Bar Council of India Rules on Enrolment and Practice of Foreign Nationals, 2025

रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-14112025-267672 xxxGIDHxxx CG-DL-E-14112025-267672 xxxGIDExxx असाधारण EXTRAORDINARY भाग III—खण् ड 4 PART III—Section 4 प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY स.ं 737] नई दिल्ली, िुक्रवार, नवम्ब र 14, 2025/कार्तकि 23, 1947 No. 737] NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2025/KARTIKA 23, 1947 Hkkjrh; fofèkK ifj"kn~ अजधसचू ना ubZ fnYyh, 4 नवम् बर, 2025 फा. स.ं chlhvkbZ%Mh% 7842@2025]— fons'kh ukxfjdksa ds ukekadu vkSj çSfDVl ij Hkkjrh; fofèkK ifj"kn~ fu;e] 2025 1- laf{kIr 'kh"kZd vkSj çkjHa k ¼1½ bu fu;eks a dks ^^fons'kh ukxfjdkas ds ukekda u ,o a vH;kl ij Hkkjrh; ckj ifj"kn fu;e] 2025^^ dgk tk ldrk gSA ¼2½ ;s fu;e Hkkjrh; fofèkK ifj"kn~ }kjk vf/klwfpr frfFk ls ykxw gksaxsA 2- fu;ek sa dk vuqç;kxs ;s fu;e Hkkjr ds vykok vU; n's kksa ds mu ukxfjdkas ij ykxw gksxa s tk s Hkkjr esa fof/k i”s k s dk s djus dh vuqefr pkgr s gSa] pkgs muds ikl Hkkjr ds fdlh fo'ofo|ky; ls ;k fdlh fons'kh fo'ofo|ky; ls fof/k dh fMxzh gksA 7607 GI/2025 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART III—SEC.4] 3- ikjLifjdrk dh vko';drk ¼1½ fdlh fons'kh ukxfjd dks bu fu;ekas ds varxZr ukekadu ds fy, rHkh fopkj fd;k tk,xk tc Hkkjr ds fof/kor ;ksX; ukxfjdkas dk s ml fons'kh ukxfjd ds n's k esa yxHkx leku vkSj ikjLifjd 'krksaZ ij fof/k i”s k s dk s dju s dh vuqefr gksA ¼2½ Hkkjrh; fof/kK ifj"kn] Hkkjr ljdkj ds fon's k ea=ky; ds ijke'kZ ds i'pkr~ vkSj mldh lykg ij] le;≤ ij ikjLifjd {ks=kf/kdkjks a is”kksa dh lwph fu/kkZfjr vkSj çdkf'kr djsxhA ¼3½ bl lac/a k es a Hkkjrh; fof/kK ifj"kn~ dk ,ls s ijke'kZ vkSj lykg ds vk/kkj ij fy;k x;k fu.kZ; vafre vkSj ck/;dkjh gksxkA 4- dk;Z{ks= ¼1½ dksbZ fon's kh ukxfjd] ftlus Hkkjr ds fdlh fo'ofo|ky; ls ekU;rk çkIr fof/k mikf/k çkIr dh gks] dsoy Hkkjrh; fof/k ds xSj&eqdnesckth laca/kh vH;kl ds fy, gh iath—r gksus dk ik= gksxk] ftles a ijke'kZ] ijke'kZ] nLrkots hdj.k vkSj ysu&nsu lac/a kh dk;Z 'kkfey gkasxsA ,ls s fons'kh ukxfjd dks Hkkjr es a fdlh Hkh U;k;ky;] U;k;kf/kdj.k] çkf/kdj.k ;k v/kZ&U;kf;d fudk; ds le{k lquokbZ ;k mifLFkfr dk dksbZ vf/kdkj ugh a gkxs kA ¼2½ fdlh fon's kh ukxfjd dks] ftlu s Hkkjr ds fdlh fo'ofo|ky; ls fof/k dh fMxzh çkIr ugha dh gS] Hkkjrh; fof/k dk vH;kl dju s dh vuqefr ugha nh tk,xhA ,ls k O;fä dsoy fon's kh fof/k] vra jkZ"Vªh;

