Citizens of Nepal, Bhutan not required to carry passport, visa for entering India, says MHA's new directive

Citizens of Nepal, Bhutan not required to carry passport, visa for entering India, says MHA's new directive

The Centre on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, issued a new directive easing entry requirements for citizens of Nepal, Bhutan, and India, as per PTI reports. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced that these citizens will not be required to carry a passport or visa while traveling across the borders, continuing the earlier arrangement.

What the new directive says

According to the order, the requirement of a valid passport, other travel documents, or visa for entry into, stay in, and exit from India shall not apply if “a citizen of India entering into India by land or by air over the Nepalese or Bhutanese frontier, a citizen of Nepal or Bhutan entering into India by land or air over the Nepal or Bhutan border or if he possesses a valid passport while entering or exiting India from or to a place other than Nepal or Bhutan but not from China, Macau, Hong Kong or Pakistan.”

The directive was issued following the enforcement of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025. It also exempts members of India’s naval, military, or air forces entering or exiting the country on duty, along with their accompanying family members when traveling on government transport.

Documents still required

While passports and visas are not mandatory, the MHA clarified that citizens of Nepal and Bhutan must carry one of the following documents when entering India:

• Nepalese/Bhutanese passport, or
• Nepalese/Bhutanese citizenship certificate, or
• Voter ID issued by the Election Commission of Nepal/Bhutan, or
• Limited validity photo-identity certificate issued by the Nepalese mission/Royal Bhutanese mission in India, if required.

Applicability to other groups

The order also extends exemptions to:

1. Tibetans who have entered India and registered with the authorities, provided they hold certificates of registration. This applies to those who entered India:

• Between 1959 and May 30, 2003, with a Special Entry Permit issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, or
• After May 30, 2003 until the new Act came into force, with a Special Entry Permit issued by the embassy and entry through a designated Indo-Nepal border immigration post.

3. Sri Lankan Tamil nationals who registered and took shelter in India on or before January 9, 2015.

(With inputs from agenices)