entering or exiting India.  
According to the notification, registered Sri Lankan Tamil nationals who took shelter in India up to the 9th of January, 2015, have also been included in the exempted category. The exemptions further cover members of the Indian Navy, Army and Air Force travelling on official duty, along with their family members accompanying them on Government transport. Foreign crew members of military vessels visiting India for repairs are also covered, provided they possess valid military identification documents and obtain Military Ship Repair Permits. The amendment also extends exemptions from passport and travel document requirements to members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who were compelled to seek shelter in India due to religious persecution or fear of persecution and entered the country on or before the 31st of December, 2024. However, they will be required to obtain an appropriate category of visa for their continued stay in India.
It also said that certain Pakistani nationals have also been exempted who entered India on or before the 31st of December, 2009, with the intention of residing permanently but have been unable to renew their passports due to the absence of a Computerised National Identity Card issued by Pakistan. Certain male members of the Muslim community who were originally Indian citizens, went to Pakistan after Partition between the 15th of August, 1947, and the 31st of December, 1965, and returned to India on or before the 31st of December, 2009, have also been included in the category. The exemption further covers persons of Indian origin who acquired Malaysian or Singaporean citizenship and returned to India on or before the 31st of December, 2009, on passports issued by either country, which have since expired and cannot be renewed.