New Delhi: The Centre has relaxed passport and visa requirements for several categories of foreign nationals living in India, including certain Pakistani citizens, minority refugees from three neighbouring countries, Sri Lankan Tamils and Tibetans.
The changes were notified through the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) (Amendment) Order, 2026, published by the Union Home Ministry on Thursday. The amended provisions also clarify identification and travel requirements for Indian, Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens crossing between the neighbouring countries.
Which Pakistani Nationals Are Eligible For Passport Exemption?
Under the revised rules, Pakistani nationals who entered India on or before December 31, 2009, intending to settle permanently, may be exempted from standard passport renewal requirements if they cannot renew their documents because they do not possess a Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) issued by Pakistan.
The exemption is subject to specific conditions. Applicants must not have married while in Pakistan or acquired immovable property there. They must have left behind family members who are Indian citizens when they travelled to Pakistan and must undertake not to return to that country.
They must also have no adverse reports against them from police or security agencies.
The notification also covers certain people of Indian origin who acquired Malaysian or Singaporean citizenship and returned to India on or before December 31, 2009, using passports issued by those countries. Their passports must have expired and remained unrenewed because they no longer meet the respective countries’ renewal requirements.
The order defines a person of Indian origin for this provision as a foreign citizen who previously held an Indian passport or whose parents, grandparents or great-grandparents were born in and permanently resided in territories that formed part of India under the Government of India Act, 1935, or subsequently. Citizens of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Nepal and China are excluded from this definition.
People covered under these two categories must still obtain the appropriate visa to continue their stay in India.
Minority Refugees From Pakistan, Bangladesh And Afghanistan Covered
The amended order also exempts members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who entered India on or before December 31, 2024, after being compelled to seek shelter due to religious persecution or the fear of religious persecution.
The provision covers individuals who entered without valid passports or other travel documents, as well as those whose documents have since expired.
However, they must obtain the appropriate visa after entering India to continue their stay.
Sri Lankan Tamils And Tibetans Included In Exemptions
Registered Sri Lankan Tamil nationals who took shelter in India on or before January 9, 2015, have also been exempted from general passport and visa requirements under the revised provisions.
The order further covers certain Tibetan nationals who entered India on permits issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu between 1959 and May 30, 2003. It also applies to those who entered after that date on special entry permits through designated immigration posts along the India-Nepal border.
Such individuals must register with the concerned authorities and obtain a certificate of registration.
India, Nepal And Bhutan Travel Rules Clarified
The notification also streamlines identification requirements for Indian, Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens travelling directly between the three countries by land or air.
They may use identification documents specified in the government’s official Visa Manual instead of standard passports for such travel.
However, the exemption does not apply to Indian citizens travelling to or returning from countries other than Nepal or Bhutan through the India-Nepal or India-Bhutan borders. In such cases, a valid passport is mandatory, and entry or exit must take place through designated immigration posts.
Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens entering or leaving India after embarking from or transiting through China, Macau, Hong Kong or Pakistan must carry both a valid passport and visa. Standard passport requirements will also apply to regional border crossings involving third countries.
Exemption Also Covers Defence Personnel And Foreign Military Crew
The amended rules exempt Indian Navy, Army and Air Force personnel travelling into or out of the country on official duty from passport and visa requirements. The exemption also extends to their family members accompanying them on government transport.
Foreign crew members of military vessels visiting India for repairs are also exempt from passport requirements if they have Military Identification Documents and have been granted Military Ship Repair Permits by the Immigration Officer at the relevant immigration post.
The notification defines foreign military vessels as warships and other government ships operated by another country’s armed forces for non-commercial purposes.
