DIMAPUR, February 10: The Office of the Commissioner of Police, Dimapur, has issued a strict directive mandating full compliance with the newly enacted Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, requiring mandatory reporting of the arrival, stay, and departure of all foreign nationals across Dimapur, Chümoukedima, and Niuland districts.
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The notification said the consolidated national legislation, which came into force on September 1, 2025, replaces several earlier laws, including the Foreigners Act, 1946, the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939, the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920, and the Immigration (Carriers’ Liability) Act, 2000. The new framework aims to strengthen national security and streamline immigration-related data management.
Under Section 8(1) of the Act and Rule 17 of the Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025, any individual or establishment providing accommodation to a foreign national - including Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders - is legally required to report such stay. The directive mandates that Form-III (earlier Form ‘C’) must be submitted electronically within 24 hours of a foreigner’s arrival through the official portal indianfrro.gov.in or the Indian Visa Su-Swagatam mobile application.
Accommodation providers are also required to maintain electronic records of the foreigner’s stay for at least one year. These records must be produced for inspection by authorised officials, including the Registration Officer, District Magistrate, or police personnel not below the rank of Head Constable.
The police clarified that the definition of “accommodation” extends well beyond hotels and guesthouses. It includes hospitals and nursing homes - along with details of attendants - educational institutions admitting foreign students, hostels, homestays, rented houses, paying guest accommodations, dak bungalows, religious institutions, and charitable trusts.
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Educational institutions, including schools, colleges, and universities, are required under Rule 16 to submit details of foreign students, particularly those provided hostel accommodation. Similarly, Rule 18 places reporting obligations on hospitals and medical institutions offering lodging or sleeping facilities.
Warning of strict consequences, the Commissioner of Police said non-compliance would invite penal action under the Act, including fines and legal proceedings. Emphasising the importance of compliance, the notification stated that Form-III is a critical document for enforcing immigration laws and safeguarding national security, urging all concerned to ensure accurate and timely reporting.
