The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has tightened cross-border controls in the Himalayan region, making identity documentation a strict requirement for travelers moving between India, Nepal, and Bhutan. Issued in 2026, the notification amends the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025. It mandates that Indian citizens entering or exiting India from or to Nepal or Bhutan by land or air must produce specific documents listed in the Visa Manual.
Immigration officers will now verify these IDs before allowing passage. The rule is not blanket. If an Indian citizen travels to a country other than Nepal or Bhutan but uses the India-Nepal or India-Bhutan border, the exemption fails. Such travelers must hold a valid passport and use designated immigration posts. The same logic applies to Nepalese and Bhutanese nationals. They must show specified ID documents for direct India-Nepal or India-Bhutan travel. But if their route involves a third country, a valid passport becomes non-negotiable.
The new order specifically targets travelers who have transited through or embarked from China, Macau, Hong Kong, or Pakistan. These individuals must possess both a valid passport and a valid visa. This provision aims to close potential security gaps associated with these specific transit points. The MHA issued this amendment under Section 33 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.
Several groups remain exempt. Indian naval, military, and air force personnel on duty, along with their families on government transport, are covered. So are registered Sri Lankan Tamil nationals who sought shelter in India before January 9, 2015. Foreign crew members of military vessels visiting India for repairs under specific permits also qualify. Certain Tibetan nationals registered through designated procedures are included.
The amendment extends to members of minority communities—Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians—from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. If they entered India on or before December 31, 2024, due to religious persecution, they are exempt from passport and visa requirements. However, they must obtain an appropriate visa for continued stay if their original documents have expired or were never valid. The rule takes effect immediately upon notification.