**Executive Summary**
The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration & Tracking (IVFRT) Scheme for five years, from 01 April 2026 to 31 March 2031. With a budget outlay of Rs. 1,800 crore, the project aims to modernize immigration and visa services through technological upgrades and infrastructure expansion. The initiative seeks to strengthen national security while facilitating seamless travel and international mobility in alignment with the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Financial and Administrative Provisions**
* **Duration:** The scheme is extended for a five-year period ending 31 March 2031.
* **Funding:** A total budget of Rs. 1,800 crore has been allocated for this phase.
* **Scale:** The scheme currently covers 117 Immigration Posts, 15 Foreigners Regional Registration Officers (FRROs), and 854 Foreigners Registration Officers (FROs).
**Technological and Infrastructure Upgrades**
* **Core Focus:** The next phase focuses on emerging technology innovations, transformation of core infrastructure, and service optimization.
* **Digital Tools:** Implementation of mobile-based services, self-service kiosks, and unified digital platforms.
* **Infrastructure Expansion:** Upgrading Immigration Posts, FRROs, and Data Centres to create a resilient, nationwide scalable system.
* **Application Architecture:** Revamping core application architecture and strengthening network deployment frameworks to improve user experience.
**Performance and Operational Efficiency**
* **Visa Processing:** Transition to a 100% contactless and faceless visa process; currently, 91.24% of e-Visa applications are cleared within 72 hours.
* **Passenger Clearance:** Average clearance time at Immigration Posts has been reduced to 2.5–3 minutes.
* **Fast Track Immigration:** The Fast Track Immigration-Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP) utilizes automated e-gates at 13 major airports, reducing clearance time to 30 seconds for enrolled users.
**Strategic Objectives**
* **Security:** Strengthening the security architecture to manage illegal migration and emerging national security challenges.
* **Economic Growth:** Boosting tourism, medical travel, and business sectors by improving the ease of doing business and international traffic.
**Impact Analysis**
**Foreign Travellers**
**Impact**
Benefit from a world-class, contactless, and faceless visa issuance system with significantly reduced clearance times at entry points.
**Action Required**
Utilize online appointment scheduling, digital payment facilities, and self-service kiosks for immigration requirements.
**Indian Nationals & OCI Cardholders**
**Impact**
Access to expedited transit through the Fast Track Immigration-Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP) using automated e-gates.
**Action Required**
Enroll in the FTI-TTP on a gratis (free) basis to facilitate 30-second immigration clearance at major airports.
**Government Authorities (FRROs, FROs, and Immigration Posts)**
**Impact**
Modernized working environment with integrated data systems and upgraded infrastructure to effectively manage immigration control.
**Action Required**
Adopt and maintain the new unified digital platforms and emerging technologies to ensure service continuity and security.
**Service Industry (Aviation, Tourism, and Hospitality)**
**Impact**
Increased international traffic and improved ease of doing business, leading to potential growth in employment and revenue.
**Action Required**
Prepare for increased volumes of foreign tourists and business travellers facilitated by the streamlined immigration ecosystem.
Key Entities Referenced
Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration & Tracking (IVFRT) Scheme: A central government scheme aimed at modernizing and interlinking functions related to immigration, visa issuance, and registration of foreigners in India through technological upgrades.
Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025: The primary legislative framework that governs immigration control and foreigner management, necessitating the modernization of the IVFRT system.
Ministry of Home Affairs: The nodal ministry responsible for the implementation, oversight, and administration of the IVFRT scheme and national immigration services.
Fast Track Immigration-Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP): A specific initiative within the IVFRT system that uses automated e-gates to expedite immigration clearance for Indian nationals and OCI cardholders.
Ministry of Home Affairs
Cabinet approves Continuation of the
Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration &
Tracking (lVFRT) Scheme
Posted On: 25 MAR 2026 4:20PM 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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