Passport and Visa Rule Changes announced by the Central Government have brought significant relief to several categories of foreign nationals living in India, including certain Pakistani citizens, religious minority refugees and Tibetan nationals.
The revised rules also cover registered Sri Lankan Tamil refugees and introduce changes to travel documentation requirements for Indian, Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens.
The Union Home Ministry issued the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) (Amendment) Order, 2026, through a notification published in the Official Gazette on November 5.
The amendment modifies the existing exemption framework and provides conditional relief to people who meet specific eligibility requirements.
Passport and Visa Rule Changes for Minority Refugees
One of the major provisions covers members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who came to India because of religious persecution or fear of religious persecution.
Under the amended provisions, eligible members of these communities who entered India on or before December 31, 2024, will receive exemptions from certain passport and travel document requirements.
The relief applies both to people who entered India without valid travel documents and those whose passports or other travel documents were valid at the time of entry but have since expired.
However, the exemption does not mean that eligible individuals can continue staying in India without any immigration documentation.
They must obtain an appropriate category of visa after entering the country to continue their stay.
The provision is aimed at addressing documentation difficulties faced by people who sought shelter in India because of religious persecution in their home countries.
Certain Pakistani Citizens Get Passport Renewal Relief
The amended order also provides relief to a specific category of Pakistani nationals who entered India on or before December 31, 2009, with the intention of settling permanently.
These individuals may qualify for an exemption from the requirement to maintain a valid Pakistani passport if they have been unable to renew it because they do not possess a Computerised National Identity Card issued by the Pakistani government.
The exemption is subject to eligibility conditions and does not automatically apply to every Pakistani citizen residing in India.
The government has also included a separate category involving certain men belonging to the Muslim community who were originally Indian citizens but went to Pakistan after Partition.
This provision covers individuals who travelled to Pakistan between August 15, 1947, and December 31, 1965, leaving family members in India, and subsequently returned to India on or before December 31, 2009.
They must have settled in Kerala and meet several additional conditions.
These include not having married while in Pakistan, not having acquired immovable property there and having left behind family members who are Indian citizens.
They must also undertake not to return to Pakistan and should not have any adverse reports from police or security agencies.
Relief for Sri Lankan Tamils and Tibetan Nationals
The revised rules extend exemptions to registered Sri Lankan Tamil nationals who took shelter in India on or before January 9, 2015.
The amendment also covers certain Tibetan nationals based on their entry permits and registration status.
This includes those who entered India after 1959 but before May 30, 2003, using an Entry Permit issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.
Tibetan nationals who entered after May 30, 2003, must have arrived through the designated immigration post on the India-Nepal border using a Special Entry Permit and completed the required registration formalities.
The notification also provides exemptions for members of the Indian Navy, Army and Air Force travelling on official duty.
Their family members accompanying them on government transport are also covered.
Foreign crew members of military vessels arriving in India for repairs can also qualify for exemptions, provided they possess valid military identification documents and obtain the required Military Ship Repair Permit from immigration authorities.
New Travel Documentation Rules for Nepal and Bhutan
Apart from exemptions for foreign nationals and refugees, the government has also revised documentation requirements for travel between India, Nepal and Bhutan.
Indian citizens travelling to Nepal or Bhutan by land or air will not need to produce a passport under the specified exemption.
However, they must provide any one of the identity documents mentioned in the government’s Visa Manual when required by an immigration officer.
Similar provisions apply to Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens entering or leaving India by land or air. They must establish their identity through the prescribed documents.
There are important exceptions to these relaxations. Indian citizens travelling to or returning from countries other than Nepal or Bhutan through the India-Nepal or India-Bhutan borders must carry valid passports and use designated immigration posts.
Likewise, Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens entering or leaving India from or to countries other than their respective home countries must possess valid passports.
Additional restrictions apply to Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens who have embarked from or travelled through China, Macau, Hong Kong or Pakistan. In such cases, they must possess both a valid passport and visa.
What the New Rules Mean for Eligible Residents
The amendments provide documentation-related relief to several groups that may face difficulties renewing passports or maintaining valid travel documents.
However, the exemptions are limited to clearly defined categories and come with specific eligibility conditions. They do not automatically grant Indian citizenship or an unconditional right to remain in the country.
People covered by the provisions must follow the applicable visa requirements and other conditions prescribed by the government.
The changes form part of the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025, and came into force following the publication of the amendment in the Official Gazette on November 5, 2026.
