Visa must for undocumented six non-Muslim communities who entered India before December 31, 2024: Home Ministry
The amendment applies to members of six non-Muslim communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who, fearing “religious persecution”, entered India without valid travel documents, or whose documents have since expired
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has updated the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025, mandating that six minority communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan who entered India without valid travel documents or with expired documents on or before December 31, 2024, obtain an appropriate visa for their continued stay in the country.
This amendment, announced on November 4, 2026, supersedes the exemption granted to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians under a September 2, 2025 notification. The updated rule requires these non-Muslim communities to secure a visa after entering India for their continued presence.
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