India: Visa Registration Rules and Employment Visa Categories Revised
June 16, 2026
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At a Glance
- The Ministry of Home Affairs has implemented substantial reforms to visa classifications and registration processes:
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- Foreign nationals entering on a visa valid for 180 days or less were generally granted a 14-day grace period after their 180-day stay expired to register with the FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office) and FRO (Foreigners Registration Office) if they sought to extend their visit. Per the revised rules, foreign nationals intending to stay beyond 180 days must complete FRRO registration before the completion of 180 days of stay, requiring additional advance planning.
- The revised rule removes the need to report the birth of a child where one parent is an Indian citizen, but introduces a new obligation to register the child within 30 days if the child later acquires foreign citizenship.
- The new reforms also change the employment visa subcategories; however, as of now, there are no practical implications of this change.
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- The revised framework will facilitate a more streamlined and technology-driven immigration system.
The situation
The Ministry of Home Affairs has implemented substantial reforms to visa classifications and registration processes under the Immigration and Foreigners Act 2025.
A closer look
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More proactive FRRO registration rules. Foreign nationals entering on a visa valid for 180 days or less were generally granted a 14-day grace period after their 180-day stay expired to register with the FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office) and FRO (Foreigners Registration Office) if they sought to extend their visit. Per the revised rules, foreign nationals intending to stay beyond 180 days must complete FRRO registration before the completion of 180 days of stay. Additionally, authorities have tightened related compliance rules and penalties for violations of this rule. Late registration is allowed only in exceptional cases. |
The change shifts FRRO registration from a reactive process to a strictly proactive one. More advance planning is now required, especially considering the stricter penalties.
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New child citizenship registration rules. Parents must electronically report the birth of a child to the Registration Officer where one parent is an Indian citizen and the child retains Indian citizenship. In cases where a child residing in India subsequently acquires foreign citizenship, parents are required to inform the Registration Officer within 30 days of such acquisition. Per the revised regulations, the requirement to electronically notify the Registration Officer regarding the birth of a child has been waived where one parent is an Indian citizen and the child retains Indian citizenship. Notwithstanding the above, where a child residing in India acquires foreign citizenship, the parents must notify the Registration Officer within 30 days of such acquisition. |
While the revised rule removes the need to report the birth of a child where one parent is an Indian citizen, it introduces a time-sensitive obligation to notify FRRO within 30 days if the child later acquires foreign citizenship.
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New employment visa sub-categories. The new law changes the employment sub-categories from: E1: all employment cases (direct hire and consultants or receiving direct remuneration in India) E2: intracompany transferees E3: non-government organizations, etc. E4: project visas To: E‑1: all cases of employment, including intra‑company transferees, but excluding those covered by E-2 and E-3 visas E2 – non-government organizations, etc. E3 – missionaries/religious workers, approved organizations, etc.
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The new categories provide clearer rules for organizing and selecting the appropriate employment visa and reduces ambiguity in identifying the right visa type.
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Background
These changes are designed to enhance the monitoring and documentation of foreign nationals, while strengthening the government’s ability to address security and administrative considerations more effectively. The new provisions align with the government’s ongoing efforts to modernize immigration management through advanced digital tracking and registration mechanisms
The revised framework will facilitate a more streamlined and technology-driven immigration system. The reforms are intended to improve compliance, bolster national security and ensure the maintenance of accurate records of foreign visitors.
Looking ahead
The evolving framework signals a move toward a more structured, technology-driven and enforcement-focused immigration regime, requiring stakeholders to align with enhanced compliance expectations. We will track and report future developments.
Fragomen in India is Fragomen Immigration Services India (Pvt) Ltd., operating exclusively as an immigration consultancy and not as a law firm. This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.