fof/k vkSj varjkZ"Vªh; okf.kfT;d e/;LFkrk ls lacaf/kr ekeykas esa] ckj dkmafly v‚Q bafM;k ds Hkkjr es a fon's kh odhykas vkSj fons'kh fof/k QekasZ ds iathdj.k vkSj fofu;eu grs q fu;e] 2022] ;Fkk la'kkfs/kr 2025 ds vuqlkj] vH;kl dj ldrk gS] c'krsZ fd ,slk vH;kl Hkkjrh; fof/k ij dksbZ jk; nus s rd foLrkfjr u gksA ¼3½ bu fu;ekas esa dksbZ Hkh ckr vf/koäk vf/kfu;e] 1961 dh /kkjk 32 ds v/khu U;k;ky; dh foods k/khu 'kfä dks çfrcaf/kr ugh a djsxh] ftlls og fdlh xSj&vf/koäk dks fdlh fof'k"V ekeys es a ekeyk&nj&ekeyk vk/kkj ij mifLFkr gksu s dh vuqefr ns ldsA 5- lnL;rk] çfrfuf/kRo vkSj vU; vf/kdkjks a ij çfrca/k ¼1½ bu fu;eks a ds vra xZr ita h—r dkbs Z fon's kh ukxfjd fuEufyf[kr dk gdnkj ugh a gksxk%& ¼d½fdlh jkT; fofèkK ifj"kn~ ;k Hkkjrh; fofèkK ifj"kn~ dk lnL; gksukA ¼[k½ fdlh ckj ,lkfsl,'ku dh lkekU; lHkk dk lnL; gksuk ;k fdlh ckj ,lkfsl,'ku ds pquko es a ernku djukA ¼x½ fdlh ckj ,lksfl,'ku ;k ckj dkmafly es a fdlh inkf/kdkjh in ds fy, pquko yM+uk ;k mls /kkj.k djukA ¼?k½ fdlh Hkh {kerk es a fdlh ckj ,lkfsl,'ku] ckj dkmafly ;k vf/koäkvks a ds vU; lkewfgd fudk; dk çfrfuf/kRo djukA ¼bZ½ jkT; fofèkK ifj"kn~ bu ukekafdr ds rgr iath—r çR;ds fon's kh ukxfjd dks ,d fof'k"V ukekda u la[;k tkjh djxs h tk s Hkkjr es a ukekafdr fu;fer ukekadu la[;k ls Li"V :i ls vyx gkxs hA fof'k"V ukekda u la[;k fuEufyf[kr lajpuk eas gksxh% ^^,Qvuvkj@jkT; dksM@o"kZ@Øekad^^ ¼mnkgj.k% ,Qvuvkj@Mh,y@2025@001½ tgk a ^^,Qvuvkj^^ fon's kh ukxfjd iathdj.k dks lwphc) fd;k x;k gS] ^^LVVs dkMs ^^ lacfa/kr jkT; fofèkK ifj"kn~ dks vko';d dksM dk s 'kkfey fd;k x;k gS] ^^o"kZ^^ iathdj.k ds o"kZ dks ntZ fd;k x;k gS] vkSj ^^Øekda ^^ dks ml o"kZ tkjh iathdj.k dh LFkk;h la[;k dks ntZ fd;k x;k gSA[भाग III—खण् ड 4] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3 bl fu;e ds rgr tkjh ukekda u çek.k i= es a Li"V :i ls mYys[k fd;k x;k gS fd ;g /kkjd Hkkjr esa dsoy xSj&eqdnesckth okyh fof/k&O;olk; es a layXu gkus s ds fy, vf/kdkj nsrk gS] tks ijke'kZ] lq>ko] f'k{kk vkSj ysu&nsu 'kS{kf.kd vH;kl rd lhfer gS] vkSj Hkkjr es a fdlh Hkh rjg ls U;k;ky;] U;k;kf/kdkj] vf/kdkfjd ;k vU; eap ds le{k fdlh fof/k&O;olk; dk dkbs Z Hkh vf/kdkj çnku ugha djrk gSA çek.k i= ij ;g Li"V vkSj lqLi’V fVIi.kh Hkh vfadr gkxs h fd fdlh U;k;k/kh'k ;k v/kZ&U;kf;d dk;Zokgh es a mifLFkr gksuk] nLrkost djuk] dk;Z djuk ;k fdlh O;fä dk çfrfuf/kRo djus dk vf/kdkj vfadr ugh a gS] u gh fdlh Hkkjrh; U;k;ky;] U;kf;d vf/kdkj ;k lokZsPp U;k;ky; es a fdlh O;fä dk çfrfuf/k djus

