Centre relaxes passport, visa rules for select foreign nationals; revises Nepal, Bhutan travel norms

The Centre has relaxed passport and visa requirements for several categories of foreign nationals residing in India, including certain Pakistani citizens, minority refugees, Sri Lankan Tamils and Tibetans, under amended immigration rules notified by the Union Home Ministry.

The Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) (Amendment) Order, 2026, published in the Gazette on Thursday, also revises travel and identification requirements for Indian, Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens travelling between the neighbouring countries.

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Under the amended provisions, Pakistani citizens who entered India on or before December 31, 2009, with the intention of settling permanently will be exempt from passport renewal requirements if they cannot renew their documents due to the non-possession of a Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) issued by Pakistan.

The exemption also covers certain male members of the Muslim community who were originally Indian citizens, went to Pakistan after Partition between August 15, 1947, and December 31, 1965, and returned to India on or before December 31, 2009. They must have settled in Kerala and meet conditions, including not having married or acquired immovable property in Pakistan, and having left behind family members who are Indian citizens.

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The rules also cover people of Indian origin who acquired Malaysian or Singaporean citizenship and returned to India on or before December 31, 2009, on passports issued by either country, which have since expired and cannot be renewed.

All three categories will be required to obtain an appropriate visa category for their continued stay in India.

The amended order also exempts members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who entered India on or before December 31, 2024, after being compelled to seek shelter due to religious persecution or fear of persecution.

The exemption applies to those who entered without valid passports or other travel documents, as well as those whose documents have expired. However, they will need to obtain an appropriate visa after entering India to continue their stay.

Registered Sri Lankan Tamil nationals who took shelter in India up to January 9, 2015, have also been exempted from the general passport and visa requirements.

The order further covers Tibetans who entered India under specified entry permits issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu and subsequently registered with the concerned authorities.

Separately, Indian citizens travelling to Nepal or Bhutan by land or air can produce any one of the identity documents specified in the government's Visa Manual instead of a passport. The same provision applies to Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens entering or exiting India.

However, Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens who have embarked at or transited through China, Macau, Hong Kong or Pakistan will be required to possess both a valid passport and visa.

The exemption for Indian citizens will also not apply to those travelling to or returning from countries other than Nepal and Bhutan through the Indo-Nepal or Indo-Bhutan borders. Such travellers will need valid passports and must use designated immigration posts.

Other exemptions include Indian naval, military and air force personnel travelling on duty and their family members accompanying them on government transport. Foreign crew members of military vessels visiting India for repairs will also be exempt, provided they hold military identification documents and have been granted Military Ship Repair Permits by immigration authorities.