MHA allows foreigners to file registration reports electronically

New Delhi: The home ministry has, in a bid to replace outdated, offline foreigner registration procedures with modern, digitized solutions, allowed all applications and information relating to registration of foreigners in India, to be submitted to the registration officer through the electronic mode.
A new rule has been added to the Registration of Foreigners Rules, 1992, providing foreigners’ registration reports to be submitted electronically. Any application or information under the rules can be filed electronically, after which the registration officer will verify its genuineness. Only if necessary will the applicant or informant be called for a personal appearance for the purpose of this rule.
The latest amendments in the Registration of Foreigners Rules, 1992, according to gazette notification dated November 12, 2021, omits Rule 7(1) specifying the procedure of registration and to whom the registration report must be presented. In sub-rule 2, the clause dealing with registration of persons of Indian origin (PIO), stands omitted. Also, in sub-rule 3 of Rule 7, the proviso requiring the issue of a temporary certificate in Form B has been dropped.
Rule 15 of the Registration of Foreigners Rules – dealing with the surrender of certificates of registration on departure — also stands omitted.
“The purpose of the amended rules is to ease travel and stay by foreigners in India by eliminating the outdated procedures and replacing them with digitised formats. The initiative fits in with the ‘ease of living and ‘ease of doing business’ theme of the Modi government,” said a ministry spokesperson.
Copies of the gazette notification were earlier made available on August 12, 2021, and objections and suggestions on the proposed amendments were invited from all stakeholders over a 30-day timeframe. However, no objection or suggestion was received by the Centre, paving the way for the home ministry to notify the amended rules.