News– The Central Government has issued the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025, under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.
Key Highlights of the Order
- Exemption for armed forces personnel- Indian armed forces personnel on official duty, and their families traveling on government transport, are exempt from immigration requirements.
- India–Nepal and India–Bhutan Borders
- Indian citizens entering via Nepal or Bhutan (land/air) are exempt.
- Nepali and Bhutanese citizens are exempt when entering India through their borders or traveling elsewhere with a valid passport.
- Not applicable to entries from China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Pakistan.
- Tibetan refugees and minority communities
- Registered Tibetan refugees in India are exempt.
- Persecuted minorities (Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, Christians) from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan who entered before 31 Dec 2024 are exempt, regardless of travel document validity.
- Sri Lankan Tamils who took refuge up to 9 Jan 2015 are also covered.
- Foreign nationals with special status- Exemptions apply to:
- Holders of diplomatic/official passports under agreements.
- Nationals from designated visa-on-arrival countries.
- Foreign military personnel on naval warships for exercises, goodwill visits, bunkering, or disaster relief (unless notified otherwise).
