India’s Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a Gazette notification (S.O. 5649 E, 15 October 2026) designating Hatisar in western Assam as a **temporary authorised Immigration Check-Post** from 24 October to 6 November 2026. The ad-hoc facility—fully integrated with India’s e-Visa system—will handle arrivals and departures for Bhutanese citizens and third-country nationals travelling to the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) conclave just across the border in Bhutan. The decision is unusual because land borders between India and Bhutan are normally policed by the Sashastra Seema Bal but do not maintain full-fledged immigration posts capable of processing electronic visas. By invoking Section 4(1) of the Immigration & Foreigners Act 2025, New Delhi has created a legal carve-out that fast-tracks visa stamping, entry and exit formalities for an 11-day window. Officials told local media that the post will be equipped with handheld biometric devices and a satellite link to the Immigration, Visa, Foreigners-Registration & Tracking (IVFRT) backbone, ensuring that e-Visa QR codes can be verified even if terrestrial connectivity fails. For Indian corporates and event managers sending staff to GMC, the move removes a major logistical bottleneck. Personnel can now route via Guwahati airport and drive three hours to the Hatisar gate instead of flying onward to Paro in Bhutan—a route that often sells out weeks in advance. Freight forwarders expect a similar boost; trucks carrying exhibition materials will be able to clear customs and immigration at the same point, cutting transit time by a full day. Border-security experts note that the notification also serves as a pilot for **mobile immigration posts** that can be activated for large-scale events such as international trade fairs or sporting fixtures in border states. If successful, the model could be replicated in Punjab for the Kartarpur corridor pilgrimage or in Uttar Pradesh for cross-border Buddhist circuits. Multinationals with project teams in the Northeast should advise travellers that only e-Visa holders and Bhutanese nationals may use the post; other foreign nationals still require a regular visa and must enter via designated airports. Companies should also remind employees that the crossing closes at 18:00 each day, and over-stay penalties under the Immigration Act apply even during the temporary regime.