ds :i es a dkbs Z Hkh ;ksX;rk j[kxs k] ;g vafdr gksxkA ¼2½ bu fu;eksa ds rgr iath—r dksbZ fon's kh ukxfjd fdlh Hkh ckj ,lksfl,'ku] jkT; fofèkK ifj"kn~ ;k Hkkjrh; fofèkK ifj"kn~ }kjk ç'kkflr dksbZ foÙkh; lgk;rk] dY;k.kdkjh ykHk ;k ;kts uk çkIr djus ds fy, ik= ugha gksxk] tc rd fd mls dsæa h; ljdkj ds iwoZ vuqeksnu ls Hkkjrh; ckj dkmafly }kjk fo'ks"k :i ls vf/k—r u fd;k tk,A ¼3½ bu fu;eks a ds vra xZr ita h—r dkbs Z fon's kh ukxfjd fuEufyf[kr ds fy, ik= ugh a gksxk%& ¼d½ fof/kd lgk;rk] ljdkjh iSuy] ;k vf/koäk iSuy dh vko';drk oky s fdlh lkoZtfud in ds fy, iSuy es a 'kkfey gksus ds fy,A ¼[k½ U;k;ikfydk ;k U;kf;d lsokvksa es a mifLFkr gksu s ;k ukekfadr gksu s ds fy,] ;k U;kf;d ;k vU;

