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Govt tweaks immigration rules: What changes for Indians travelling to Nepal, Bhutan

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) (Amendment) Order, 2026 mandates that Indian, Nepalese, and Bhutanese citizens carry authorized identity documents specified in the government visa manual when traveling between these nations. Travelers heading to or from third countries through these border points are required to hold valid passports and use designated immigration posts. Furthermore, citizens of Nepal and Bhutan must possess a valid passport and visa if their transit includes China, Hong Kong, Macau, or Pakistan. The rules also detail clear entry exemptions for official armed forces, registered Sri Lankan Tamils, eligible Tibetans, and persecuted religious minorities who arrived b…

Key points

  • Travelers crossing between India, Nepal, and Bhutan are legally required to present appro…: Travelers crossing between India, Nepal, and Bhutan are legally required to present approved identification and answer questions from immigration officers.
  • Strict passport and visa mandates now apply to regional travelers whose itineraries invol…: Strict passport and visa mandates now apply to regional travelers whose itineraries involve third countries or designated high-scrutiny transit hubs.
  • Specific humanitarian and official groups, including eligible armed forces personnel and…: Specific humanitarian and official groups, including eligible armed forces personnel and registered refugee communities, maintain formal exemptions from standard passport and visa requirements.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

NEW DELHI: The ministry of home affairs (MHA) on Thursday notified the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) (Amendment) Order, 2026, introducing specific amendments to the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025.Under the amended order, Indian nationals travelling to or returning from Nepal or Bhutan by land or air will be required to produce any one of the identity documents specified in the visa manual before an immigration officer. They will also have to furnish any information sought by the officer.

The exemption provided under this clause shall not apply to a citizen of India departing to or returning from countries other than Nepal or Bhutan through the Indo-Nepal or Indo-Bhutan border by land or by air. In all such cases, they shall be required to possess a valid passport and their exit from or entry into India shall be only through the designated immigration posts.

Citizens of Nepal or Bhutan entering or leaving India

Under the new order, citizens of Nepal and Bhutan entering or leaving India by land or air will also be required to produce any one of the…

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