Registration by foreign nationals is governed by the provisions in the Registration of Foreigners Rules, 1992 and instructions issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs from time to time. The registration requirements are presently as follows:
For all the visa related services mentioned in para 1 above, the foreign nationals are required to submit the online application forms to the FRROs/FROs concerned under the C-FRO module. Ministry of Home Affairs has circulated a list of mandatory documents to be submitted by the foreign nationals to FRROs/FROs for various visa related services.
This list of mandatory documents have also been placed on the MHA website.
http://boi.gov.in/sites/default/files/u4/Supporting documents required for Registration.pdf
After the submission of the application online, the foreign national is required to personally appear before the FRRO/FRO concerned with all requisite documents.
The visa related request for the foreign national is then processed by the FRRO/FRO concerned and in all cases which are within their delegated powers, final decision is taken by them and the same is intimated to the foreign national concerned. In cases which are not within the delegated powers, the requests along with the report of the FRRO/FRO concerned are forwarded online to the Home Department of the State Government/UT Administration or Ministry of Home Affairs and the final decision is communicated by the competent authority to the FRRO/FRO concerned.
Foreign nationals are then required to visit the office of the FRRO/FRO concerned for getting the Registration Certificate or Residential Permit/endorsement on the Passport with reference to their specific requests.
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- Registration is essential for all foreigners having visas for a period exceeding 6 months except the exempted categories and should be done within 14 days of first arrival at the nearest office of the Foreigners Registration Officer, list of documents that are required at the time of registration is given below:
- Original passport on which visa is endorsed
- Photocopy of the passport and initial visa
- Four photographs of the applicant.
- Details of residence in India
- HIV test report from one of the WHO recognized Institutions from people in the age group 15 to 60 years, if the foreigner is visiting India on a visa for more than one year.
- Copy of the marriage certificate in case of those seeking extension of stay on grounds of being spouse of an Indian national.
- Bonafide certificate from the University/College/Institution in case of student visa.
- Accreditation certificate from Press Information Bureau in case of journalist visa.
- Approval of the Department of Company Affairs in case of Board level appointments in Public Limited Companies.
- Copy of the approval from Government of India in case of a joint venture or collaboration (in duplicate)
- Copy of permission from the RBI in case of contract or agreement, in case of Employment visa.
- Undertaking from the concerned Indian company on the following lines in case of Employment/Business visas:
FORMAT OF UNDERTAKING:
We take full responsibility for the activities and conduct of Mr/Mrs/Ms __________ national of _________ during his/her stay in India. If anything adverse comes to notice during this period, we undertake to repatriate him/her at our cost. Date/Seal __________ Signature of competent authority.
- Addresses of Registration Offices:
- FRRO, Hans Bhavan, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi. Tel: 0091-11-319 489
- FRRO, 237, AJC Bose Road, Calcutta, Tel: 0091-33-247 0549
- FRRO, Tata Press Building, 414, S.V. Marg, Mumbai. Tel: 0091-22-621 169
- CHIO, 26, Haddows Road, Chennai, Tel: 0091-44-827 7036
- At other places, The Superintendent of Police of the Districts are Foreigners Registration Officers
- Certificates of registration will be issued by the registration officers.
The foreigners should surrender their certificates of registration to the Registration Officer of the place where they are registered or at the place from where they intend to depart or to the Immigration Office at the post/check post of exit from India. If the certificates are surrendered to someone other than the Immigration officer at the post/check post of exit, then the foreigners should produce the receipt indicating such surrender to the Immigration officer at the post/check posts of exit. - Registration is required to be done only once during the validity of a visa irrespective of the number of times the foreigner leaves/re-enters India on a multi-entry facility.
- Following categories of foreigners are exempted from registration:
- US nationals holding ten-year Tourist/Business Visas provided their continuous stay during each visit does not exceed six months.
- Foreigners of Indian origin holding five-year multiple entry X visa with an endorsement that "stay should not exceed six months during each visit”.
