The Union Home Ministry has relaxed passport and visa requirements for several categories of foreign nationals residing in India. The changes have been introduced through the Immigration and Foreigners Exemption Amendment Order 2026. The revised provisions cover eligible religious minorities from Pakistan and Afghanistan, Sri Lankan Tamil refugees, Tibetans and certain other categories of foreign nationals. The order also introduces specific provisions for Pakistani nationals who entered India before December 31, 2009, as well as revised travel documentation requirements for citizens of Nepal and Bhutan.
One of the categories covered by the revised provisions includes Pakistani citizens who entered India before December 31, 2009, with the intention of settling permanently. The exemption applies to individuals who have been unable to renew their Pakistani passports because they do not possess the computerised National Identity Card issued by the Pakistani government. This provision addresses a specific documentation difficulty faced by eligible individuals who have been residing in India.
The amendment also provides relief to eligible religious minorities from Pakistan and Afghanistan. Sri Lankan Tamil refugees and Tibetans are among the other groups mentioned in the revised order. These changes are intended to ease specified passport and visa requirements for the categories covered by the notification. The exemptions are subject to the conditions laid down in the order and should not be interpreted as a blanket relaxation for every foreign national living in India.
The order also clarifies travel and identification requirements for citizens of Nepal and Bhutan. Under the revised arrangements, citizens of these two countries can enter or leave India by producing any one of the documents specified in the applicable Visa Manual. This provision offers a defined set of acceptable documents for travel between India and Nepal or Bhutan.
However, the documentation requirements differ when citizens of Nepal or Bhutan enter or leave India through a country other than Nepal or Bhutan. In such circumstances, they must possess a valid passport. The order also specifies additional requirements for people who have embarked at or travelled through China, Macau, Hong Kong or Pakistan. Citizens of Nepal and Bhutan in these circumstances must carry both a valid passport and a valid visa.
These provisions distinguish between direct travel involving India, Nepal and Bhutan and journeys involving certain other countries or territories. Travellers must therefore consider their route when checking the documents required for entry into or exit from India. The revised rules do not remove all passport and visa requirements for Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens in every travel situation.
Another specific exemption concerns certain individuals who originally held Indian citizenship and later travelled to Pakistan after Partition. The provision applies to a male member of the Muslim community who went to Pakistan between August 15, 1947, and December 31, 1965, leaving family members behind in India. It covers individuals who subsequently returned to India on or before December 31, 2009, and settled in Keralam using a valid Pakistani passport that has since expired or been lost.
The exemption for this category is subject to several conditions. The individual must have left behind family members who are Indian citizens when travelling to Pakistan. The person must not have married or acquired immovable property while in Pakistan. The individual must also not return to Pakistan after settling in India. In addition, there must be no adverse report against the person from the police or security agencies.
These conditions are important because the exemption is limited to a clearly defined group of individuals with a specific migration and family history. It does not automatically apply to every person who travelled between India and Pakistan after Partition. Applicants or individuals seeking to rely on the provision must meet the requirements specified in the amended order.
The changes introduced by the Home Ministry address different documentation circumstances involving foreign nationals and specific groups residing in India. They include provisions for people who have faced difficulties renewing passports, refugees and members of religious minorities, as well as individuals covered by the special conditions relating to migration after Partition.
The revised order also highlights the importance of carrying the correct travel documents. Although certain categories have received exemptions from passport and visa requirements, other travellers continue to be subject to specific documentation rules. The requirements for citizens of Nepal and Bhutan, in particular, depend on their travel route and the countries or territories through which they have travelled.
The Immigration and Foreigners Exemption Amendment Order 2026 therefore introduces targeted changes rather than a general removal of immigration requirements. The eligibility conditions and documentation provisions remain important for anyone seeking to benefit from the exemptions. Foreign nationals and other individuals covered by the order should check the applicable requirements before making decisions about their immigration status or travel arrangements.
