Immigration and Foreigners Act 2025: Who Must Report Foreigners

Under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, any hotel, guest house, hospital, or college that hosts a foreign national must report their details to the government, in most cases within 24 hours. This law came into force on 1 September 2025 and replaced four older immigration laws. Reporting is done electronically through the FRRO e-portal, and failing to report can attract penalties.

If you are short on time: see the Who must report and by when table, then How to file a Form C.

For decades, India managed foreigners through four separate laws. The Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 merges them into one statute. It repealed and replaced:

• The Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920
• The Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939
• The Foreigners Act, 1946
• The Immigration (Carriers Liability) Act, 2000

The core idea is the same as before, but the reporting is now fully digital and the penalties are tougher. The Bureau of Immigration, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, administers the law.

Important: this Act is about foreign nationals. It does not change how Indian citizens apply for or renew their own passports.

The accommodation report is commonly called the Form C. It is filed online, so a small hotel or a homestay owner does not need to visit any office.

1. Register the property on the FRRO e-portal at indianfrro.gov.in. Hotels and other providers create an account once.
2. When a foreign guest checks in, log in and open the Form C or accommodation reporting section.
3. Enter the guest passport number, visa details, nationality, and check-in date.
4. Submit within 24 hours of arrival. Keep the acknowledgement.
5. Update the record with the check-out date when the guest leaves.

Colleges use the same portal or the Indian Visa Su-Swagatam app to report foreign students. Keep a copy of every submission in case of an inspection.

The 2025 Act raised the stakes for immigration offences.

• Forged travel documents: Using, supplying, or making a forged passport, visa, or travel document can bring 2 to 7 years imprisonment and a fine of ₹1 lakh to ₹10 lakh.
• Entry or stay without valid documents: A foreigner who enters or stays without a valid passport or visa faces imprisonment and a fine under the Act.
• Failure to report: Institutions that do not report foreigners as required can face penalties, and repeat lapses invite closer scrutiny.

Because exact punishment depends on the offence and section, always check the current Act text before relying on a specific figure.

If you are a foreign national in India, or an Indian hosting one, the practical points are simple.

• A hotel or host will ask for your passport and visa to complete the Form C. This is a legal duty, not an intrusion.
• Staying beyond your visa validity is an offence. Track your visa expiry and apply for extension through the FRRO in time.
• Keep digital copies of your passport, visa, and any registration, so reporting is quick.

If you believe an office has wrongly recorded or delayed your registration, you can file an RTI application with the Ministry of Home Affairs or the concerned FRRO to ask for the status and the action taken. Draft it using the AI RTI drafting tool, and read The RTI Playbook for how to escalate.

It came into force on 1 September 2025. It replaced the Passport (Entry into India) Act 1920, the Registration of Foreigners Act 1939, the Foreigners Act 1946, and the Immigration (Carriers Liability) Act 2000.

Yes. Any accommodation provider, including a homestay, hostel, or PG, must report foreign guests, usually within 24 hours, through the FRRO e-portal. The report is often called the Form C.

Register your property on indianfrro.gov.in, then file a Form C with the guest passport, visa, and nationality details within 24 hours of arrival. Update the record with the departure date when they leave.

Yes. Universities and colleges must report the details of every enrolled foreign student, generally within 24 hours, through the FRRO portal or the Indian Visa Su-Swagatam app.

Using, supplying, or making a forged passport, visa, or other travel document can lead to 2 to 7 years imprisonment and a fine of ₹1 lakh to ₹10 lakh under the 2025 Act.

No. The Act governs foreign nationals in India. Indian citizens still apply for and renew passports under the Passports Act, 1967, through Passport Seva.

The Bureau of Immigration, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, administers the Act. Reporting and registration are handled by the Foreigners Regional Registration Offices through indianfrro.gov.in.

• If you run any lodging or college, register on indianfrro.gov.in and locate the Form C section.
• Prepare a simple checklist of details to collect from every foreign guest or student.
• If you are a foreigner, note your visa expiry date and set a reminder to renew in time.
• Save digital copies of passports and visas for faster reporting.

• The Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 (Act No. 13 of 2025), full text on India Code
• Commencement notification S.O. 3981(E) dated 31 August 2025, Ministry of Home Affairs
• Foreigners Regional Registration Office e-portal, indianfrro.gov.in

• Fake immigration consultancy scam: how to avoid it
• Visa fraud recovery: steps to get your money back
• How to apply for an India e-passport on Passport Seva
• The RTI Playbook