The Union Home Ministry has revised provisions under the Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025, changing the registration timeline for foreign nationals planning to stay in India beyond 180 days. The updated rules also introduce relaxations in cases involving children born in India to foreign parents.
The amendments were notified by the ministry and published in the official gazette on Monday.
Earlier registration now mandatory
Under the revised rules, foreigners arriving in India on visas valid for 180 days or less must now complete their registration “any time before the expiry of the said period of 180 days" if they intend to remain in the country beyond the permitted duration.
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Earlier, foreign nationals were allowed to register “within fourteen days after the expiry of one hundred and eighty days of his arrival in India".
The notification stated, “The Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025 (hereinafter referred to as the said rules), in rule 12, ‘(a) in sub-rule (1), ‘(i) in the third proviso, for the words ‘within fourteen days after the expiry of one hundred and eighty days of his arrival in India’, the words ‘any time before the expiry of the said period of one hundred and eighty days’ shall be substituted."
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has notified the Immigration and Foreigners (Amendment) Rules, 2026, introducing key changes to registration timelines, emergency provisions, and the appeals mechanism under the Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025.
— ANI (@ANI) June 2, 2026
One of the significant… pic.twitter.com/ZoLi01GGO5
Rules also apply to longer-duration visas
The revised provisions will also apply to foreigners holding visas valid for more than 180 days but carrying a condition that “each stay shall not exceed 180 days".
According to the updated framework, such individuals will now have to register before completing 180 days in India if they plan to continue their stay either during a single visit or cumulatively within a calendar year.
The Centre has also clarified that approvals for registration beyond the prescribed period would now be granted “only in emergent circumstances".
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Relief for children born to foreign parents
The amended rules also provide relaxation in certain cases involving children born in India to foreign nationals.
Earlier, parents were required to electronically inform registration authorities within 30 days of a child’s birth to access visa-related services, including new visas or exit permits through the official portal or mobile application.
Under the revised rules, this requirement will not apply if either parent is an Indian citizen and wishes to retain the child’s Indian citizenship.
However, if the child later acquires citizenship of another country while residing in India, either parent must inform the registration officer within 30 days of the child obtaining foreign citizenship.
The latest notification also revises reporting and administrative procedures for hospitals, nursing homes and medical institutions offering treatment and lodging facilities.
