Cabinet clears Rs 1,800 crore plan to modernise India's immigration system

The Union Cabinet has cleared a Rs 1,800 crore plan to continue and modernise the Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration & Tracking (IVFRT) Scheme for five years from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2031. The decision aims to upgrade immigration and visa services while strengthening national security and facilitating travel.

The IVFRT platform integrates immigration, visa issuance and foreigner registration functions into a single system. It is designed to deliver services through a secure and streamlined framework while supporting legitimate travellers.

The scheme was first approved in May 2010 with an outlay of Rs 1,011 crore and later revised to Rs 638.90 crore in 2015, with extensions until March 2021. An expenditure of Rs 613.28 crore was incurred during this period. In January 2022, the Cabinet approved its continuation till March 2026 with a budget of Rs 1,365 crore.


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The latest phase will expand the scope of the scheme by upgrading systems and introducing advanced technology. The government said the move follows the enactment of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, which requires stronger systems to manage immigration and foreign nationals, including illegal migration.


The next phase will focus on emerging technology, transformation of core infrastructure, and optimisation of services. Plans include mobile-based services, self-service kiosks and unified digital platforms to improve efficiency and user experience.

Infrastructure at Immigration Posts, Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROs) and data centres will be upgraded to build a scalable system. The scheme currently covers 117 Immigration Posts, 15 FRROs and 854 Foreigners Registration Officers and police units across the country.

The system has improved service delivery. It enabled a fully online visa process with appointment scheduling and payment. Over the past five years, 91.24% of e-Visa applications were cleared within 72 hours. Passenger clearance time at immigration points has reduced to 2.5 to 3 minutes from 5 to 6 minutes earlier.

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Under the Fast Track Immigration-Trusted Traveller Programme, automated e-gates at 13 major airports have reduced clearance time to about 30 seconds. The programme is available free for Indian nationals and OCI cardholders.

The government said the plan will support tourism, business and medical travel. It is expected to increase international traffic and contribute to economic growth and employment by improving ease of doing business and strengthening security systems.