Home India Ministry of Home Affairs The Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025....
Date: 2025-09-02 Category: Extra Ordinary State: Union Government Country: India

The Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025.

Issued by Ministry of Home Affairs · Foreigners Division

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Executive Summary & Key Takeaways

Executive Summary: This document, titled the Immigration and Foreigners Exemption Order, 2025, outlines exemptions from specific provisions of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, and its associated rules. It supersedes previous exemption orders from 1957 and 2007, with the new order taking effect upon publication in the Official Gazette on September 2, 2025. The order specifies conditions under which certain individuals and entities are not required to comply with passport, visa, and registration requirements. Key Points / Main Content: Exemptions from Passport and Visa Requirements: * Members of Indian armed forces on duty and their families on government transport are exempt. * Indian citizens entering India via the Nepalese or Bhutanese border are exempt. * Citizens of Nepal or Bhutan entering India via their shared border are exempt. Those entering/exiting India to places other than Nepal/Bhutan require a valid passport but not if traveling to China, Macau, Hong Kong or Pakistan. * Tibetans registered with the Registration Officer and possessing a Certificate of Registration are exempt, subject to specific entry permit conditions based on the date of entry. * Minority community members (Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, Christian) from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, who sought shelter in India due to religious persecution on or before December 31, 2024, are exempt, regardless of documentation. * Registered Sri Lankan Tamil nationals who have taken shelter in India up to January 9, 2015, are exempt for the purposes of their stay and exit. Exemptions Based on Status/Agreements: * Foreigners with diplomatic/official passports where visa requirements are waived under intergovernmental agreements are exempt from visa requirements. * Foreigners from specified countries availing visa-on-arrival at designated ports are exempt from visa requirements, subject to conditions. * Foreign military personnel visiting India on naval warships for specific purposes are exempt from visa requirements, unless otherwise specified. Exemptions for Carriers: * Carriers transporting passengers/crew by rail or road into/from India are exempt from sections 17 and 18 of the Act and rules 22, 24, and 25. * Carriers are exempt from section 19 of the Act under specific conditions, including unknowingly carrying passengers with forged documents, stowaways the carrier will repatriate, passengers diverted to India due to circumstances beyond the carrier's control, and passengers with a Temporary Landing Permit at the immigration posts of entry. Impact Analysis: Government of India (Ministry of Home Affairs): * Impact: Responsible for implementing and enforcing the revised exemptions. * Action Required: Ensure that relevant authorities are informed and trained on the new order. Immigration Authorities: * Impact: Must adhere to the new exemption guidelines when processing entries and exits. * Action Required: Update procedures and systems to reflect the changes. Foreign Nationals: * Impact: Certain foreign nationals may be exempt from passport and visa requirements under specific circumstances. * Action Required: Determine eligibility for exemptions based on the criteria outlined in the order. Carriers (Rail, Road, Air, and Sea): * Impact: Specific exemptions related to passenger documentation and stowaways. * Action Required: Understand the conditions under which they are exempt from certain liabilities.

