Centre notifies new immigration rules, revamps registration and appeals process

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 2025The amendments were notified through a Gazette notification issued on June 1 and have come into effect immediatelyAccording to the government the revised rules are intended to streamline compliance procedures while strengthening regulatory oversight of foreign nationals residing in IndiaRegistration timeline for foreigners revisedOne of the key changes relates to the registration process for foreigners staying in India for extended periodsThe amended rules modify Rule 12 allowing eligible foreign nationals to complete their registration at any time before the expiry of the prescribed 180day periodPreviously the rule required registration to be completed within 14 days after the expiry of 180 days from the date of arrival in IndiaOfficials said the amendment is aimed at providing greater clarity and flexibility in the registration process while ensuring timely complianceThe revised provision is expected to simplify procedural requirements for foreign nationals who are required to register with authorities during their stay in the countryDelayed registration allowed only in exceptional casesThe government has also introduced stricter conditions for late registrationUnder the amended rules delayed registration beyond the prescribed period will now be permitted only under exceptional circumstancesThe notification specifies that such registration will be allowed solely in emergent situations tightening the framework governing delayed complianceThe change is expected to reduce routine delays while ensuring that genuine cases involving unforeseen circumstances can still be considered by authoritiesExemption introduced for certain children with Indian parentsAnother significant amendment relates to children who may have claims to both Indian and foreign citizenshipThe MHA has clarified that registration requirements will not apply in cases where either parent is an Indian citizen and wishes to retain the childs Indian citizenship under Section 3 of the Citizenship Act 1955The amendment seeks to address situations involving children born with eligibility for Indian citizenship while also having connections to another countryHowever the rules require parents to inform authorities if the child subsequently acquires foreign citizenship while residing in IndiaAccording to the notification either parent must notify the Registration Officer within 30 days of the child acquiring citizenship of a foreign countryReporting provision corrected in amendmentThe government has also made a technical correction to Rule 18 relating to reporting timelinesThe amendment replaces the phrase but beyond twentyfour hours with but not beyond twentyfour hours correcting what appears to have been an inconsistency in the earlier wordingOfficials indicated that the change was made to ensure clarity and remove ambiguity in the interpretation of the provisionAppeals process shifted to Bureau of ImmigrationThe 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 2025Under the revised framework appeals must now be filed before the Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration within 30 days of the relevant orderThe process will be conducted through a designated online portal reflecting the governments push towards greater digitisation of immigrationrelated servicesTimebound disposal of appeals introducedThe amended rules also prescribe a timeline for the disposal of appealsThe Commissioner Bureau of Immigration is required to provide a reasonable opportunity of hearing before passing a speaking order outlining the reasons for the decisionThe notification further states that authorities should endeavour to complete appeal proceedings within 60 days from the date of receiving the appealThe move is expected to make the appeals process more transparent and reduce delays in adjudicationAmendments aimed at improving compliance frameworkThe latest changes have been introduced under powers granted to the Central government under Section 30 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act 2025Officials said the amendments are designed to modernise administrative procedures improve compliance mechanisms and strengthen oversight of foreign nationals residing in the countryThe revised framework also seeks to balance procedural ease with stricter enforcement by providing clearer timelines updated reporting requirements and a more structured appeals processWith immediate implementation of the amended rules foreign nationals institutions and stakeholders dealing with immigrationrelated matters will be required to comply with the revised provisions going forwardWith inputs from IANS