Late on 15 October, the Ministry of Home Affairs published the Immigration and Foreigners (Amendment) Rules, 2026, with the official portal showing a 16 October update. The amendments make two practical changes that matter for employers moving staff into India. First, foreigners entering India for stays of up to 180 days who wish to extend their stay may now register “any time before expiry of the 180-day period” instead of within 14 days after the period ends. The shift removes an awkward gap that often forced business travellers to leave the country simply because the registration window had lapsed. Second—and more significant—the rules introduce India’s first digital appeals mechanism in immigration matters. Affected individuals can file an online appeal with the Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration within 30 days of an adverse order, and the Commissioner must issue a reasoned decision within 60 days. This codifies due-process timelines that were previously handled ad hoc via physical files and personal hearings. Immigration advisers expect the new system to reduce dependence on agents and to improve audit trails, but warn that employers will have to monitor appeal deadlines carefully. Multinationals should update their global mobility playbooks to reflect the earlier need to gather supporting documents—particularly police clearance certificates and medicals—well before the 180-day mark. The digital appeal channel also dovetails with the government’s broader IVFRT (Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration & Tracking) modernisation, indicating that India is moving steadily toward paperless, time-bound immigration adjudication.
Source: Akashvani News
