Significant Updates to Immigration Rules in India for 2026

Major Changes in Immigration Regulations

New Delhi, June 2: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has announced the Immigration and Foreigners (Amendment) Rules, 2026, which bring about crucial modifications to the registration process for foreign nationals, provisions for children with Indian parents, emergency registration cases, and the appeals process under the Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025.

The new rules, which were published in a Gazette notification on June 1, 2026, are effective immediately.

A significant alteration involves the registration timeline for foreigners in India. The government has revised Rule 12, allowing registration to be completed “any time before the expiry of the said period of one hundred and eighty days,” replacing the previous requirement that mandated registration “within fourteen days after the expiry of one hundred and eighty days of his arrival in India.”

Additionally, the amendment imposes stricter regulations on late registration. The notification specifies that late registration beyond the allowed period will only be accepted under exceptional circumstances, stating that “such registration shall be granted only in emergent circumstances.”

Another important change pertains to children who may hold dual citizenship. The amended rules exempt registration requirements for children if at least one parent is an Indian citizen and wishes to maintain the child's Indian citizenship under Section 3 of the Citizenship Act, 1955.

Furthermore, if a child acquires foreign citizenship while in India, either parent must inform the Registration Officer within 30 days of the child's acquisition of foreign citizenship.

In another update, the government has corrected a provision in Rule 18 regarding reporting timelines, changing the phrase from “but beyond twenty-four hours” to “but not beyond twenty-four hours.”

The appeals process for individuals dissatisfied with directives from civil authorities under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, has also been revised. Appeals must now be submitted to the Commissioner, Bureau of Immigration, within 30 days via the designated online portal.

The updated rules require the Commissioner to provide a reasonable opportunity for a hearing and aim to complete proceedings typically within sixty days from the appeal's receipt.

These amendments have been enacted under the authority granted by Section 30 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, with the goal of simplifying compliance procedures while enhancing regulatory oversight of foreign nationals in India.