IndiaPosted at: Nov 5 2026 9:28PM


India amends immigration exemption rules, extends conditional relief to persecuted minorities, long-term foreign residents

New Delhi, Nov 5 (UNI) The Indian government has amended its immigration exemption rules to provide conditional relief from passport and visa requirements to specified categories of foreign nationals, including religious minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who entered the country by December 31, 2024, and certain long-term residents unable to renew their passports.
The Ministry of Home Affairs, in a Gazette notification published on Thursday, also revised provisions governing travel between India and Nepal or Bhutan and specified exemptions for registered Sri Lankan Tamil refugees, eligible Tibetan nationals and certain other categories.
The Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) (Amendment) Order, 2026, issued on November 4 under Section 33 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, came into force upon its publication in the Official Gazette on November 5.
Under the amended provisions, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who entered India on or before December 31, 2024, without valid travel documents or whose documents have expired will qualify for specified exemptions if they fled religious persecution or feared such persecution.
The notification covers persons who were "compelled to seek shelter in India due to religious persecution or fear of religious persecution".
However, it stipulates that every eligible person must obtain an appropriate category of visa to continue staying in India.
The order also provides conditional exemptions from valid passport requirements for certain Pakistani citizens who entered India on or before December 31, 2009, on valid Pakistani passports with the intention of settling permanently but were unable to renew their passports because they did not possess a Computerised National Identity Card issued by Pakistan.
Another category covers certain men belonging to the Muslim community who were originally Indian citizens, travelled to Pakistan between August 15, 1947, and December 31, 1965, leaving their families in India, and returned by December 31, 2009, before settling in Kerala.
To qualify, such individuals must meet several conditions, including having left behind family members who are Indian citizens, not having married or acquired immovable property in Pakistan, having no adverse police or security reports and not returning to Pakistan.
The government has also extended conditional relief to persons of Indian origin who subsequently acquired Malaysian or Singaporean citizenship and returned to India by December 31, 2009, but whose passports have expired and cannot be renewed because they do not fulfil the issuing country's requirements.
Such individuals must possess documentary evidence establishing their Indian origin. The notification makes it clear that persons covered by these three categories must obtain an appropriate visa to continue residing in India.
Separately, the amended order specifies exemptions, subject to prescribed conditions, for registered Sri Lankan Tamil nationals who took shelter in India by January 9, 2015, and Tibetan nationals who entered India under specified permit arrangements and completed the required registration formalities.
The government has also revised provisions governing travel between India and Nepal or Bhutan.
Indian citizens travelling to or from Nepal or Bhutan by land or air must produce one of the identity documents specified in the government's Visa Manual when required by immigration authorities.
However, Indian nationals travelling to or returning from countries other than Nepal or Bhutan through the India-Nepal or India-Bhutan borders must possess valid passports and use designated immigration posts.
Similarly, Nepali and Bhutanese citizens entering or leaving India by land or air must establish their identity using prescribed documents.
For Nepali and Bhutanese nationals entering or leaving India from or to places other than Nepal or Bhutan, the notification requires a valid passport.
Those who have embarked from or transited through China, Macau, Hong Kong or Pakistan must possess both valid passports and visas.
The amended order also specifies exemptions for members of India's armed forces travelling on official duty and family members accompanying them on government transport.
Foreign crew members of foreign military vessels arriving in India for repairs may also qualify for exemptions if they hold military identification documents and Military Ship Repair Permits issued by immigration authorities.
The notification, issued under S.O. 6027(E), amends the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025, which was originally notified on September 2, 2025.
The changes specify exemptions for narrowly defined categories of persons and do not, by themselves, confer Indian citizenship or an unconditional right to remain in the country.
UNI KK RN
Tags: #India amends immigration exemption rules# extends conditional relief to persecuted minorities# long-term foreign residents
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