The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has amended India’s immigration rules governing travel between India, Nepal and Bhutan, introducing clearer requirements for identity documents, passports and visas. The changes, notified through the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) (Amendment) Order, 2026, under S.O. 6027(E) on November 4, came into effect on November 5, following publication in the Official Gazette. Under the revised provisions, Indian citizens travelling directly to or from Nepal and Bhutan by land or air can continue to travel without a passport, provided they produce an identity document specified in the government’s Visa Manual before an immigration officer.
However, Indians travelling to or returning from a third country through the India-Nepal or India-Bhutan borders must carry a valid passport and use designated immigration posts. The notification also introduces specific requirements for Nepalese and Bhutanese nationals entering or leaving India, particularly those travelling through China, Hong Kong, Macau or Pakistan.
What Indian Travellers Need To Know
The revised rules retain the existing travel exemptions for eligible Indian citizens crossing directly between India and Nepal or Bhutan. However, travellers must establish their identity using any one of the documents listed in the government’s Visa Manual and provide additional information if requested by immigration officials. The distinction becomes important when travellers use these neighbouring countries as transit points for international journeys.
For instance, an Indian citizen travelling from India through Nepal to another country cannot rely on the passport exemption available for direct India-Nepal travel. They must possess a valid passport and complete immigration formalities at designated checkpoints. Similar provisions apply to Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens entering or exiting India. They must produce an approved identity document when travelling directly between their respective countries and India.
However, when entering or leaving India for a destination other than Nepal or Bhutan, they must possess a valid passport. The notification specifically states that Nepalese and Bhutanese nationals who have embarked from or transited through China, Hong Kong, Macau or Pakistan must carry both a valid passport and a valid visa. This makes checking the complete travel itinerary essential before departure.
What Else Does The November 4 Notification Cover?
Beyond travel between the three neighbouring countries, the amendment also revises exemptions for several categories of foreign nationals residing in India. These include registered Sri Lankan Tamil nationals who sought shelter in India up to January 9, 2015, eligible Tibetan nationals who entered through specified procedures, and members of India’s Army, Navy and Air Force travelling on official duty. Family members accompanying armed forces personnel on government transport are also covered under the specified conditions.
The notification further extends conditional exemptions to members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who entered India on or before December 31, 2024, after being compelled to seek shelter because of religious persecution or the fear of it. This provision covers people who entered without valid travel documents or whose documents have since expired.
However, they must obtain an appropriate category of visa for their continued stay in India. The amendment also addresses certain long-term residents who face difficulties renewing their foreign passports, subject to specific eligibility requirements. The order was issued under Section 33 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, and amends the original exemption framework notified in September 2025.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
India’s close geographical and cultural ties with Nepal and Bhutan have made cross-border travel an important part of everyday life for families, workers, students and tourists. Clear immigration regulations can help strengthen border management while ensuring that legitimate travellers are not caught off guard by documentation requirements. However, changes in travel rules must also be communicated in accessible languages and through channels that reach people living in border communities, particularly those who regularly cross these borders.
Travellers should have easy access to accurate information about acceptable identity documents, designated immigration checkpoints and transit requirements before beginning their journeys. Stronger security measures and convenient cross-border movement need not be opposing priorities. With transparent communication and cooperation between neighbouring countries, both can be protected. How can India ensure that stricter immigration checks do not create unnecessary difficulties for ordinary cross-border travellers?
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