Goa Deports 234 Foreigners in Five Years, but Files Just 24 Cases Against Accommodation Providers

Goa, Aug 2025 : Goa has deported 234 foreign nationals between January 2020 and June 2025 — including 82 deportations in the first half of 2025 alone — yet in the same period, the state has filed only 24 cases against accommodation providers who failed to report foreign guests as required under Section 16 of the Foreigners (Amendment) Order, 2016.

The gap between deportations and legal action against those enabling such stays raises questions about the effectiveness of accountability and enforcement in the coastal state.

Data tabled in the Goa Assembly shows that most deportees were from African nations, with Uganda topping the list at 69, followed by Russia (38), Bangladesh (36), Nigeria (25), and Tanzania (11). Other nationalities include British (2), Ukrainian (4), Nepalese (5), Kenyan (10), and citizens from Bulgaria, Iran, Yemen, and more — spanning 33 different countries.

Notably, deportations in 2025 have been highest for Bangladesh (26), Russia (26), and Uganda (17), underscoring mounting concerns over overstaying and illegal activities. While Russian and African nationals frequently appear in Goa’s crime records — with offences ranging from drug trafficking to narcotics cultivation — Bangladeshi nationals, despite being among the largest group of overstayers, have no recorded criminal cases against them, according to available data.

The Goa Home Department stated that deportations are largely initiated based on reports from district police units and “Quit India” notices issued by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in Mumbai. These are forwarded to district superintendents of police for further action. In 2025 alone, FRRO Goa has conducted six joint drives with local police to identify foreigners overstaying their visas. However, these operations have not translated into significant legal action against individuals or establishments facilitating such stays.

Section 16 of the Foreigners Order mandates that hotels, guesthouses, service apartments, and private property owners submit C-Forms containing details of foreign guests. Failure to comply is a punishable offence. Yet, only nine cases have been registered in 2025, and just 24 between 2020 and mid-2025 — a strikingly low number compared to 234 deportations in the same period.

Experts point to multiple factors behind this low enforcement rate. Some hosts may be unaware of the reporting requirement, while others may deliberately bypass it, particularly in the case of unregistered accommodations, home-stays, and short-term rentals. Popular tourist hubs like Arambol, Morjim, Calangute, and Anjuna attract long-stay foreign visitors, some of whom overstay visas or engage in unauthorised business ventures, including drug-related activities and unlicensed rentals.

The problem is worsened by poor data sharing between the tourism and home departments. The tourism department has reportedly not provided any data on foreign visitors in the past five years, making it difficult for enforcement agencies to trace arrivals or cross-check visitor patterns. This lack of inter-departmental coordination limits Goa’s ability to track illegal migration effectively.

While the rise in deportations could signal improved detection and cooperation between state police and FRRO officials, experts caution that the trend alone is not enough to address the root problem. Without stronger legal action against accommodation providers and intermediaries who knowingly or negligently violate reporting laws, the state risks creating a perception of impunity.

Some analysts warn that Goa could become a preferred destination for foreigners seeking to exploit loopholes in India’s immigration enforcement and hospitality compliance. They stress that unless the government combines deportation drives with strict penalties for those facilitating such stays, the cycle of overstaying, illegal work, and repeat offences will continue.

For now, the statistics point to a paradox: while hundreds of foreigners are removed from the state for overstaying, the network that enables them to remain undetected — through unregistered stays and lax reporting — remains largely untouched.