**Executive Summary**
The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration & Tracking (IVFRT) Scheme for a five-year period from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2031. With a total budget outlay of Rs. 1,800 crore, the project aims to modernize immigration and visa services through technological innovation and infrastructure transformation. The scheme is designed to strengthen national security while facilitating international mobility and enhancing user experience in alignment with the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Scheme Duration and Funding**
* The project is extended for five years beyond March 31, 2026, ending March 31, 2031.
* A financial outlay of Rs. 1,800 crore has been allocated for this phase.
* **Core Objectives and Strategic Focus**
* Modernization of immigration, visa issuance, and foreigner registration within a secure, integrated framework.
* Strategic transformation across three broad areas: emerging technology innovations, core infrastructure transformation, and service optimization.
* Alignment with the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, to address illegal migration and emerging security challenges.
* **Technological Modernization**
* Adoption of mobile-based services and self-service kiosks for seamless passenger movement.
* Implementation of unified digital platforms and revamped core application architecture.
* Promotion of a 100% contactless and faceless visa process with online scheduling and payment facilities.
* **Infrastructure and Scope**
* Upgrading and expansion of 117 Immigration Posts, 15 Foreigners Regional Registration Officers (FRROs), and 854 Foreigners Registration Officers (FROs)/SPs/DCPs.
* Modernization of Data Centres to build a resilient and scalable nationwide system.
* **Operational Efficiency and Performance**
* Reduction of average passenger clearance time at Immigration Posts from 5–6 minutes to 2.5–3 minutes.
* Maintenance of high processing speeds, with 91.24% of e-Visa applications cleared within 72 hours.
* Implementation of the Fast Track Immigration-Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP) at 13 major airports, reducing clearance time to 30 seconds via automated e-gates.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: International Travellers (Tourists, Business, and Medical)**
**Impact**
Travellers will experience faster visa processing times and significantly reduced clearance durations at immigration checkpoints. The adoption of self-service kiosks and digital platforms enhances the overall user experience and convenience.
**Action Required**
Utilize online platforms for visa applications, appointment scheduling, and payments; leverage self-service kiosks at airports for movement.
**Stakeholder: Indian Nationals and OCI Cardholders**
**Impact**
Eligible individuals gain access to the Fast Track Immigration-Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP), allowing for near-instantaneous (30-second) immigration clearance.
**Action Required**
Enroll in the FTI-TTP on a gratis (free of charge) basis to utilize automated e-gate facilities at major airports.
**Stakeholder: Immigration and Security Agencies (FRROs, FROs, and Immigration Posts)**
**Impact**
Agencies receive upgraded core infrastructure and advanced technological tools to better manage immigration control, track foreigners, and address national security threats like illegal migration.
**Action Required**
Implement and transition to revamped application architectures and unified digital platforms as the scheme rolls out nationwide.
**Stakeholder: Aviation, Tourism, and Hospitality Sectors**
**Impact**
These industries stand to benefit from increased international traffic and economic growth driven by the "ease of doing business" and streamlined entry procedures.
**Action Required**
Prepare for a boost in foreign tourist arrivals and align service delivery with the modernized immigration ecosystem.
Key Entities Referenced
Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration & Tracking (IVFRT) Scheme: The primary government project aimed at modernizing and interlinking immigration, visa issuance, and registration functions for foreigners in India.
Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025: The legislative framework and subsequent rules that mandate the modernization of immigration control and foreigner management systems.
Fast Track Immigration-Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP): A key initiative under the IVFRT scheme that uses automated e-gates to expedite immigration clearance for Indian nationals and OCI cardholders.
Foreigners Regional Registration Officers (FRROs): The regulatory authorities responsible for the registration and tracking of foreigners at the regional level within the IVFRT ecosystem.
Cabinet
Cabinet approves Continuation of the
Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration &
Tracking (lVFRT) Scheme
Posted On: 25 MAR 2026 4:12PM by PIB Delhi
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the continuation of
the Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration & Tracking (IVFRT) Scheme beyond 31 March, 2026 for a
period of five year from 01 April, 2026 to 31 March, 2031 with budget outlay of Rs.1800 crore.