Key Entities Referenced

Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025: A law providing the legal framework for immigration and regulation of foreigners in India, as referenced in the notification. Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025: Rules supplementing the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, providing detailed procedures and guidelines for immigration-related matters. Immigration and Foreigners Exemption Order, 2025: An order issued by the Central Government of India, exempting certain categories of individuals from specific provisions of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 and its associated rules. Registration of Foreigners Exemption Order, 1957: An order that is being superseded by the Immigration and Foreigners Exemption Order, 2025, concerning the registration requirements for foreigners. Immigration Carriers Liability Order, 2007: An order that is being superseded by the Immigration and Foreigners Exemption Order, 2025, related to the liability of carriers (transport companies) in relation to immigration regulations. Nepal: A country bordering India, specifically mentioned in the context of border crossings and special entry permits. Bhutan: A country bordering India, specifically mentioned in the context of border crossings and visa exemptions. Kathmandu: The capital city of Nepal, mentioned as the location of the Indian Embassy issuing Special Entry Permits.
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रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-02092025-265884 CG-DxLx-xEG-I0D2H0x9x2x0 25-265884 xxxGIDExxx असाधारण EXTRAORDINARY भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (ii) PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii) प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY स.ं 3892] नई ददल्ली, मगं लवार, जसतम्ब र 2, 2025/भाद्र 11, 1947 No. 3892] NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2025/BHADRA 11, 1947 गहृ मंत्रालय आदिे नई ददल्ली, 1 जसतम्ब र, 2025 का.आ. 3997(अ).— केंद्रीय सरकार, आप्रवास और जवदेजियों जवषयक अजधजनयम, 2025 (2025 का 13) की धारा 33 द्वारा प्रदत्त िजियों का प्रयोग करते हुए, और जवदिे ी रजिस्ट्रीकरण (छूट) आदेि, 1957 तथा आप्रवास (वाहक दाजयत्व) आदेि, 2007 को उन बातों के जसवाय अजधक्ांत करते हुए, जिन्ह ें ऐसे अजधक्मण स ेपूवव दकया गया ह ैया करन े का लोप दकया गया ह,ै जनम्नजलजखत आदेि िारी करती ह,ै अथावत:् - 1. संजिप्त नाम और प्रारंभ.- (1) इस आदेि का संजिप्त नाम आप्रवास और जवदेजियों जवषयक (छूट) आदिे , 2025 ह।ै (2) यह रािपत्र म ें इसके प्रकािन की तारीख से लागू होगा। 2. पररभाषाए.ं - (1) इस आदेि म,ें िब तक दक संदभव स े अन्यथा अपेजित न हो,- (क) "अजधजनयम" स ेआप्रवास और जवदेजियों जवषयक अजधजनयम, 2025 (2025 का 13) अजभप्रेत ह;ै (ख) "जनयम" स ेआप्रवास और जवदेजियों जवषयक जनयम, 2025 अजभप्रेत ह।ै (2) इसम ें प्रयिु तथा अपररभाजषत दकन्तु अजधजनयम या जनयमों म ें पररभाजषत िब्दों और अजभव्यजियों के वही अथव होंग े िो अजधजनयम या जनयमों म ें उन्ह ें ददए गए ह।ैं 5841 GI/2025 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)] 3. छूट. (1) भारत म ें प्रवेि, प्रवास या बाहर िाने के जलए जवजधमान्य पासपोटव या अन्य जवजधमान्य यात्रा दस्ट्तावेि और जवजधमान्य वीजा की आवश्यकता के संबंध म ें अजधजनयम की धारा 3 की उपधारा (1), उपधारा (2) और उपधारा (3) तथा जनयमों के जनयम 7, जनयम 8 और जनयम 9 के उपबंध, उसम ें उजल्लजखत ितों के अधीन रहते हुए, जनम्नजलजखत मामलों म ें लाग ू नहीं होंग,े अथावत्:- (क) भारत की नौसेना, सेना या वायुसेना का सदस्ट्य, िो ड्यूटी पर भारत म ें प्रवेि कर रहा हो या भारत स े बाहर िा रहा हो तथा ऐसे दकसी व्यजि के पररवार के सदस्ट्य, िो सरकारी पररवहन पर ऐसे व्यजि के साथ हों; (ख) नेपाल या भूटान की सीमा स े होकर भूजम या वाय ु माग व द्वारा भारत म ेंप्रवेि करन े वाला भारत का नागररक; (ग) नेपाल या भूटान का नागररक,- (i) नेपाल या भूटान सीमा स े भूजम या वाय ु मागव द्वारा भारत म ें प्रवेि करना; या (ii) यदद उसके पास, नपे ाल या भूटान के अलावा दकसी अन्य स्ट्थान लेदकन चीन, मकाऊ, हांगकांग या पादकस्ट्तान को छोड़कर, भारत म ें प्रवेि करते या िाते समय जवजधमान्य पासपोटव ह;ै (घ) कोई जतब्बती िो पहले ही भारत म ें प्रवेि कर चुका ह ै और भारत म ें रह रहा ह ै या भारत म ें प्रवेि कर रहा ह,ै यदद उसने संबद्ध रजिस्ट्रीकरण अजधकारी के पास रजिस्ट्रीकरण करवाया ह ै और जनयमों के जनयम 13 के अनुसार रजिस्ट्रीकरण प्रमाणपत्र अजभप्राप्त कर जलया ह,ै- (i) यदद उसने काठमांडू जस्ट्थत भारतीय दतू ावास द्वारा िारी जविषे प्रवेि परजमट पर 1959 के पश्चात,् दकन्तु 30 मई, 2003 स े पहले भारत म ेंप्रवेि दकया हो; (ii) यदद उसने, केंद्रीय सरकार द्वारा जनर्दवष्ट भारत-नेपाल सीमा पर जस्ट्थत आप्रवास चौकी के माध्यम स े काठमांडू म ें भारतीय दतू ावास