Central Government Designates Foreigners Regional Registration Officers and Jurisdictions Under New Immigration and Foreigners Act

The Ministry of Home Affairs issued Notification S.O. 3991(E) on September 1, 2025, a significant piece of delegated legislation. This notification was enacted in pursuance of clause (r) of section 2 of the recently passed Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 (Act 13 of 2025). The primary purpose of this issuance was to formally designate and empower specific Foreigners Regional Registration Officers (FRROs) within the Bureau of Immigration to undertake the responsibilities of a "Registration Officer" as defined by the new Act. This measure ensures the effective implementation and administration of the 2025 Act across the country. The notification also superseded an earlier order, S.O. 3259 (E), dated September 11, 2019, though actions taken or omitted under the previous notification remain valid. The key provision of the notification clearly outlined the specific FRROs and their respective territorial jurisdictions, ranging from individual districts to entire states and union territories. For instance, the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, Ahmedabad, was assigned jurisdiction over Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, and Gujarat, while the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, Delhi, was given authority over Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, specific districts of Uttar Pradesh (Gautam Buddha Nagar and Ghaziabad), and Rajasthan. This comprehensive mapping ensures clarity for both the authorities and foreign nationals regarding registration procedures. The notification came into force immediately upon its publication in the Official Gazette on September 1, 2025.

The legislative intent behind this notification was to establish a robust and clearly defined administrative framework for the enforcement of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025. Prior to this, the legal position regarding the specific authorities responsible for foreigner registration would have been governed by the superseded notification or, in its absence, potentially led to ambiguities under the new Act. The notification addresses the statutory gap by explicitly identifying the officers who will perform the crucial duties of a Registration Officer (an official designated to register foreigners as per the Act), thereby streamlining the process of monitoring and regulating the entry, stay, and exit of foreign nationals in India. The policy rationale underscores the government's commitment to enhancing national security and ensuring orderly immigration management by providing designated points of contact and clear geographical mandates. The legislation provided: “…the Central Government hereby authorises the following Foreigners Regional Registration Officers in the Bureau of Immigration as specified in column (2) of the Table below to perform the duties of the Registration Officer under the said Act within the jurisdiction mentioned against each Foreigners Regional Registration Officer in column (3) of the said Table…” This authorization is critical for the operationalization of the 2025 Act, as it empowers the necessary personnel within the Bureau of Immigration (the agency responsible for immigration functions in India) to carry out its provisions. The detailed listing of jurisdictions, such as the division of Kerala's districts between the Calicut, Cochin, and Trivandrum FRROs, exemplifies the meticulous approach taken to ensure efficient enforcement and accessibility for foreign nationals. This measure is fundamental to the effective functioning of the Bureau of Immigration under the new legislative regime.

Keywords: Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, Foreigners Regional Registration Officers, FRRO, Ministry of Home Affairs, Notification, Bureau of Immigration, Registration Officer, Jurisdiction, India Geo Tags: India, All States and Union Territories District: Not Applicable