Aliens illegally entering India to face 5 years' jail & fine up to Rs 5 lakh

NEW DELHI: Any foreigner entering India without valid passport or visa will now face up to five years' jail and a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh. If such entry, stay or exit is on basis of a forged passport or travel document, punishment will range from two to seven years in jail and a fine between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 10 lakh.

These provisions of Immigration & Foreigners Act, 2025, passed by Parliament in Budget session, took effect Monday, with Centre notifying Sept 1, 2025, as appointed day. The Act repealed four laws - Foreigners Act, 1946; Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920; Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939; & Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act, 2000 - consolidating them into a single legislation.

The Act requires all higher educational institutions and universities to share details of foreign students with registration officers. The same applies to hospitals, nursing homes and medical institutions with lodging facilities.

The Centre can now restrict entry, exit or movement of foreigners, take biometrics, and bar them from specified activities. Visa overstayers or violators face up to three years' jail or Rs 3 lakh fine.

Carriers ferrying foreigners without valid documents face penalties up to Rs 5 lakh, recoverable by detaining the vessel if unpaid.