द्वारा िारी दकए गए नए जविेष प्रवेि परजमट पर 30 मई, 2003 के पश्चात्, अजधजनयम के प्रारंभ होने की तारीख तक भारत म ेंप्रवेि दकया ह;ै (iii) यदद वह, केन्द्रीय सरकार द्वारा जनर्दवष्ट भारत-नेपाल सीमा पर आप्रवास चौकी के माध्यम स े काठमांडू जस्ट्थत भारतीय दतू ावास द्वारा िारी दकए गए नए जविेष प्रवेि परजमट पर अजधजनयम के प्रारंभ होने पर या उसके पश्चात ् भारत म ें प्रवेि करता ह;ै (ङ) अफगाजनस्ट्तान, बांग्लादेि और पादकस्ट्तान म ें अल्पसंख्यक समुदाय अथावत हहदं ,ू जसख, बौद्ध, िैन, पारसी और ईसाई स े संबंजधत कोई व्यजि, िो धार्मकव उत्पीड़न या धार्मवक उत्पीड़न के भय के कारण भारत म ेंिरण लेन े के जलए मिबूर हुआ था और 31 ददसंबर, 2024 को या उससे पहले भारत म ेंप्रवेि दकया- (i) पासपोटव या अन्य यात्रा दस्ट्ताविे ों सजहत जवजधमान्य दस्ट्तावेिों के जबना; या (ii) जवजधमान्य दस्ट्तावेिों के साथ, जिसके अंतगवत पासपोटव या अन्य यात्रा दस्ट्तावेि भी ह ैं तथा ऐसे दस्ट्तावेिों की जवजधमान्यता समाप्त हो गई हो। (2) अजधजनयम की धारा 3 की उपधारा (1), उपधारा (2) और उपधारा (3) के उपबंध भारत म ें उनके प्रवास की सीमा तक और भारत स े बाहर जनकलने के प्रयोिनों के जलए, रजिस्ट्रीकृत श्रीलंकाई तजमल नागररकों पर लाग ू नहीं होंग,े जिन्होंन े 9 िनवरी, 2015 तक भारत म ेंिरण ली ह।ै स्ट्पष्टीकरण: इस उप-परै ा के प्रयोिन के जलए, "रजिस्ट्रीकृत" स े केन्द्रीय सरकार या राज्य सरकार द्वारा इस प्रयोिन के जलए पदाजभहीत अजधकारी के पास रजिस्ट्रीकृत अजभप्रेत ह।ै (3) अजधजनयम की धारा 3 की उपधारा (1), उपधारा (2) और उपधारा (3) तथा जनयमों के जनयम 9 के उपबंध, वीजा की आवश्कयता की सीमा तक, जनम्नजलजखत दिा म ेंलागू नहीं होंगे- (क) रािनजयक और आजधकाररक पासपोटव रखन े वाल े जवदेिी, िहा ं दकसी अतं र-सरकारी करार के अधीन वीजा की आवश्कयता को अजधत्यजित कर ददया गया ह;ै (ख) जवजनर्दवष्ट देिों स े आन े वाल े जवदेिी, िो आगमन पर वीिा प्राप्त करन े का आिय रखन े के जलए जवजनर्दवष्ट ितों के अनुसार प्रवेि के जनर्दवष्ट पत्तनों पर ऐसे आगमन पर वीिा प्राप्त करना चाहत े ह;ैं और[भाग II—खण् ड 3(ii)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3 (ग) बहुपिीय अभ्यास, सद्भावना यात्राओं, िलयानों की बंकररंग और प्राकृजतक आपदाओं के दौरान सहायता के जलए जवदेिी नौसैजनक युद्धपोतों पर भारत आन े वाले जवदेिी सैन्य कार्मवक, िब तक दक केंद्रीय सरकार द्वारा या दकसी अंतर-सरकारी करार द्वारा छूट न दी गई हो या अजधसूजचत न दकया गया हो। (4) अजधजनयम की धारा 17 और धारा 18 तथा जनयमों के जनयम 22, जनयम 24 और जनयम 25 के उपबंध, भारत म ें या भारत स ेरेल या सड़क माग व द्वारा याजत्रयों और चालक दल का पररवहन करन े वाले वाहक को लागू नहीं होंगे। (5) अजधजनयम की धारा 19 के उपबंध जनम्न प्रकार के यात्री को लान े वाले वाहक पर लाग ू नहीं होंगे.- (क) िाली दस्ट्तावेिों पर यात्रा करने वाल े यात्री, यदद ऐसी कूटरचना का पता दस्ट्तावेि िाचं जविेषज्ञों की सहायता के जबना नहीं लगाया िा सकता ह;ै (ख) जछप कर या जबना रटकट यात्रा करने वाल े यात्री, जिन्ह ेंवाहक वापस लेने के जलए तैयार ह;ै (ग) वे यात्री, िो दकसी ऐसे वायुयान या पोत स ेआए ह,ैं जिन्ह ेंप्रस्ट्थान के समय, जवमान वाहक के जनयंत्रण स े परे के कारणों स े भारत की ओर मोड़ ददया गया था; (घ) उप-पैरा (1), (2) और (3) म ें यथाजनर्दवष्ट पासपोटव या अन्य यात्रा दस्ट्तावेि और जवजधमान्य वीजा की अपेिा स े छूट प्राप्त जवदेिी; (ङ) प्रवेि के आप्रवास चौदकयों पर अस्ट्थायी लैंहडगं परजमट प्राप्त करने वाल े जवदेिी। [फा. सं. 25022/07/2025-एफ.-I] जनतेि कुमार व्यास, अपर सजचव MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS ORDER New Delhi, the 1st September, 2025 S.O. 3997(E).—In exercise of the powers conferred by section 33 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 (13 of 2025), and in supersession of the Registration of Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 1957 and the Immigration (Carriers’ Liability) Order, 2007, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before such supersession, the Central Government hereby makes the following Order, namely:— 1. Short title and commencement.—(1) This Order may be called the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025. (2) It shall come into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette. 2. Definitions.–(1) In this Order, unless the context otherwise requires,– (a) “Act” means the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 (13 of 2025); (b) “rules” means the Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025. (2) Words and expressions used herein and not defined but defined in the Act or rules have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the Act or rules. 