New Delhi: When the Modi government's new legislation goes into force, the role of colleges, hospitals, and other medical institutions that admit foreign nationals, as well as passport and visa matters, will be clarified. Among the important provisions of the new Bill is a penalty of up to Rs 5 lakh for illegal entry and up to Rs 10 lakh for a forged passport.
The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, is expected to be introduced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the current Budget session of Parliament. The proposed legislation will replace existing laws: the Passport (Entry into India) Act of 1920, the Registration of Foreigners Act of 1939, the Foreigners Act of 1946, and the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act of 2000.
The proposed legislation would provide the Central government the authority to require passports or other travel documents for anyone entering and exiting India, as well as to regulate foreigner-related issues. According to the Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, it addresses immigration issues such as the duties of immigration officers, the requirement for passports and visas, and others.
It will detail the requirements relating to foreigners and their registration, as well as the obligations of universities and educational institutions admitting foreigners, hospitals, nursing homes, and other medical facilities admitting foreigners, Indian Express reported.
The Bill will include provisions relating to foreigners whose movements are restricted, the power of civil authorities to control places frequented by foreigners, the liability of carriers and their obligations, the offences and punishments for violating certain provisions of the proposed legislation, and the composition of offences. The Bill will specify the Central government's authority to issue orders for foreigner removal, delegation, and exemption.
Currently, the Foreigners Act of 1946 (31 of 1946) and the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act of 2000 (52 of 2000) govern foreigners and immigration.
The Foreigners Act of 1946 was created to provide the Central government with specific rights over foreigners. The Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act of 2000 was enacted to hold carriers liable for passengers brought into India in violation of the terms of the Passport (Entry into India) Act of 1920 (34 of 1920) and the rules issued under it, as well as other things related therewith.
Other significant Acts relating to foreigners and immigration include the Passport (Entry into India) Act of 1920 and the Registration of Foreigners Act of 1939 (16 of 1939).
These two Acts were passed to grant authority to require passports for anyone entering India and to provide for the registration of foreigners in India.
“The acts, namely the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920, the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939, and the Foreigners Act, 1946, are not only of the pre-Constitution period but also, they were brought into extraordinary times of first and second world wars.
While there is an underlying continuity and commonality of objectives among the four Acts, there are some overlapping provisions among the said laws.
In view of the reasons mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, there is a necessity to repeal all the aforesaid four Acts and to enact a new comprehensive legislation, namely the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025,” the Statement of Objects and Reasons says.