fof/kd lsokvksa ds fy, fdlh çfr;kxs h ijh{kk esa cSBus ds fy,] tc rd fd dsaæ ljdkj ;k lacaf/kr jkT; ljdkj] tSlk Hkh ekeyk gks] }kjk Li"V :i ls vuqefr u nh tk,A 6- ohtk vkSj dk;Z çkf/kdj.k ¼1½ dksbZ Hkh fons'kh ukxfjd bu fu;ekas ds vra xZr Hkkjr es a odkyr djus dk gdnkj ugha gksxk] tc rd fd mlds ikl Hkkjr ljdkj ds x`g ea=ky; }kjk tkjh oS/k ohtk ;k dk;Z ijfeV u gk]s tk s ,slh O;kolkf;d xfrfof/k ds fy, Li"V :i ls vf/k—r gkAs ¼2½ ,ls s ohtk ;k dk;Z ijfeV dh 'krsZa vkSj fu;e bu fu;ekas ds rgr fn, x, ukekda u ij ck/;dkjh gksxa s] vkSj blds fdlh Hkh mYya?ku ls ita hdj.k rRdky fuyafcr ;k jí fd;k tk ldrk gSA ¼3½ ,ls s oS/k ohtk ;k dk;Z çkf/kdj.k ds fcuk dkuuw dk vH;kl djuk] vkoztu dkuwu ds mYya?ku ds vykok fof/kd i”s ks a dk dnkpkj Hkh ekuk tk,xkA 7- O;kolkf;d vkpj.k vkSj vuq'kklu ¼1½ bu fu;eks a ds vra xZr iath—r çR;ds fons'kh ukxfjd mUgha fof/kd is”ksa ds ekudksa] vkpj.k fu;eks a vkSj f'k"Vkpkj ds v/khu gksxk tks vf/koäk vf/kfu;e] 1961 ds vra xZr ukekfadr vf/koäkvksa ij ykxw gkrs s gSaA ¼2½ ,ls k fons'kh ukxfjd vf/koäk vf/kfu;e] 1961 dh /kkjk 35 vkSj 36 ds varxZr jkT; fofèkK ifj"kn~ vkSj Hkkjrh; fofèkK ifj"kn~ ds vuq'kklukRed {ks=kf/kdkj ds v/khu gksxk] mlh çdkj tSls Hkkjr es a ukekafdr vf/koäk gkrs k gSaA ¼3½ fof/kd is”ka s ds vkpj.k dk dkbs Z Hkh mYya?ku] bu fu;ekas dk mYya?ku] ;k oS/k ohtk ;k dk;Z çkf/kdj.k ds fcuk vH;kl djuk fof/kd is”ka s ds dnkpkj ekuk tk,xkA 8- fuyacu vkSj fujLrhdj.k Hkkjrh; fofèkK ifj"kn~ fuEufyf[kr ifjfLFkfr;ksa esa ls fdlh es a Hkh bu fu;ekas ds varxZr fdlh fons'kh ukxfjd dk iathdj.k fuyfacr ;k jí dj ldrh gS%& ¼d½ ;fn Lons'k ds lkFk ikjLifjd lac/a k lekIr gk s tk,¡A ¼[k½ ;fn ohtk ;k dk;Z çkf/kdj.k lekIr gks tk,] jí dj fn;k tk, ;k vekU; ik;k tk,A4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART III—SEC.4] ¼x½ ;fn fon's kh ukxfjd vf/koäk vf/kfu;e] 1961 vkSj Hkkjrh; fofèkK ifj"kn~ ds fu;ekas vkSj ladYiksa ds çko/kkuks a ds vuqlkj is'ksoj dnkpkj ;k bu fu;eksa ds mYya?ku dk nk"s kh ik;k tkrk gSA ¼?k½ ;fn ukekda u xyr c;kuh] neu ;k /kks[kk/kM+h ls çkIr fd;k x;k gS] rk s vf/koäk vf/kfu;e] 1961 ds çko/kkuks a vkSj Hkkjrh; fofèkK ifj"kn~ ds fu;eksa vkSj ladYikas ds vuqlkj dkjZokbZ dh tk ldrh gSA ¼³½ ;fn dæsa ljdkj }kjk tufgr] jk"Vªh; lqj{kk ;k fon's k uhfr laca/kh fparkvks a ds vk/kkj ij funsZ'k fn;k x;k gksA 9- Hkkjrh; vf/koäkvks a ds vf/kdkjks a dh lqj{kk bu fu;eksa es a fdlh Hkh ckr dk ;g vFkZ ugha yxk;k tk,xk fd og vf/koäk vf/kfu;e] 1961 ds varxZr ukekafdr vf/koäkvksa ds vf/kdkjkas] fo'ks"kkf/kdkjks a vkSj fgrkas dk s fdlh Hkh çdkj ls detksj] çfrcaf/kr ;k çHkkfor djrh gSA vf/koäk vf/kfu;e] 1961 dh /kkjk 29] 30 vkSj 33 ds vuqlkj] Hkkjr esa U;k;ky;ksa] U;k;kf/kdj.kksa vkSj çkf/kdj.kkas ds le{k lquokbZ dk vuU; vf/kdkj ,ls s vf/koäkvksa eas fufgr jgxs kA Li"Vhdj.k% bu fu;ekas ds ç;kts uksa ds fy,] ^^fon's kh dkuuw ^^ dk vFkZ Hkkjr ds vykok lHkh {k=s kf/kdkjks a ds dkuwu gksaxsA bu fu;ekas ds varxZr ukekfadr fdlh fon's kh ukxfjd dks fon's kh dkuwu] vra jkZ"Vªh; dkuuw vkSj vra jkZ"Vªh; okf.kfT;d e/;LFkrk dk vH;kl dju s ds fy, Hkkjr es a ukekafdr fdlh vf/koäk ds leku vf/kdkj vkSj lhek,¡ çkIr gkasxh] tSlk fd Hkkjr esa fons'kh odhyksa vkSj fons'kh fof/k QeksaZ ds iathdj.k vkSj fofu;eu gsrq ckj dkmafly v‚Q bafM;k fu;e] 2022 ¼2025 es a la'kksf/kr½ ds vra xZr çnku fd;k x;k gSA ,ls k fons'kh ukxfjd] fdlh vU; n's k dh ukxfjdrk ds vk/kkj ij] ml n's k es a vius n's k ds dkuwu dk vH;kl dju s ds fy, fdlh Hkh Lopkfyr vf/kdkj dk nkok ugh a djsxk] tc rd fd ,ls k n's k Lor=a :i ls vius dkuwukas ds rgr O;fä dks ,slk dju s dh vuqefr ugha nsrk gSA Jhearks lsu, iz/kku lfpo [जवज्ञापन-III/4/असा./473/2025-26] BAR COUNCIL OF INDIA

NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 4th November, 2025 F. No. No. BCI:D: 7842/2025.— Bar Council of India Rules on Enrolment and Practice of Foreign Nationals, 2025

1. Short Title and Commencement

(1) These rules may be called the Bar Council of India Rules on Enrolment and Practice of Foreign Nationals,

2025.

(2) They shall come into force on such date as may be notified by the Bar Council of India.

2. Application of the Rules These rules shall apply to nationals of countries other than India who seek permission to practice law in India, whether by virtue of holding a law degree from a University in India or from any foreign University.

3. Reciprocity Requirement

(1) A foreign national shall be considered for enrolment under these rules only if duly qualified citizens of India are permitted to practice law in that foreign national’s country on substantially equivalent and reciprocal terms.

(2) The Bar Council of India shall determine and publish, from time to time, the list of reciprocal jurisdictions, after consultation with and on the advice of the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India.

(3) The decision of the Bar Council of India in this regard, based on such consultation and advise, shall be final and binding.[भाग III—खण् ड 4] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 5

4. Scope of Practice

(1) A foreign national who has obtained a recognised law degree from a University in India shall be eligible to be registered only for non-litigious practice of Indian law, which shall include advisory, consultancy, documentation and transactional work. Such foreign national shall have no right of audience or appearance before any court, tribunal, authority or quasi-judicial body in India.

(2) A foreign national who has not obtained a law degree from a University in India shall not be permitted to practise Indian law. Such a person may only practise in matters concerning foreign law, international law and international commercial arbitration, in accordance with the Bar Council of India Rules for Registration and Regulation of Foreign Lawyers and Foreign Law Firms in India, 2022, as amended in 2025, provided that such practice shall not extend to rendering any opinion on Indian law.

(3) Nothing in these rules shall restrict the discretionary power of a court under Section 32 of the Advocates Act, 1961 to permit a non-advocate to appear in a specific matter on a case-by-case basis.

5. Restrictions on Membership, Representation, and Other Entitlements

(1) A foreign national registered under these rules shall not be entitled to:-

(a) be a member of any State Bar Council or the Bar Council of India.

(b) be a member of the general body of any Bar Association or cast a vote in any Bar Association election

(c) contest for or hold any office-bearer position in any Bar Association or Bar Council.

(d) represent any Bar Association, Bar Council, or other collective body of advocates in any capacity whatsoever.

(e) The State Bar Council shall issue a distinct enrolment number to every foreign national registered under these rules that is clearly differentiated from the regular enrolment numbers allotted to advocates enrolled in India.

The distinct enrolment number shall be in the following format: “FNR/State Code/Year/Serial Number” (Example: FNR/DEL/2025/001) where “FNR” denotes Foreign National Registration, “State Code” denotes the code assigned to the respective State Bar Council, “Year” represents the year of registration, and “Serial Number” denotes the sequential number of registration issued in that year.

