Non-Muslims from Pakistan, Bangladesh will have to get visas in India: Earlier, 6 communities including Hindus and Sikhs were exempted; 5 points of change

People from 6 non-Muslim communities who came to India due to religious persecution from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan will now have to get visas to stay here. These include Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians. Earlier, these people were exempted from the requirement of both passports and visas. This change will apply to those who came to India on or before December 31, 2024. This includes those who came without valid travel documents and whose documents have expired. The Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday notified new amendments to the immigration rules. It also clarifies the rules for travel between India, Nepal and Bhutan, along with providing relief to Pakistani citizens and some foreigners of Indian origin to renew their passports. What were the rules earlier, what has changed now... 5 Points 1. Condition of not returning for Pakistani citizens Old rule: Pakistan's passport was required to be renewed when it expired. For this, Pakistan's Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) was required. People were facing difficulties due to lack of CNIC. New rule: Some Pakistani nationals who came to India on or before December 31, 2009 have been allowed to renew their passports. This exemption will be available to those persons who had come to India permanently and were unable to get their passports renewed due to non-availability of CNIC. 2. Relief to Indian Origin Holders of Malaysia and Singapore Citizenship Old Rule: Citizens of Indian Origin holding citizenship of Malaysia or Singapore had to get their passports renewed on expiry. New Rule: Certain persons of Indian Origin who returned to India on or before 31st December, 2009 from Malaysia or Singapore have been exempted from renewal of their passports. This exemption will be available to those whose passports have expired and cannot be renewed due to the laws of the respective countries. Who will be foreign nationals of Indian origin: Citizens of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Nepal and China will not be covered under this exemption. 3. Clarification of Rules for Travel between India, Nepal and Bhutan Old Rule: The 2025 Order exempted citizens of India, Nepal and Bhutan from passports and visas for direct movement to each other's countries. New rule: Citizens of these three countries will be able to present one of the identity cards mentioned in the Visa Manual while travelling directly to each other's country by land or air. Immigration authorities will also be able to ask for additional information from them, if required. However, passports and visas will be required in certain situations- 4. Exemption for Sri Lankan Tamils and Tibetans continues Sri Lankan Tamils: The September 2025 order exempted Sri Lankan Tamils who have taken refuge in India on or before 9 January 2015 from the general rules of passport and visa. This exemption has been continued in the new order as well. Tibetan Citizens: Some Tibetans will also continue to be exempted from passports and visas. This includes people who came to India between 1959 and May 30, 2003 with permits from the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu. This includes Tibetans who came to India after May 30, 2003 with a special permit from a designated immigration post on the India-Nepal border. However, they will have to register and get their certificate. 5. Exemption for Army personnel and personnel of foreign military ships Both the CAA and the new immigration order, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019 and the New Immigration Order, 2026 relating to six non-Muslim communities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. These include Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians. However, the purpose of both is different. Under the CAA, eligible people get a way to apply for Indian citizenship, while under the new immigration order they get exemption from passports and travel documents.