Foreigners on visas under 180 days must register before expiry: Govt

Foreigners visiting India on a visa for 180 days or less must now register themselves at any time before their visa expires if they want to stay longer, according to changes in the Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025, announced by the Union Home Ministry.

The new rule, announced on Monday, replaces the previous requirement for foreigners to register within 14 days after staying 180 days in India.

The notification published in the gazette stated: In rule 12 of the Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025, in sub-rule (1), and in the third proviso, the previous words “within fourteen days after the expiry of one hundred and eighty days of his arrival in India” are substituted with “any time before the expiry of the said period of one hundred and eighty days.”

Foreigners with a visa for more than 180 days must register before their 180-day period ends if they want to extend their stay. The new rule also states that registration will only be allowed in urgent situations.

The updated rules also offer some relief for children born to foreign parents.

Previously, parents had to inform the registration officer online within 30 days if their child was born under these circumstances.

This was needed to access visa services, such as getting a new visa or exit permission, through the online portal or app.

This rule does not apply if one parent is an Indian citizen and wants their child to keep Indian citizenship. However, if the child gets foreign citizenship while in India, a parent must inform the registration officer within 30 days of this change. The notification also updates the reporting and administrative rules for hospitals, nursing homes, and other medical institutions that offer medical care, lodging, or sleeping facilities.