Lok Sabha clears Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025

The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, aimed at regulating immigration, entry, and stay of foreigners in India. The Bill was passed by a voice vote, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserting that while India welcomes those who come for development, strong action will be taken against those who arrive with the intent to “create conflict.”

Replying to a debate on the Bill, Shah emphasized its importance in strengthening national security, boosting the economy, and positioning India as a global leader by 2047. “Who enters our territory, when, for what time period, and with what intent—it is important for us to know. We will track in detail the entry of each foreigner in India,” he said.

He cited historical examples, stating, “Parsis came to India from Persia and are safe here. If there is one smallest minority that stays with self-respect anywhere, it is here. Jews also came from Israel to India. Through the CAA, we opened the doors for persecuted minorities.”

Highlighting the Bill’s provisions, Shah said that under Section 3, authorities have the power to deny entry to individuals deemed a threat to national security. “This country is not a dharmashala. Now, the blacklist has legal backing,” he stated. He also reiterated that, as the world’s fifth-largest economy, India naturally attracts foreign arrivals. “We welcome those who come to develop India, but be it Rohingya or Bangladeshi, if they come to create conflict here, we will act tough against them.”

Shah further noted that the Bill would facilitate medical tourism, eco-tourism, heritage tourism, and the hospitality sector while preventing illegal stays and cracking down on drug cartels, infiltrators, and hawala traders. “We are replacing colonial laws on immigration with a new law in our new Parliament,” he added.

The Bill mandates the registration of foreigners arriving in India and grants the Centre the authority to regulate their activities and associations. Accommodation providers, including hotels, as well as universities and hospitals, will be required to report the stay of foreigners online.

The burden of proof to establish that an individual is not a foreigner will rest on the person suspected of being one.

Additionally, any foreigner entering India without a passport or visa will face a jail term of up to five years, a fine of up to ¹ 5 lakh, or both. The Bill aims to ensure stricter immigration controls and reinforce India’s national security framework.

The bill, to be called the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, repeals the Passport (Entry Into India) Act of 1920, the 1939 Registration of Foreigners Act, the Foreigners Act of 1946, and the 2000 Immigration (Carriers’ Liability) Act, 2000.

One of the key features of this bill is that it classifies foreigners into six different categories: tourists, students, skilled workers, business visitors, refugees and asylum seekers, and illegal immigrants.

Each category has specific rules regarding visa requirements, duration of stay, and conditions for renewal.

It also outlines the types of Indian visas available and their eligibility criteria. It also simplifies the application process for tourists, students and skilled professionals.

Earlier, under the 1930 Act, the central government had powers to make rules for foreigners to report their presence to a prescribed authority. However, according to the new law, foreign nationals upon their arrival in India, must register with a Registration Officer. If their stay exceeds a certain period, they must get in touch with local authorities.

MT