3. Exemptions. —(1) The provisions of sub-sections (1), (2) and (3) of section 3 of the Act and rules 7, 8 and 9 of the rules with regard to requirement of valid passport or other valid travel document and valid visa for entry into, stay in and exit from India, shall not apply in the following cases, subject to the conditions mentioned therein, namely :- (a) Member of Naval, Military or Air Forces of India, entering or exiting India on duty and members of the family of any such person when accompanying such person on a Government transport; (b) a citizen of India entering into India by land or by air over the Nepalese or Bhutanese frontier; (c) a citizen of Nepal or Bhutan, — (i) entering into India by land or air over the Nepal or Bhutan border; or (ii) if he possesses a valid passport while entering or exiting India from or to a place other than Nepal or Bhutan but not from China, Macau, Hong Kong or Pakistan;4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)] (d) a Tibetan who has already entered into India and staying in India or entering into India if he has registered with the Registration Officer concerned and obtained a Certificate of Registration in accordance with rule 13 of the rules, — (i) if he has entered into India after 1959 but before the 30th May, 2003 on the Special Entry Permit issued by the Embassy of India in Kathmandu; (ii) if he has entered into India after the 30th May, 2003 till the date of commencement of the Act on the new Special Entry Permit issued by the Embassy of India in Kathmandu through the immigration post on the Indo-Nepal border as designated by the Central Government; (iii) if he enters into India on or after the commencement of the Act on the new Special Entry Permit issued by the Embassy of India in Kathmandu through the immigration post on the Indo-Nepal border as designated by the Central Government; (e) a person belonging to a minority community in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, namely, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian, who were compelled to seek shelter in India due to religious persecution or fear of religious persecution and entered into India on or before the 31st December, 2024 — (i) without valid documents including passport or other travel documents; or (ii) with valid documents including passport or other travel documents and the validity of such documents have expired. (2) The provisions of sub-sections (1), (2) and (3) of section 3 of the Act to the extent of their stay in India and for the purposes of exiting India shall not apply to registered Sri Lankan Tamil nationals who have taken shelter in India upto the 9th January, 2015. Explanation. — For the purpose of this sub-paragraph, “registered” means registered with an officer designated for this purpose by the Central Government or the State Government. (3) The provisions of sub-sections (1), (2) and (3) of section 3 of the Act and rule 9 of the rules to the extent of requirement of a visa shall not apply in the case of — (a) foreigners holding diplomatic and official passports where visa requirements are waived under any intergovernmental agreement; (b) foreigners from specified countries intending to avail visa-on-arrival at the designated ports of entry as per conditions specified for grant of such visa-on-arrival; and (c) foreign military personnel visiting India on foreign naval warships on multilateral exercises, goodwill visits, bunkering of vessels and assistance during natural calamities, unless exempted or notified by any intergovernmental agreement or by the Central Government. (4) The provisions of sections 17 and 18 of the Act and rules 22, 24 and 25 of the rules shall not apply to a carrier transporting passengers and crew by rail or road into or from India. (5) The provisions of section 19 of the Act shall not apply to the carrier carrying — (a) the passengers travelling on forged documents, if such forgery cannot be detected without the help of document examination experts; (b) the stow-away passengers whom the carrier is ready to take back; (c) the passengers who have arrived on an aircraft or ship which, on departure, had been diverted to India for reasons beyond the control of the carrier; (d) the foreigners exempted from the requirement of passport or other travel document and valid visa as referred to in sub-paragraphs (1), (2) and (3); (e) the foreigners availing Temporary Landing Permit at the immigration posts of entry [F. No. 25022/07/2025-F.I] NITESH KUMAR VYAS, Addl. Secy. Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064 and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.

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