The Indian Union Ministry of Home Affairs has issued the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) (Amendment) Order, 2026, which relaxes passport and visa requirements for several categories of foreign nationals. The new rules provide exemptions for certain Pakistani nationals, religious minorities from Afghanistan and Bangladesh, Sri Lankan Tamils, and Tibetan nationals, while also simplifying travel identification for citizens of India, Nepal, and Bhutan, an Indian newspaper reported.
The amended order provides exemptions to several categories of foreign nationals, subject to specific eligibility conditions. Those foreign nationals who entered India on or before 31 December 2009, intending to settle permanently, may be exempt from passport renewal requirements if they cannot renew their documents because they do not possess a Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) issued by their country.
The foreign nationals include Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians from Afghanistan and Bangladesh who entered India on or before 31 December 2024 after fleeing their countries, and registered Sri Lankan Tamil nationals who took refuge in India on or before 9 January 2015. Certain Tibetans who entered India using permits issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu between 1959 and 30 May 2003, or through special entry permits at designated immigration posts along the India-Nepal border, are also included in the list.
The policy shift is seen as a significant administrative adjustment aimed at regularizing the status of long-term residents who have faced bureaucratic hurdles due to the expiration of their travel documents. By removing the mandatory requirement for valid passports for these specific groups, the government aims to integrate these populations into the formal system.
Furthermore, the order streamlines the identification process for citizens of neighboring countries like Nepal and Bhutan, who frequently travel across the border for trade and family visits. This move is expected to reduce congestion at immigration checkpoints and facilitate smoother cross-border movement.
Legal experts suggest that this amendment addresses long-standing grievances of refugees and migrants who have lived in India for decades but remained in a legal limbo due to the inability to secure documentation from their home countries. The Ministry of Home Affairs has directed local authorities to implement these changes immediately, ensuring that those eligible under the new order are not harassed for lack of valid travel documents during routine checks.
While the government maintains that this is a procedural update, opposition parties have raised questions regarding the criteria for selection, particularly concerning the inclusion of specific religious groups and the exclusion of others. As the implementation phase begins, the Indian government is expected to issue further guidelines to district-level immigration offices to ensure uniform application of these rules across all states and union territories.