Reported by Bhadra Gogoi
Dimapur: Nagaland’s Kohima district administration on Wednesday ordered strict compliance with reporting norms for foreigners under the provisions of the Immigration & Foreigners Act, 2025, and the Immigration & Foreigners Rules, 2025.
According to the order, under Sections 8(1) and 10 of the Act, all keepers of accommodation, including hotels, guest houses, homestays, and private rentals, as well as medical institutions such as hospitals and nursing homes in Kohima district, are legally obligated to report the arrival and presence of any foreigner or Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder to the Registration Officer — the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO), Kolkata.
As per Rule 17(1), all accommodation providers shall maintain proper records of foreigners, including relevant details, which must be preserved and produced upon demand by the Registration Officer, District Magistrate, or any police officer not below the rank of head constable.
Under Rule 17(5) and Rule 18(5), the keeper of the accommodation or medical institution shall transmit a duly filled Form-III electronically within 24 hours of the foreigner’s arrival through the designated online portal https://indianfrro.gov.in or via the mobile application “Indian Visa Su-Swagatam”.
This order applies to all boarding houses, clubs, dak bungalows, hostels, paying guest accommodations, religious institutions, charitable trusts, and any rented or furnished premises of a social or public nature.
Further, under Rule 16, all universities and educational institutions admitting foreign students shall furnish information electronically in Form-III regarding students residing in hostels.
The order stated that failure to comply with these provisions will constitute a serious breach of national security protocols.
Any violation or failure to submit Form-III within the stipulated time will attract penal action under the extant laws and regulations of the Immigration & Foreigners Act, 2025, it added.
The order was issued in pursuance of a letter from the Office of the Commissioner, Nagaland, and the Ministry of Home Affairs, Foreigners-I Division.