The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has amended the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025, making identity documents mandatory for Indian, Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens travelling between India, Nepal and Bhutan.

Under the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) (Amendment) Order, 2026, Indian citizens entering or leaving India for Nepal or Bhutan by land or air must produce any one of the identity documents specified in the Visa Manual. They must also provide any information sought by immigration officers.

However, this exemption will not cover Indian citizens travelling to or returning from countries other than Nepal or Bhutan through the India-Nepal or India-Bhutan borders. Such travellers must carry a valid passport and use designated immigration posts to enter or exit India.

Similarly, Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens entering or leaving India by land or air must produce any one of the identity documents listed in the Visa Manual and provide the information required by immigration officers. Those travelling to or from countries other than Nepal or Bhutan must carry a valid passport.

The order also requires Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens who have embarked at or transited through China, Macau, Hong Kong or Pakistan to carry both a valid passport and a valid visa.

The amendment provides exemptions from passport, travel document and visa requirements for certain categories. These include Indian Navy, Army and Air Force personnel travelling on duty, along with family members accompanying them on government transport. Registered Sri Lankan Tamil nationals who took shelter in India up to January 9, 2015, are also exempted. The exemption further applies to foreign crew members of military vessels visiting India for repairs after receiving Military Ship Repair Permits.

Certain Tibetan nationals who entered India through designated procedures and registered with the authorities will also receive exemptions.

Additionally, members of minority communities, including Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, are covered under the exemption. This applies to those who faced religious persecution or feared it and entered India on or before December 31, 2024.

The provision covers people who entered India without valid travel documents or whose documents have since expired. However, they must obtain the appropriate visa category after entering India to continue their stay.

The MHA issued the amendment under the powers granted by Section 33 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.