On September 1, 2025, India commenced the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025—an ambitious consolidation of four outdated statutes into a single, streamlined law. It mandates all entrants to possess valid travel documents, restricts entry and exit to designated immigration posts, and grants immigration officers the final authority to approve or deny access on grounds including national security.

Under this framework, the Bureau of Immigration (BOI) gains statutory backing to identify, detain, and deport illegal foreigners through coordinated digital systems. Registration is obligatory for longer-stay foreign nationals, while digital reporting by hotels, hospitals, educational institutions, and carriers including airlines ensures real-time monitoring and compliance. 

The Act also allows civil authorities to restrict or shut down premises frequented by "undesirable foreigners" and mandates special permits for entry into restricted zones. Exemptions are clearly outlined for groups like Indian military personnel, citizens of Nepal and Bhutan entering through their borders, registered Tibetan refugees, and persecuted religious minorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan who arrived before December 31, 2024.