Dimapur Police Enforces Strict 24-Hour Foreigner Reporting Mandate
In a significant move to strengthen immigration control, the Dimapur police commissionerate has issued a directive requiring all accommodation providers to report the arrival and stay of foreigners within 24 hours. The order, announced on Monday, applies to a wide range of establishments including hotels, homestays, hospitals, educational institutions, and other lodging facilities.
Strict Penalties for Non-Compliance
Commissioner of Police-cum-Foreigners Registration Officer Aotula T Imchen has warned that penal action will be initiated against any accommodation provider failing to comply with the new requirements. The notification explicitly states that delays, failures, or inaccurate reporting will invite strict legal action under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.
The comprehensive legislation, which came into effect on September 1, 2025, replaces four earlier laws governing the entry, stay, and registration of foreigners in India. This consolidation represents a major overhaul of India's foreigner monitoring framework.
Expanded Scope of Reporting Requirements
The notification clarifies that keepers of accommodation must report foreign presence under the new consolidated legislation. This includes:
- Hotels, guest houses, and hostels
- Rented premises and homestays
- Religious and charitable institutions
- Hospitals and medical establishments
- Tents and sarais (traditional inns)
The law also specifically applies to educational institutions admitting foreign students and medical establishments providing lodging or treatment to foreigners. Every foreigner, including Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders, must furnish personal particulars on both arrival and departure, with these records maintained electronically for at least one year.
Electronic Reporting Through Designated Portal
The police emphasized that Form-III (previously known as Form 'C') is a crucial statutory document that must be submitted electronically within 24 hours of a foreigner's arrival. This reporting must be done through the designated portal indianfrro.gov.in or the mobile application Indian Visa Su-Swagatam.
Hospitals, nursing homes, and medical institutions have received specific directives to ensure compliance for foreign patients and attendants availing lodging facilities. Similarly, universities, colleges, and schools must report foreign students staying in hostels using the prescribed format.
National Security Implications
The notification underscores that timely reporting is integral to immigration control and national security. By implementing this 24-hour reporting requirement, authorities aim to create a more robust system for tracking foreign nationals across various accommodation types throughout Dimapur.
This directive represents one of the first major implementations of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, in Northeast India, setting a precedent for how the new legislation will be enforced across different regions of the country.
