New Immigration Bill 2025: The Indian government is planning to introduce a new law, the Immigration & Foreigners Bill, 2025, to make immigration rules stricter. Under this Bill, foreign nationals who enter India without a valid passport or visa could be jailed for up to five-years and fined up to Rs.5.00 lakh (Rupees Five Lakh).
The bill will replace four existing laws: the Foreigners Act -1946, Passport - Entry into India-Act (1920), Registration of Foreigners Act-1939, and Immigration - Carriers' Liability Act-2000.
Under the law, If someone uses a fake passport or travel document, they will face at least 2 years in jail, which can be extended up to seven years. They will also have to pay a fine between the amount of One lakh and Rs.10/- lakh (Rs. Ten Lakh). Currently, the punishment for this is up to 8 years in jail and a fine of Rs. 50000/-
The bill also makes it mandatory for hospitals, universities, and medical institutions to provide details of foreign students or visitors to the authorities.
Foreigners who overstay their Visa, break visa rules, or enter restricted areas could be jailed for up to three years, fined up to Rupees Three Lakh, or both. If airlines or transport operators bring foreigners without valid documents, they could be fined up to rupees Five Lakh. If they do not pay the fine, their transport vehicles, including planes and ships, could be seized.
The central government will have more power to control the entry, exit, and movement of foreigners in India. This may include making foreigners leave at their own cost, requiring either biometric registration or restricting access to certain areas.
Onus on carriers
Under Chapter-IV by name LIABILITY OF CARRIERS, the bill places the onus on the carrier to remove any foreigner who has been denied entry, without delay.
In addition, the bill further makes certain that carriers embarking or landing at a port or a spot in India will have to furnish passenger and crew manifest, advance passenger details along with passenger's name record information of passengers.
The proposed rules are being implemented so as to avoid overlapping and multiplicity of rules on the same or related subject and to comply with India government’s policy of simplification of laws.