Lok Sabha passed the Immigration and Foreigners Bill 2025 on Thursday after Home Minister Amit Shah moved it for voting.
"India is not a dharamshala(resthouse)," Shah asserted while replying to the debate on the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha. The bill was later passed by a voice vote after various amendments moved by Opposition members were negated.
The bill was originally introduced by Minister of state (MoS) home affairs Nityanand Rai who clarified saying, “We are not bringing this law to stop anyone from coming to India”.
The Bill repeals and replaces the Immigration (Carriers’ Liability) Act, 2000, and three pre-independence laws, the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920, the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939, and the Foreigners Act, 1936.
“I welcome everyone who wants to visit India as a tourist, for education, for health care, for R&D, for business. But those who comes as a threat to the country, we will keep a close look at them and take strong action against them,” Shah added.
One of the key provisions in the bill is that anyone found to be using a forged passport or visa for entering India or staying in or exiting from the country will be punishable with a jail term of up to seven years and a fine which could extend to Rs 10 lakh. The bill also seeks to ensure a close monitoring of everyone who visits India, Shah said.
Shah said the bill is necessary to strengthen the country's security and economy, promote manufacturing and trade, get global recognition for the education system and help universities earn international repute. It will ensure that the country gets up-to-date information about every foreigner visiting India, he added.
Amit Shah Hits Out At Ruling TMC In West Bengal
Hitting out at the Trinamool Congress(TMC) and previous Congress government at the Centre for allowing Rohingiyas and Bangladeshis enter India on the basis of Aadhaar cards and voter cards earlier from Assam and now West Bengal.
He said while security forces are blamed, the real culprits are the TMC government in West Bengal and the earlier Congress government in Assam.
"India's border with Bangladesh is 2,216 km long, out of which fencing work has been completed on 1,653 km. Out of the remaining 563 km, fencing is not possible on 112 KM due to geographical conditions.
"But fencing in 412 km is incomplete because Bengal government is not giving land," the minister told the House.
Shah alleged that when attempts are made for fencing, cadres of the ruling party in West Bengal come and create a ruckus.
"Border fencing is incomplete because of Bengal government's leniency towards infiltrators." Shah then asked "When Bangladeshis or Rohingyas infiltrate, who gives them Aadhaar cards?" "Most of the Bangladeshis who have been caught have Aadhaar cards and voter cards of 24 Parganas(in West Bengal)," he said hitting out at the TMC.
The home minister asserted that the problem of infiltration will end when BJP wins the next Assembly elections, which is due next year. "If the Bengal government does not issue Aadhaar cards, then even a bird will not be able to fly." Shah rejected demands of opposition members to refer the bill to a parliamentary penel, saying members had sufficient time to give suggestions between the time when it was introduced and Thursday when it came up for consideration.
What Does Immigration and Foreigners Bill 2025 Offer?
The new bill puts the onus on educational and medical institutions, including hospitals and universities, as well as owners of private residences to inform the authorities about foreigners staying in their facility.
The new law obligates the carriers such as airlines and vessels to remove a passenger denied entry by the immigration officer and provide passenger and crew data to the authorities in advance. It carries a provision of up to Rs 5 lakh in fine for violating carriers.
It also aims to replace four existing laws— the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920, the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939, the Foreigners Act, 1946, and the Immigration (Carriers’ Liability) Act, 2000. These laws currently regulate various aspects of foreigner-related matters in India and define the powers of immigration authorities.
It also plans to eliminate redundancy and overlap in laws dealing with similar subjects and to align with the Government of India's policy of simplifying legal frameworks.
Once enacted, the law will grant the central government powers to mandate the requirement of passports or other travel documents for individuals entering or exiting India and to regulate foreigner-related matters, including visa and registration requirements.
