Centre issues new Immigration & Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025, streamlining entry rules for select groups

New Delhi: The Central Government of India has issued the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025, which introduces significant exemptions from the requirements for valid passports, travel documents, and visas for certain individuals and carriers. This order, notified by the Ministry of Home Affairs, replaces the previous Registration of Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 1957, and the Immigration (Carriers’ Liability) Order, 2007, while maintaining the validity of actions taken under those earlier provisions.
The new order, effective immediately upon publication, outlines specific exemptions under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025. Notably, members of the Indian Armed Forces and their families are exempt when entering or exiting India on duty. Additionally, Indian citizens returning from Nepal or Bhutan by land or air are also exempt from these requirements. Citizens of Nepal and Bhutan entering India under certain conditions, as well as registered Tibetans and minority community members from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan facing religious persecution, are granted similar exemptions.
Furthermore, the order specifies that registered Sri Lankan Tamil nationals who sought refuge in India before January 9, 2015, are not subject to certain provisions regarding their stay and exit. It also outlines exemptions for foreign diplomats, military personnel, and carriers transporting passengers under specific circumstances, including those traveling on forged documents that cannot be easily detected.
Overall, the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025 aims to streamline entry and exit processes for various groups while addressing humanitarian concerns and diplomatic relations.