Introduction of the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025

The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 was introduced in Parliament by the Minister of State for Home, Nityanand Rai, to regulate matters related to immigration and foreigners in India.

Purpose and Scope

• The Bill is designed to regulate immigration and foreigner-related issues, not citizenship matters.
• It aims to replace four existing Acts: 
  • Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920
  • Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939
  • Foreigners Act, 1946
  • Immigration (Carriers’ Liability) Act, 2000
• It retains several provisions from these Acts while introducing new ones to meet modern needs.

Key Provisions

• Mandatory valid travel documents for entry, stay, and exit from India.
• Constitution of a Bureau of Immigration.
• Empowerment to deport illegal foreigners from India.
• Mandatory reporting by: 
  • Hotels
  • Universities and educational institutions
  • Hospitals and nursing homes
• to track overstaying foreigners. 
• Obligation of carriers to share passenger information as per international standards.
• Compounding of certain offences to ease compliance burdens.

Impact and Benefits

The Bill aims to simplify laws, promote ease of doing business, and minimize compliance burdens. The simplified language is expected to enhance the administration and compliance with immigration laws.

• Provides legal support for immigration functions and agencies.
• Aids in addressing illegal migration issues.
• Facilitates tracking of overstaying foreigners.
• Balances national security with economic growth and tourism promotion.