- Foreigners holding five-year Tourist Visas, who are actively engaged in tourist/travel trade, desirous of visiting India frequently over extended periods for promotion of tourism, etc., provided that their visa contains an endorsement that "continuous stay should not exceed six months”.
- Foreigners below the age of 16 years.
- Foreigners can visit restricted/prohibited areas only after getting a valid permit as visa alone is not enough to visit such places.
- Foreigners coming from or through yellow fever countries must come with valid vaccination certificate.
- On arrival/departure, foreigners should fill up Disembarkation/Embarkation forms.
Visa Related Services Provided by FRROs/FROs
- Registration
- Extension of visa
- Renewal of registration
- Conversion of visa
- Entry conversion (from single entry to multiple entry)
- Exit permission
- Change of address
- Change of passport (only in the case of loss?)
- Restricted/Protected Area Permit
- Return Visa/Additional Entry/NORI (No Objection to Return to India) in respect of Pakistan/Bangladesh nationals living in India on Long Term Visa (LTV) and also in respect of Tibetans living in India on Identity Certificate.
- Additional places, change in mode of travel, change in port of exit, etc. (for Pakistan nationals)
- Other services (this includes registration/grant of visa/exit permission for child born in India, grant of visa to those who have surrendered Indian passport consequent on acquiring foreign passport, registration by those who claim to be refugees etc.)
Registration of Foreign Nationals in India
Registration by foreign nationals is governed by the provisions in the Registration of Foreigners Rules, 1992 and instructions issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs from time to time. The registration requirements are presently as follows:
- There is no requirement of registration for a foreign national (Other than Pakistan and Afghanistan nationals) who enters India on a visa valid for a stay in India for a period of 180 days or less.
- A foreign national who enters India on a visa valid for stay in India for a period of 180 days or less and who wishes to stay in India beyond the period of 180 days, is required to register with the FRRO/FRO concerned within 14 days after the expiry of 180 days of his arrival in India.
- A foreign national who enters India on a visa valid for a stay in India for a period of more than 180 days is required to register with the FRO/FRO concerned within 14 days of arrival in India.
- The registration requirements in respect of Pakistan and Afghanistan nationals are given below:
- Pakistan nationals (other than those granted Exemption from Police Reporting (EPR) visas and those coming on Medical visas) are required to register themselves with the DCP/FRO concerned within 24 hours of arrival. In the case of those coming on Medical Visa, they are required to register within 7 days of arrival.
- Afghanistan nationals coming to India with a visa duration of 30 days or less, are exempt from the requirement of registration, provided the visa applicant gives the Indian Mission his/her local address in India. In all other cases, Afghanistan nationals are required to register with the FRRO/FRO concerned within 14 days of arrival irrespective of the duration of the visa
For all the visa related services mentioned in para 1 above, the foreign nationals are required to submit the online application forms to the FRROs/FROs concerned under the C-FRO module. Ministry of Home Affairs has circulated a list of mandatory documents to be submitted by the foreign nationals to FRROs/FROs for various visa related services.
This list of mandatory documents have also been placed on the MHA website.
http://boi.gov.in/sites/default/files/u4/Supporting documents required for Registration.pdf
After the submission of the application online, the foreign national is required to personally appear before the FRRO/FRO concerned with all requisite documents.
The visa related request for the foreign national is then processed by the FRRO/FRO concerned and in all cases which are within their delegated powers, final decision is taken by them and the same is intimated to the foreign national concerned. In cases which are not within the delegated powers, the requests along with the report of the FRRO/FRO concerned are forwarded online to the Home Department of the State Government/UT Administration or Ministry of Home Affairs and the final decision is communicated by the competent authority to the FRRO/FRO concerned.
Foreign nationals are then required to visit the office of the FRRO/FRO concerned for getting the Registration Certificate or Residential Permit/endorsement on the Passport with reference to their specific requests.
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