Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025
The Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 (Act No. 13 of 2025) came into force in September 2025, replacing four colonial-era laws: the Foreigners Act, 1946; the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920; the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939; and the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act, 2000. The consolidated law introduces a digital-first framework and provides statutory backing to the Bureau of Immigration for identifying, detaining, and deporting illegal migrants.
- For the first time, the Act explicitly mandates every state and UT to establish dedicated holding centres or detention camps for foreigners awaiting deportation — formalising what was previously an ad hoc practice.
- The burden of proof that a person is not a foreigner continues to lie on the individual (similar to Section 9 of the repealed Foreigners Act, 1946).
- A "graded penalty" system is introduced to reduce discretionary powers of officers.
- Hotels, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities are required to mandatorily report foreign nationals; airlines and shipping companies must share advance passenger and crew data.
● Tracked since April 14, 2026 · last seen July 19, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
See it in today’s brief.
Daily current affairs with every static concept explained in place.
Read the daily brief