Commissioner of Police-cum-Foreigners Registration Officer, Dimapur, Aotula T Imchen, IPS, directed individuals, institutions and establishments to comply with mandatory reporting requirements regarding the arrival and stay of foreigners under the newly enforced Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 read with Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025.
According to a notification issued by the Commissioner of Police, the Government of India has enacted a consolidated legislation titled “Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025”, which came into force from September 1, 2025, along with the Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025, notified vide Notification No. G.S.R. 596(E) dated September 1, 2025. With the enforcement of the new legislation, earlier laws including the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920, Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939, Foreigners Act, 1946 and the Immigration (Carriers Liability) Act, 2000 stand repealed.
The notification stated that under Section 8(1) of the Act, keepers of accommodation are legally required to furnish details of foreigners staying in their premises to the Registration Officer. Similarly, Section 10 mandates hospitals, nursing homes and other medical institutions providing lodging or sleeping facilities to report details of foreigners receiving indoor medical treatment, including attendants staying within the premises.
In accordance with Rule 17(1) of the Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025, all accommodation providers must obtain necessary particulars from foreigners, including Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders, at the time of arrival and departure. The information, including the date and time of departure and the address of onward travel, must be maintained electronically for at least one year and must be made available for inspection by the Registration Officer, District Magistrate or any police officer not below the rank of Head Constable.
Further, as per Rule 17(5), accommodation providers are required to electronically submit Form-III, earlier known as Form ‘C’, within 24 hours of the arrival of a foreigner through the designated online portal or mobile application. The Rule 17 (7) (a) define accommodation broadly to include boarding houses, clubs, dak bungalows, rest houses, hostels, paying guest houses, sarai, rented accommodations, homestays, tents, hospitals or other premises of like nature, premises of religious institutions, charitable trusts and any other trusts, public organizations or any other organization or entity of social or religious or of public nature, furnished or unfurnished.
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The notification also stated that under Rule 16, universities, and educational institutions, including school or any other institution admitting any foreigner, including Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders, must electronically submit information about such students provided with hostel accommodation in the prescribed Form-III.
Similarly, Rule 18 mandates hospitals, nursing homes and other medical institutions providing medical, lodging or sleeping facility in their premises to foreigners to collect and maintain necessary particulars of foreign patients and attendants electronically for a period of one year. Such institutions are required to submit Form-III electronically within 24 hours of the foreigner’s arrival through the official portal https://indianfrro.gov.in or via the mobile application “Indian Visa Su-swagatam.”
The Commissioner of Police emphasized that Form-III is a crucial document required under the Immigration & Foreigners Act 2025 and the Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025 and plays an important role in ensuring national security. All concerned individuals and institutions have been directed to ensure accurate and timely reporting of foreigners.
The notification further warned that failure to comply with the provisions of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 and the accompanying Rules would attract penal action as prescribed under the law.
