Foreigner Registration in India

Foreigner Registration in India

The following categories of foreigners (including foreigners of Indian origin) visiting India are required to register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Officers (FRROs) or the Superintendents of Police/Districts as the foreigner registration is not available at the airport.

  1. Student Visa, Medical Visa, Research Visa, Employment Visa:
    As they are entering on a long term visa (more than 180 days), foreigner registration is required within 14 days of arrival with the FRRO / FRO that has the jurisdiction over the place where the foreigner intends to stay.

    Indian Mission (Embassy/Consulate) should stamp the visa with “REGISTRATION REQUIRED WITHIN 14 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF ARRIVAL” in India. Special rules:
    1. Pakistan nationals are required to register within 24 hours of their arrival.

    2. Afghan nationals:
      1. All Afghan nationals are required to register within 14 days of arrival except those who enter India on a visa valid for 30 days or less provided they give their local address in India to the Indian Mission / FRRO / FRO.

      2. Afghan nationals who are issued visas with ‘Exemption from policy reporting’ are exempt from policy reporting and exit permission, as long as they leave within their visa validity period.

  • Business Visa, Entry (X) Visa:
    They are required to register if their aggregate stay in India on a business visa exceeds 180 days during a calendar year.

    Indian Mission (Embassy/Consulate) should stamp “CONTINUOUS STAY LESS THAN 180 DAYS – NO REGISTRATION”, “IF STAY IN A CALENDAR YEAR EXCEEDS 180 DAYS, REGISTRATION REQUIRED”.

  • Other Visas:
    All other visa holders are not required to register even if they entered India on a long term visa provided their continuous stay in India does not exceed 180 days. If they intend to stay in India for more than 180 days, they need to get registered before the expiry of 180 days from the arrival date.

    Indian Mission (Embassy/Consulate) should stamp “REGISTRATION NOT REQUIRED IF EACH STAY DOES NOT EXCEED 180 DAYS”.

  • Other Cases:
    • If the visa has a special endorsement ‘for registration required’, registration is required for any duration of stay.

Normally, the registration is process is completed on the same days. However, if the registration officer requires any field inquiry or other checks, it may take longer. Once registration is completed, a residential permit is issued for the duration of the period of stay specified in the visa.

Registration is required only once during the validity of a visa irrespective of the number of times the foreigner leaves/re-enters India on a multiple-entry visa. If the person enters India on a new visa, registration is required again.

Foreigners can visit Restricted/Protected Areas only after obtaining a valid permit, as a visa alone is not enough to visit such places.

Foreigners coming from or through yellow fever countries must come with a valid vaccination certificate.

Registration Exemptions


The following categories of foreigners are not required to be registered:

  • Children below the age of 16 years.

  • PIO Card holders (as long as their continuous stay during each visit doesn’t exceed 180 days).

    If the continuous stay exceeds 180 days, the foreigner should approach the concerned FRO/FRRO for registration within 30 days of the expiry of 180 days, who will, in turn, register them.

  • OCI Card holders (irrespective of the duration of their stay in India).

  • Foreign diplomatic and/or consular officers assigned to India and their spouse and children are exempt from registration on a reciprocal basis. Exception: Egypt and Syria (they are required to register).

  • UN officials and its specialized agencies coming to India on duty, their spouse and dependent relatives, experts under the UN and its specialized agencies holding UN Laissez-Passer or any other document indicating their status with the UN. Such persons are not issued a residential permit either.

Surrender at Departure


Foreigners should surrender their certificates of registration to the Registration Officer of the place where they are registered, or of the place from where they intend to depart, or to the Immigration Officer at the port/check post of exit from India. If the certificate is surrendered to anyone other than the Immigration Officer at the port/check post of exit, the foreigners should produce the receipt indicating such surrender of the document to the Immigration Officer at the port/check post of exit.

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