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 Indian, Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens travelling between the three neighbouring countries.
The changes were notified by India's Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) through the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) (Amendment) Order, 2026, published in the Gazette on Thursday, according to The Indian Express.
The amended order provides exemptions to several categories of foreign nationals, subject to specific eligibility conditions.
These include:
• Certain Pakistani nationals: Those who entered India on or before December 31, 2009, intending to settle permanently, may be exempt from passport renewal requirements if they cannot renew their documents because they do not possess a Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) issued by Pakistan.
• Religious minorities from three countries: Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan 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 through 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 issued by those countries, which have since expired and cannot be renewed.
What are the new rules for Sri Lankan Tamils & Tibetans?
Registered Sri Lankan Tamil citizens who sought refuge in India on or before January 9, 2015, have also been granted relief from the standard passport and visa requirements under the amended order.
Similar exemptions have been extended to certain Tibetan nationals.
These include Tibetans who entered India with permits issued by the Indian embassy in Kathmandu between 1959 and May 30, 2003.
The relief also covers those who arrived after that date using special entry permits through designated immigration checkpoints along the India-Nepal border.
-With inputs from agencies
