Hotels, homestays, educational institutions, hospitals, and various accommodation providers in Nagaland are mandated by the state police to adhere strictly to new reporting requirements regarding the stay of foreign nationals under the recently enacted Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 and its accompanying Rules, which were implemented on September 1, 2025. This legislation supersedes four prior laws, including the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920, and the Foreigners Act, 1946, consolidating all immigration-related regulations into a unified framework. The Commissioner of Police-cum-Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) in Dimapur has issued a notification emphasizing the legal obligation of certain categories of individuals and institutions to report information related to the visitation and accommodation of foreigners.
Under Section 8(1) of the Act, accommodation providers are required to collect and submit specific details regarding foreigners staying on their premises, which extends to hospitals, nursing homes, and similar medical institutions that host foreign patients or their attendants. The regulations are applicable to boarding houses, clubs, hostels, paying guest accommodations, rented lodgings, homestays, tents, hospitals, religious institutions, charitable trusts, and other similar establishments. Educational institutions admitting foreign students and offering accommodation facilities are also included within the scope of these rules.
As stipulated in Rule 17, accommodation providers must gather personal and travel information from every foreigner, including Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders, at the time of their arrival and departure. Records of this information are required to be maintained electronically for a minimum duration of one year and must be accessible for inspection by authorized officials. A critical provision entails the submission of Form-III (formerly known as Form ‘C’), which must be electronically sent to the Registration Officer within 24 hours following a foreigner’s arrival, through a designated online portal or a mobile application. Hospitals and medical facilities are similarly obligated under Rule 18 to maintain electronic records and submit Form-III in the required timeframe.
Authorities have stressed the necessity for “accurate and timely reporting” and have warned that non-compliance with the provisions established by the Act and its Rules will result in legal repercussions. This initiative aims to enhance accountability and streamline the process of monitoring foreign nationals’ presence in the region.