The, IVFRT platform seeks to interlink and optimize functions related to immigration, visa issuance and
registration of foreigners in India. The core objective of the IVFRT is to modernize and upgrade
immigration and visa services within a secure and integrated service delivery framework. It aims to
facilitate legitimate travellers while strengthening national security. This project was approved by the
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 13.05.2010 with a budget outlay of Rs.1011 crore and with
project duration till September, 2014. The budget outlay for the project was revised to Rs.638.90 crore in
2015 along with extension of the implementation timeline up to 31st March, 2017, and further up to 31st
March, 2021 without any additional financial implications. The expenditure of Rs.613.28 core was
incurred against the total revised outlay of Rs.638.90 crore. The extension of the project for a further
continuation for a period of five years from 01.04.2021 to 31.03.2026 was approved by the Cabinet on
19.01.2022 with a budget outlay of Rs.1365 crore.
The scheme seeks to expand and strengthen the scope and capacity of the existing IVFRT Scheme not
only by reimagining and revamping the existing structure, but also introducing the state-of-the-art
technological solutions to enhance user experience without compromising the security architecture. The
modernization of the IVFRT project is essential to meet the evolving demands of global travel and address
emerging national security challenges. After the recent enactment of the Immigration and Foreigners Act,
2025 and its subsequent Rules and Order, it has become imperative to strengthen and modernize the
Immigration, Visa, and Foreigners Registration & Tracking (IVFRT) system to effectively meet emerging
requirements and future challenges in the domain of immigration control and foreigner management
including illegal migration. The continuation of the project is not just a technical upgrade, but a strategic
transformation aligned with the vision of the Government of India to promote international mobility
through a world-class immigration and visa issuance system. The next phase would focus on three broad
areas: (a) emerging technology innovations, (b) Transformation of Core infrastructure, and (c) Technology
and service optimization.
The scheme will modernize the immigration and visa ecosystem through adoption of emerging
technologies, including mobile-based services and self-service kiosks for seamless and secure passenger
movement. It will upgrade and expand core infrastructure across Immigration Posts, FRROs, and Data
Centres to build a resilient and scalable system nationwide. Additionally, it will optimize technology and
service delivery by introducing unified digital platforms, revamping core application architecture, and
strengthening network and deployment frameworks for improved efficiency and user experience, which
will facilitate legitimate travellers while strengthening national security. It will help maintaining servicecontinuity and induct innovative technological solutions to attract more foreign tourists in India in future.
This will thus give a boost to the tourism, medical and business sectors. IVFRT has immense positive
externalities that would boost international traffic, business, commerce, and tourism. This would pave the
way for economic growth and would thus contribute towards employment opportunities.
The scheme has covered 117 Immigration Posts (JPs), 15 Foreigners Regional Registration Officers
(FRROs) and 854 Foreigners Registration Officers (FROs)/Superintendents of Police (SPs)/Deputy
Commissioners of Police (DCPs) across the country.
IVFRT system has led to significant improvements in service delivery and operational efficiency across
immigration and visa functions. The system has enabled a 100% contactless and faceless visa process with
online appointment scheduling and payment facilities, leading to faster visa processing times with 91.24%
of e-Visa applications have been cleared within 72 hours during the past five years. Average passenger
clearance time at Immigration Posts has also been reduced to 2.5-3 minutes including biometrics, from the
conventional 5-6 minutes.
Fast Track Immigration-Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP) through automated e-gates implemented
at 13 Major airports, reduces the time taken for immigration clearance from 2.5-3 minutes to 30 seconds.
Its enrolment is on gratis basis currently available for Indian nationals & OCI cardholders.
Huge economic benefits on account of ease of doing business, convenience and security assurance have
been made possible by IVFRT System. Tourism, business, trade & commerce, service industry especially
aviation and hospitality industry have been extensively benefitted by IVFRT system.
****
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