The enrolment certificate issued under this rule shall expressly state that it authorizes the holder to engage only in non-litigious practice of law in India, limited to advisory, consultancy, documentation and transactional work, and does not confer any right of audience or appearance before any court, tribunal, authority or other forum in India.

The certificate shall also bear a clear and conspicuous note to the effect that the holder is not entitled to appear, plead, act, or represent any person in any judicial or quasi-judicial proceeding, nor to give evidence or make submissions on oath in any capacity as an advocate before any Indian court, tribunal, or authority.

(2) A foreign national registered under these rules shall not be eligible to receive any financial aid, welfare benefits, or schemes administered by any Bar Association, State Bar Council, or the Bar Council of India, unless specifically authorised by the Bar Council of India with prior approval of the Central Government.

(3) A foreign national registered under these rules shall not be eligible:-

(a) to be empanelled for legal aid, government panels, or any public office requiring advocate empanelment

(b) to appear for or be nominated to the judiciary or judicial services, or to sit for any competitive examination for judicial or other legal services, unless expressly permitted by the Central Government or the concerned State Government, as the case may be.

6. Visa and Work Authorisation

(1) No foreign national shall be entitled to practise law in India under these rules unless he or she holds a valid visa or work permit expressly authorising such professional activity, issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government of India.

(2) The terms and conditions of such visa or work permit shall be binding upon the enrolment granted under these rules, and any contravention thereof shall render the registration liable to immediate suspension or cancellation.6 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART III—SEC.4]

(3) Practising law without such valid visa or work authorisation shall constitute professional misconduct in addition to constituting a violation of immigration law.

7. Professional Conduct and Discipline

(1) Every foreign national registered under these rules shall be subject to the same professional standards, rules of conduct and etiquette as are applicable to advocates enrolled under the Advocates Act, 1961.

(2) Such foreign national shall be subject to the disciplinary jurisdiction of the State Bar Council and the Bar Council of India under Sections 35 and 36 of the Advocates Act, 1961, in the same manner as an advocate enrolled in India.

(3) Any breach of professional conduct, violation of these rules, or practice without valid visa or work authorisation shall constitute professional misconduct.

8. Suspension and Cancellation The Bar Council of India may suspend or cancel the registration of a foreign national under these rules in any

of the following circumstances:-

(a) If reciprocity with the home country ceases to exist

(b) If the visa or work authorisation lapses, is revoked or is found to be invalid

(c) If the foreign national is found guilty of professional misconduct or violation of these rules as per provisions of the Advocates Act, 1961 and Rules and Resolutions of the Bar Council of India.

(d) If enrolment has been obtained by misrepresentation, suppression or fraud, action may be taken as per provisions of the Advocates Act, 1961 and Rules and Resolutions of the Bar Council of India.,

(e) If directed by the Central Government on grounds of public interest, national security, or foreign policy concerns.

9. Saving of Rights of Indian Advocates Nothing in these rules shall be construed to dilute, restrict or affect in any manner the rights, privileges and interests of advocates enrolled under the Advocates Act, 1961. The exclusive right of audience before courts, tribunals and authorities in India shall remain vested in such advocates, in accordance with Sections 29, 30 and 33 of the Advocates Act, 1961.

Explanation: For the purposes of these rules, “foreign law” shall mean the law of all jurisdictions other than India. A foreign national enrolled under these rules shall have the same rights and limitations as an advocate enrolled in India to practise foreign law, international law, and international commercial arbitration, as provided under the Bar Council of India Rules for Registration and Regulation of Foreign Lawyers and Foreign Law Firms in India, 2022 (as amended in 2025).

Such foreign national shall not, by virtue of citizenship of another country, claim any automatic right to practise the law of his or her home country in that country, unless such country independently permits the individual to do so under its own laws SRIMANTO SEN, Principal Secy.

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