The central government will have more control over foreigners’ movements when the bill is signed into law. This includes the authority to control access to particular places, prohibit leave, and restrict admittance.
The Immigration and Foreigners Bill 2025 was presented to the Lok Sabha on Tuesday in an effort to stop illegal immigration and infiltration. Presenting the bill on behalf of Amit Shah, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said its goal is to make sure that all foreigners follow Indian rules, not to stop them from entering the country. The bill was rejected by TMC MP Saugata Roy and Congress MP Manish Tewari.
Why Was the Bill Introduced?
The purpose of the bill is to fortify and update India’s immigration regulations. It gives the central government the power to control the requirements for passports and other travel documents for people coming into and going out of India, as well as issues pertaining to foreign nationals, such as registration and visa requirements.
The national security of this country depends on this immigration bill. It places the onus of demonstrating legal status on the individual rather than the state. Any foreign national deemed a threat to India’s national security, sovereignty, or integrity is expressly prohibited from entering or residing in the country by the statute. In addition, it forbids foreign nationals from changing their names or going into protected or restricted regions and requires them to register as soon as they arrive.
Immigration officials will also need to be notified when foreign nationals are present at hospitals, nursing homes, and educational institutions.
Strict Penalties for Violations
The proposed bill imposes harsh sanctions for breaking immigration laws:
- Unauthorised entry without a current passport or visa carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to ₹5 lakh.
- Using falsified documents: a punishment of ₹1 lakh to ₹10 lakh and two to seven years in prison.
- Going into restricted regions, overstaying, or breaking the terms of a visa: A fine of up to ₹3 lakh, three years in prison, or both.
Transport companies who transport people without the required paperwork will also be held liable and face fines of up to ₹5 lakh. If you don’t pay, your car can be seized. The transport operator will be in charge of making sure a foreign national leaves right away if they are refused entry.
Additionally, the bill gives immigration authorities additional authority, such as the ability to make arrests without a warrant.
Replacing Four Colonial-Era Laws
This bill will give the central government more authority over international travel, including rules governing access, departure, and arrival. In addition to providing biometric information for identification, foreign nationals will be expected to cover the costs of their departure.
The Foreigners Act of 1946 is one of the antiquated colonial-era laws that the new law seeks to replace.
- The 1920 Passport (Entry into India) Act
- The 1939 Registration of Foreigners Act
Fourth, the 2000 Immigration (Carrier Liability) Act
Originally draughted to address the realities of war, these regulations are now seen as antiquated. The administration contends that in order to simplify rules and eliminate superfluous clauses, a single, contemporary immigration legislation is required.
Congress Raises Concerns
The Minister of State for Home Affairs stressed the bill’s constitutionality and its inclusion in the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution while introducing it. Foreigner entry and deportation is the topic of the bill’s introduction.
He restated that the purpose of the bill is to make sure that foreigners abide by Indian rules, not to bar immigration. Additionally, he explained that although hospitals and educational institutions were previously obligated to notify foreign nationals, the new law turns this requirement into a legal one rather than only an administrative one.
