New Delhi, November 6, 2026: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has introduced significant changes to India’s immigration regulations, relaxing passport and visa requirements for certain categories of foreign nationals while clarifying identification rules for travel between India, Nepal and Bhutan.
The changes were introduced through the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) (Amendment) Order, 2026, published in the Official Gazette on November 5.
The revised framework covers eligible Pakistani nationals, religious minorities from neighbouring countries, registered Sri Lankan Tamil refugees, Tibetans and certain other long-term foreign residents.
The amendment also specifies documentation requirements for Indian, Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens travelling between the three countries.
Government Notifies New Immigration Rules
The Home Ministry issued the amendment under Section 33 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.
The order was signed on November 4 and came into force on November 5, 2026, following its publication in the Official Gazette.
It modifies the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025, which established exemptions from specified immigration requirements.
The latest changes are primarily intended to clarify which categories of individuals qualify for exemptions and what conditions they must satisfy.
Importantly, the notification does not introduce stricter passport requirements for every foreign national. It provides conditional relief for several groups while establishing clearer identification procedures.
Relief for Certain Pakistani Nationals Living in India
One of the major changes concerns Pakistani citizens who entered India on or before December 31, 2009, intending to settle permanently.
Certain individuals who cannot renew their Pakistani passports because they lack a Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) may qualify for an exemption from passport renewal requirements.
However, eligibility is subject to strict conditions.
Applicants must satisfy requirements relating to their circumstances in Pakistan, family connections in India and security verification.
The notification specifies that qualifying individuals must not have married or acquired immovable property while in Pakistan, must have left behind family members who are Indian citizens when travelling to Pakistan, and must undertake not to return to Pakistan.
They must also have no adverse reports from police or security agencies.
The exemption does not automatically provide Indian citizenship or eliminate other applicable immigration requirements.
Religious Minority Refugees Receive Conditional Exemptions
The revised order also provides relief to members of six religious communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
The covered communities are Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians.
Individuals belonging to these communities who entered India on or before December 31, 2024, after fleeing religious persecution or fear of persecution may qualify for specified passport and travel-document exemptions.
The provisions cover eligible individuals who entered with or without valid travel documents.
However, qualifying for a passport exemption does not automatically mean a person is exempt from every visa requirement.
The notification requires the appropriate visa category for continued residence where applicable.
Registered Sri Lankan Tamil Refugees Included
The government has extended specified exemptions to registered Sri Lankan Tamil nationals who sought shelter in India on or before January 9, 2015.
The provision applies to individuals registered with authorities designated by the Central or State Government.
Eligible individuals may receive exemptions from specified passport, travel-document and visa requirements.
The change is particularly relevant to long-term Sri Lankan Tamil refugees who have been residing in India for years.
Registration status and the conditions in the official order remain important for determining eligibility.
Special Provisions for Tibetan Nationals
The amendment also addresses the immigration status of certain Tibetan nationals.
The exemptions cover specified categories based on when the individuals entered India and the documentation they possess.
These include Tibetan nationals who entered India before May 30, 2003, as well as certain later entrants who travelled with permits issued through the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu and completed the required registration formalities.
Eligibility depends on meeting the conditions set out in the notification.
The provisions recognise the particular documentation arrangements applicable to certain Tibetan residents in India.
New Identity Requirements for India-Nepal-Bhutan Travel
The Home Ministry has also clarified travel-document requirements for citizens of India, Nepal and Bhutan.
Indian citizens travelling directly between India and Nepal or Bhutan by land or air can continue to benefit from the relevant passport exemption.
However, they must produce one of the identity documents specified in the government’s Visa Manual when required by an immigration officer.
They must also provide any additional information lawfully requested during immigration checks.
Similar provisions apply to citizens of Nepal and Bhutan entering or exiting India.
The changes aim to make identification requirements clearer while preserving the existing framework for eligible travel between the neighbouring countries.
