The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has notified amendments to the Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025, introducing changes to registration requirements for foreign nationals staying in India and modifying provisions related to children born to foreign parents. The revised rules, published through an official gazette notification, aim to streamline administrative procedures while clarifying obligations for foreign visitors and residents.

One of the key changes concerns foreigners entering India on visas valid for 180 days or less. Under the amended rules, individuals who wish to remain in the country beyond the permitted visa period must now complete the registration process at any time before the expiry of the 180-day stay. This replaces the earlier provision, which allowed registration within fourteen days after the completion of 180 days from the date of arrival in India.

The revised framework also affects foreigners holding visas exceeding 180 days but containing a condition that each individual stay should not exceed 180 days. Such visitors seeking to extend their stay beyond the prescribed period, whether on a single occasion or cumulatively within a calendar year, will now be required to register before the expiry of the 180-day limit. The notification further clarifies that permission for such extended stays will be granted only under emergent circumstances.

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Another significant amendment relates to children born in India to parents where either one or both are foreign nationals. Earlier regulations required parents to electronically inform the registration officer within thirty days of the child's birth in order to access visa-related services, including the issuance of a new visa or exit permit. The updated rules exempt cases where one of the parents is an Indian citizen and chooses to retain Indian citizenship for the child.

However, the notification specifies that if such a child later acquires the citizenship of a foreign country while residing in India, either parent must notify the registration officer within thirty days of that acquisition. The provision is intended to ensure that citizenship status records remain updated and that authorities are informed of any changes affecting the child's legal status.

The amendments also revise reporting obligations and administrative procedures applicable to hospitals, nursing homes and other medical institutions that provide lodging or sleeping facilities within their premises. The government has not indicated any immediate impact on existing visa holders but has clarified that the updated rules are intended to improve compliance, strengthen immigration administration and provide greater clarity regarding registration and citizenship-related procedures.

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