The Ministry of Home Affairs has unveiled a comprehensive plan to expand the network of Foreigners Regional Registration Offices across the country. Under this new strategy, the Government of India aims to establish a dedicated Foreigners Regional Registration Office in every state capital by the year 2027. This move is intended to improve access to immigration and consular services for international visitors and to strengthen regulatory compliance across the nation.
Expansion of the FRRO Network Across India
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs officially informed on Monday, November 2, 2026, that the central government is working towards the establishment of Foreigners Regional Registration Offices in all state capitals by 2027. This decision is part of a broader effort by the central government to strengthen the institutional framework for managing foreign nationals visiting India. According to the Ministry, the primary objective of this expansion is to make immigration services more accessible and to ensure that foreign nationals can fulfill their requirements at the local level. Through this initiative, the government also seeks to support its efforts to attract international visitors to India.
This decision follows directions issued by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The Home Minister directed authorities to expand the network of Foreigners Regional Registration Offices due to the consistent rise in the number of foreign nationals arriving in India for purposes such as tourism, medical treatment, and education. The Ministry clarified that this expansion will not only improve access to services but will also strengthen the enforcement of immigration laws and national security requirements.
Recent Progress and Jurisdictional Shifts
Since 2025, five new Foreigners Regional Registration Offices have been established in the country, with two of these offices beginning their operations within this year. As part of this expansion process, new offices have been opened in Jaipur, Chandigarh, and Guwahati. Prior to the establishment of these new offices, these regions were administered by the offices located in Delhi, Amritsar, and Kolkata. These regions have now been brought under local jurisdiction, which means foreign nationals residing there will no longer need to travel long distances for their registration needs.
During the current year, two more Foreigners Regional Registration Offices have become operational in Aizawl in Mizoram and Amravati in Andhra Pradesh. Before the office in Aizawl was opened, the region fell under the jurisdiction of the Kolkata office, while the administration of Amravati was previously handled by the Hyderabad office. Additionally, the government has recently notified new offices in Kohima, Agartala, and Bhubaneswar. Kohima and Agartala were previously under the jurisdiction of Kolkata, while Bhubaneswar was administered by Hyderabad. With these new additions, the total number of Foreigners Regional Registration Offices in the country has now reached 20.
Current Presence and Future Goals
Currently, the 20 cities where these offices are operational include Ahmedabad, Amravati, Amritsar, Aizawl, Agartala, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Calicut, Chennai, Cochin, Chandigarh, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Kohima, Kozhikode, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Thiruvananthapuram. The government is now in the process of establishing these offices in the remaining states that do not yet have one. These states include Bihar, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Meghalaya.
Officials stated that this expanded network would enable foreign nationals to access services such as visa extensions, visa conversions, immigration compliance support, and legal clearances closer to their place of stay. The move is also expected to improve coordination between central and state authorities. This will ensure strict adherence to immigration laws and enable better implementation of security standards across the country.
Framework of the Immigration and Foreigners Act 2025
The expansion is being carried out in light of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025. This new Act consolidated four earlier laws dealing with immigration and foreign nationals into a single statutory framework. This law governs the entry, stay, movement, and exit of foreign nationals in India. Under this Act, the Bureau of Immigration is assisted by the Foreigners Regional Registration Offices authorized by the central government.
These offices are responsible for regulating and facilitating the lawful stay of foreign nationals in India. Their functions include post arrival registration, issuance of Registration Certificates and Residential Permits, updating personal and travel details, granting permissions for visits to protected areas, and issuing exit permits in specific cases. Thus, these offices serve as a vital point of contact for foreign nationals during their stay in India, ensuring that all legal and administrative procedures are handled efficiently.
Source / स्रोत: The Hindu