Passport Required for Certain Third-Country Journeys
The exemption for travel between India, Nepal and Bhutan does not apply to every international journey involving these countries.
Indian citizens travelling to or returning from another country through the India-Nepal or India-Bhutan border must possess a valid passport and use designated immigration posts.
For Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens, additional documentation requirements apply when travelling to or from countries other than Nepal or Bhutan.
The notification specifically requires a valid passport and visa for Nepalese or Bhutanese travellers entering India after embarking from or transiting through China, Macau, Hong Kong or Pakistan.
Travellers should therefore verify the documentation required for their complete itinerary rather than assuming that passport exemptions apply to all connecting journeys.
Indian Armed Forces Personnel Covered by Exemptions
The updated order also includes provisions for members of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force.
Personnel travelling on official duty may qualify for exemptions from specified passport and visa requirements.
Family members accompanying eligible personnel on government transport are also covered under the stated conditions.
The exemption applies to qualifying official travel and should not be interpreted as a general waiver for all personal international journeys undertaken by military personnel.
Foreign Military Ship Crews Receive Special Provisions
The notification includes foreign crew members serving aboard military vessels visiting India for repairs.
Eligible personnel may receive exemptions if they possess valid military identification documents and obtain the required Military Ship Repair Permit.
The permit must be issued by the relevant immigration authority.
The measure establishes a specific documentation arrangement for foreign military personnel entering India in connection with authorised vessel repairs.
Other Long-Term Foreign Residents Also Covered
The amendment provides specified passport-document exemptions for certain additional categories of long-term residents.
These include eligible former Indian citizens who migrated to Pakistan after Partition and later returned to India within the prescribed period.
It also covers some persons of Indian origin who acquired Malaysian or Singaporean citizenship and returned to India by December 31, 2009, but whose foreign passports subsequently expired and could not be renewed.
These exemptions are subject to detailed eligibility conditions.
The relevant individuals must still meet applicable visa requirements for continued residence.
What Is the Government’s Visa Manual?
The amendment formally defines the Visa Manual as the document issued and updated by the Central Government containing instructions on visas, immigration and connected matters.
The manual becomes an important reference for identifying acceptable documents in situations covered by the revised rules.
For eligible travellers between India, Nepal and Bhutan, the notification refers to identity documents specified in this manual rather than listing every acceptable document in the amendment itself.
Travellers should rely on the currently applicable official requirements when preparing for a journey.
Exemptions Do Not Automatically Grant Citizenship
A key distinction in the new rules concerns immigration exemptions and citizenship.
A person who qualifies for relief from a passport or travel-document requirement does not automatically acquire Indian citizenship.
Citizenship is governed by separate laws and procedures.
Similarly, an exemption from possessing a valid passport for continued residence does not necessarily remove the obligation to obtain an appropriate visa.
The precise requirements depend on the person’s nationality, entry date, immigration history and the exemption category involved.
Who Should Review Their Documents?
The latest notification is particularly relevant to people whose immigration status falls into one of the specifically identified categories.
Long-term foreign residents and individuals who may qualify for humanitarian exemptions should verify the conditions applicable to their circumstances.
Indian, Nepalese and Bhutanese travellers should also check the identity-document rules, especially when their journeys involve third countries.
The official Gazette notification and the Ministry of Home Affairs’ immigration guidance provide the basis for determining eligibility.
New Rules Take Effect From November 5
The Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) (Amendment) Order, 2026, is already in force following its publication in the Official Gazette.
The changes provide conditional relief for several categories of foreign nationals who have lived in India for extended periods.
They also clarify the documentation required for certain journeys between India, Nepal and Bhutan.
The amendment reflects an effort to address longstanding immigration-document difficulties while retaining identification and security requirements.
Source: Ministry of Home Affairs, Official Gazette dated November 5, 2026; The Indian Express, November 6, 2026; PTI; Akashvani News
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