In this Leading Questions piece, Dipak Rao and Nishita Arora explain the 2026 amendments to the Immigration and Foreigners Rules, which remove the 14-day registration grace period and update child-reporting requirements for foreign nationals in India.

Question: What are the key changes introduced under the Immigration and Foreigners (Amendment) Rules, 2026?

Answer: On June 1, 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs notified the Immigration and Foreigners (Amendment) Rules, 2026 (“Amendment”), introducing certain amendments to the Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025. Although the Amendment does not materially alter India's existing immigration framework, it seeks to strengthen compliance requirements for foreign nationals residing in India and clarify certain administrative procedures.

Among the key changes introduced by the Amendment are:

• revised registration requirements applicable to foreign nationals; and

• changes to the reporting obligations relating to children born in India to foreign nationals.

Question: What are the revised registration requirements applicable to foreign nationals?

Answer: The Amendment removes the previously available 14-day grace period for registration where a foreign national seeks to remain in India beyond the permitted period of stay.

Accordingly, foreign nationals holding visas that permit a maximum stay of 180 days and intending to stay beyond that period are now required to register with the Foreigners Registration Officer (“FRO”) before the expiry of the initial 180-day period.

The same requirement applies to foreign nationals holding visas with a validity exceeding 180 days but subject to a condition that no individual stay may exceed 180 days. Such individuals must register with the FRO before the expiry of the 180-day period if they intend to remain in India beyond 180 days, whether on a continuous basis or cumulatively during a calendar year. However, any extension beyond the prescribed 180-day limit will be considered only in emergent circumstances.

Question: What changes have been made to the reporting obligations for children born to foreign nationals in India?

Answer: The Amendment introduces an important exception to the reporting requirements relating to children born in India to foreign nationals. Where either parent is an Indian citizen and intends for the child to retain Indian citizenship, the parents are no longer required to notify the FRO of the child's birth, as was required under the earlier framework.

Additionally, the Amendment imposes a new reporting obligation in cases where a child born in India subsequently acquires the citizenship of a foreign country while continuing to reside in India. In such instances, the parents must inform the FRO within 30 days of the date on which the child acquires foreign citizenship.

Taken together, these changes underscore the Indian government's continued efforts to enhance oversight of foreign nationals residing in India.

Dipak Rao is a Senior Partner and Nishita Arora is an Associate at Singhania & Partners.