Government Revises Foreigner Registration Rules for Stays Beyond 180 Days

New Delhi, June 2026 : The Centre has amended the rules governing foreign nationals staying in India, introducing stricter registration requirements for those intending to remain in the country beyond 180 days. The changes have been brought into effect through amendments to the Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025, with the aim of streamlining monitoring and compliance procedures.

Under the revised provisions, foreign nationals entering India on visas valid for 180 days or less must now complete their registration before the expiry of the 180-day period if they intend to extend their stay. This marks a significant shift from the earlier system, which allowed registration within 14 days after completing 180 days in the country.

Officials said the amendment is designed to ensure that authorities receive advance information about foreigners seeking longer stays rather than after they have crossed the prescribed threshold.

The revised rules also apply to foreigners holding visas with a validity period exceeding 180 days but carrying a condition that individual stays should not exceed 180 days at a time. Such visa holders will now be required to register before reaching the 180-day limit if they wish to continue their stay in India.

According to the government, registration after crossing the permitted period will now be allowed only in exceptional or emergency circumstances. The move is expected to strengthen immigration oversight and reduce instances of delayed compliance.

The amendments also introduce important changes concerning children born in India to parents where one or both are foreign nationals.

Earlier, parents were required to electronically inform registration authorities within 30 days of the child’s birth in order to access visa-related services, including obtaining a visa or securing exit permission for the child.

Under the new framework, this requirement will not apply if either parent is an Indian citizen and intends to retain Indian citizenship for the child. The exemption is aimed at simplifying procedures for families where one parent is Indian and the child is expected to remain an Indian citizen.

However, the government has clarified that if such a child subsequently acquires the citizenship of another country while residing in India, either parent must notify the registration officer within 30 days of the change in citizenship status.

In addition to changes affecting foreign nationals and their families, the notification has revised certain reporting and administrative obligations for hospitals, nursing homes and other medical institutions that provide lodging or accommodation facilities. These institutions will be required to comply with updated reporting norms under the immigration framework.

The amendments form part of the government’s broader effort to modernise immigration management and improve record-keeping related to foreign nationals residing in India. Officials believe the revised rules will help ensure better compliance, improve monitoring mechanisms and facilitate more efficient administration of immigration and registration processes across the country.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)