India relaxes passport rules for Pakistani nationals, other foreigners

India has relaxed passport and visa requirements for several categories of foreign nationals living in the country, including certain Pakistani citizens, religious minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, Sri Lankan Tamils and Tibetans.

The Indian government has also simplified identification and travel requirements for citizens of India, Nepal and Bhutan travelling directly between the three neighbouring countries.

The changes were introduced through the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) (Amendment) Order, 2026, issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and published in the Gazette on Thursday, according to The Indian Express.

Who is exempt from passport requirements?

The amended order provides exemptions to specific groups of foreign nationals, subject to eligibility conditions.

These include:

• Certain Pakistani nationals: Those who entered India on or before December 31, 2009, intending to settle permanently and are unable to renew their Pakistani travel documents because they do not have a Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC).

• Religious minorities: Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who entered India on or before December 31, 2024, after fleeing religious persecution or fear of persecution.

• Sri Lankan Tamils: Registered Sri Lankan Tamil nationals who took refuge in India on or before January 9, 2015.

• Tibetan nationals: Certain Tibetans who entered India using permits issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu between 1959 and May 30, 2003, or special entry permits at designated immigration posts along the India-Nepal border.

• People of Indian origin: Certain individuals who acquired Malaysian or Singaporean citizenship and returned to India on or before December 31, 2009, using passports that have since expired and cannot be renewed.

Conditions for Pakistani nationals

The exemption for certain Pakistani citizens comes with additional requirements.

Applicants must have entered India by December 31, 2009, with the intention of settling permanently and must be unable to renew their Pakistani travel documents because they do not possess a CNIC.

They must also have left family members who are Indian citizens when they travelled to Pakistan. Applicants must not have married while in Pakistan or acquired immovable property there.

In addition, they must have no adverse reports from police or security agencies and must undertake not to return to Pakistan.

Relief for religious minorities

The amended order also covers six religious communities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan: Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians.

It applies to those who entered India on or before December 31, 2024, after being compelled to seek shelter because of religious persecution or fear of persecution.

The exemption covers individuals who entered without valid travel documents as well as those whose passports or other travel documents have expired.

However, they must obtain the appropriate visa to continue residing in India, where required under applicable rules.

New travel rules for India, Nepal and Bhutan

The government has also eased documentation requirements for citizens of India, Nepal and Bhutan travelling directly between the three countries by land or air.

Under the revised rules, citizens can use specified identification documents listed in the government’s Visa Manual instead of standard passports when travelling directly between the neighbouring countries.

The relaxation does not apply to journeys involving certain third countries.

Indian citizens travelling to or returning from countries other than Nepal and Bhutan through the India-Nepal or India-Bhutan borders must carry valid passports and use designated immigration checkpoints.

Similarly, Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens entering or leaving India after travelling through or transiting via China, Macau, Hong Kong or Pakistan must carry valid passports and visas.

Other categories covered by exemptions

The amended order also provides exemptions for certain Indian military personnel and foreign military crew members.

Indian Army, Navy and Air Force personnel travelling on official duty are exempt from passport and visa requirements. The exemption also covers family members accompanying them on government transport.

Crew members aboard foreign military vessels visiting India for repairs are exempt from passport requirements if they hold Military Ship Repair Permits issued by immigration authorities and carry valid military identification.

The order defines foreign military vessels as warships and other government-operated ships used for non-commercial purposes by another country’s armed forces.

Do the exemptions allow indefinite stay in India?

The revised provisions do not automatically permit foreign nationals to remain in India indefinitely.

Those covered by the exemptions must obtain the appropriate visa to continue their stay wherever required under the applicable rules.

The new order sets out eligibility based on nationality, date of entry, travel history and individual circumstances.