The Union Home Ministry has notified changes to the Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025, which requires foreigners in India on visas for 180 days or less to register themselves “at any time before the expiry of the said period of 180 days” in case they want to stay beyond the visa period.
The new provision, notified on Monday, will replace the earlier rule that required registration within 14 days after 180 days of arrival in India.
Foreigners on a visa for a period exceeding 180 days with a requirement that “each stay shall not exceed 180 days” and who wish to remain in India beyond that period on any single occasion or in the aggregate in a calendar year must register “at any time before the expiry of 180 days”.
The new rule makes clear that such registration will now only be granted “except in emergency circumstances.” It provides some relief to children whose parents have one or both foreign nationals. Previous rules stipulated that when a child is born in such cases, parents must inform the registration officer electronically within 30 days to benefit from visa services, including granting a new visa and exit permission on the designated electronic portal or mobile application.
As per the new notification, this sub-rule does not apply in cases where one of the parents is an Indian citizen and that parent wishes to retain Indian citizenship for the child.
It says that if the child acquires citizenship of a foreign country while in India at a later stage, either parent must inform the registration officer within 30 days of the child acquiring citizenship of the foreign country.
The notification revises provisions regarding reporting requirements and administrative procedures for each hospital, nursing home, or other medical institution that provides medical and residential facilities.
