MHA relaxes passport, visa rules for foreign nationals in India, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has relaxed passport and visa rules for several categories of foreign nationals residing in India.
• These changes were enacted through The Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) (Amendment) Order, 2026, published on Thursday.
• Pakistani nationals who entered India on or before December 31, 2009, intending permanent residence, are exempt from standard passport renewal if they lack a Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) and meet specific conditions.
• Religious minorities (Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, Christian) from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan who entered India by December 31, 2024, due to religious persecution, are also granted exemptions from certain document requirements.
• Travel and identification protocols have been streamlined for citizens of India, Nepal, and Bhutan traveling directly between these three nations.
• The order also includes specific exemptions for registered Sri Lankan Tamil nationals and eligible Tibetan nationals.

Detailed Insights:

• The exemption for Pakistani nationals is conditional on them not having married or acquired property in Pakistan, having left Indian citizen family members, undertaking not to return to Pakistan, and having no adverse police or security reports.
• For religious minorities, the exemption applies even if they entered India without valid travel documents or if their documents have since expired, though they must obtain an appropriate visa for continued stay.
• These relaxations for religious minorities align with the broader objectives of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019, which aims to provide a path to Indian citizenship for these communities.
• For travel between India, Nepal, and Bhutan, citizens will now be required to produce specified identity documents as per the Visa Manual, with specific rules for travel involving third countries.
• The Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) is a crucial and mandatory identity document for Pakistani citizens, issued by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), essential for various civil and financial transactions.
• The Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) (Amendment) Order, 2026 specifically amends the existing Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC): A mandatory 13-digit identity document for Pakistani citizens, issued by NADRA, containing biometric data and serving as proof of identity and nationality.
• Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019: An Indian law that provides an accelerated pathway to Indian citizenship for persecuted religious minorities (Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians) from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who entered India on or before December 31, 2014.
• Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA): The central ministry of the Government of India responsible for internal security, border management, disaster management, and the administration of Union Territories, including immigration and citizenship policies.