In a move to assist persecuted minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, the Indian government has relaxed its regulations regarding documentation. The Ministry of Home Affairs has stated that members of minority communities (Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians) who have entered India by December 31, 2024, seeking refuge from religious persecution, will be exempted from the requirement of possessing valid passports or other official documents to continue residing in the country.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) provides a path to citizenship for minorities who arrived before 2015. However, the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, addresses the situation for those who arrived after the CAA’s cut-off date, allowing them to remain in India. This decision is especially beneficial for Hindus from Pakistan who migrated after 2014 and faced uncertainty about their legal status.
The Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, outlines regulations for foreigners entering and residing in India, typically mandating valid visas and passports. However, the Act includes exemptions for those fleeing religious persecution from the specified countries.