02 June,2026 12:43 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
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The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has notified the Immigration and Foreigners (Amendment) Rules, 2026, introducing a series of changes to the registration requirements for foreign nationals, provisions relating to children with Indian parents, emergency registration cases and the appeals mechanism under the Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025.
The amendments were notified through a Gazette notification issued on June 1 and have come into effect immediately.
According to the government, the revised rules are intended to streamline compliance procedures while strengthening regulatory oversight of foreign nationals residing in India.
One of the key changes relates to the registration process for foreigners staying in India for extended periods.
The amended rules modify Rule 12, allowing eligible foreign nationals to complete their registration at any time before the expiry of the prescribed 180-day period.
Previously, the rule required registration to be completed within 14 days after the expiry of 180 days from the date of arrival in India.
Officials said the amendment is aimed at providing greater clarity and flexibility in the registration process while ensuring timely compliance.
The revised provision is expected to simplify procedural requirements for foreign nationals who are required to register with authorities during their stay in the country.
The government has also introduced stricter conditions for late registration.
Under the amended rules, delayed registration beyond the prescribed period will now be permitted only under exceptional circumstances.
The notification specifies that such registration will be allowed solely in emergent situations, tightening the framework governing delayed compliance.
The change is expected to reduce routine delays while ensuring that genuine cases involving unforeseen circumstances can still be considered by authorities.
Another significant amendment relates to children who may have claims to both Indian and foreign citizenship.
The MHA has clarified that registration requirements will not apply in cases where either parent is an Indian citizen and wishes to retain the child's Indian citizenship under Section 3 of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
The amendment seeks to address situations involving children born with eligibility for Indian citizenship while also having connections to another country.
However, the rules require parents to inform authorities if the child subsequently acquires foreign citizenship while residing in India.
According to the notification, either parent must notify the Registration Officer within 30 days of the child acquiring citizenship of a foreign country.
The government has also made a technical correction to Rule 18 relating to reporting timelines.
The amendment replaces the phrase "but beyond twenty-four hours" with "but not beyond twenty-four hours", correcting what appears to have been an inconsistency in the earlier wording.
Officials indicated that the change was made to ensure clarity and remove ambiguity in the interpretation of the provision.
The amendment rules have also brought significant changes to the appeals mechanism available to owners or keepers who are aggrieved by directions issued by civil authorities under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.
Under the revised framework, appeals must now be filed before the Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration within 30 days of the relevant order.
The process will be conducted through a designated online portal, reflecting the government's push towards greater digitisation of immigration-related services.
The amended rules also prescribe a timeline for the disposal of appeals.
The Commissioner, Bureau of Immigration, is required to provide a reasonable opportunity of hearing before passing a speaking order outlining the reasons for the decision.
The notification further states that authorities should endeavour to complete appeal proceedings within 60 days from the date of receiving the appeal.
The move is expected to make the appeals process more transparent and reduce delays in adjudication.
The latest changes have been introduced under powers granted to the Central government under Section 30 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.
Officials said the amendments are designed to modernise administrative procedures, improve compliance mechanisms and strengthen oversight of foreign nationals residing in the country.
The revised framework also seeks to balance procedural ease with stricter enforcement by providing clearer timelines, updated reporting requirements and a more structured appeals process.
With immediate implementation of the amended rules, foreign nationals, institutions and stakeholders dealing with immigration-related matters will be required to comply with the revised provisions going forward.
(With inputs from IANS)
