Whenever a Foreign National wishes to reside long-term in India, typically a stay that exceeds more than 180 days, one of their key responsibilities is to visit the Foreign Regional Registration Office (FRRO) within the first 14 days of arrival in the territory of India. It is the FRRO that has the role of regulating their legal stay in India. Further, the FRRO also manages all the tasks related to foreigners residing in India, which includes- issuing residence permits, converting specific kinds of visas, and addressing matters related to visa extensions related to foreigners.
Bureaucratic processes are often considered cumbersome and lengthy in India, involving a long waiting period. While IT and Automation are being deployed to ease the process, still it is best for expats, and companies that employ them, to be well informed on FRRO registration rules in order to avoid any unwanted hassle.
What is FRRO?
Foreign Regional Registration office, or FRRO, is the primary agency which is responsible for registration, departure, arrival, and movement of foreign nationals who wish to reside for a period that extends longer than 180 days in India. This applies to foreigners visiting India on a business visa, student visa, research visa, or employment visa. Foreign registration is necessary for all the foreigners arriving in India on a visa which extends to more than 6 months, except for certain exempted categories. Registration is required only once at the time of usage of the visa, irrespective of the times the foreigner exits or arrives again using a multiple entry visa.
In addition to this, FRRO is responsible for the grant of extension of stay in India, if required, as well.
The FRRO offices in India are located across most major cities in India, such as- New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai, Amritsar, Hyderabad, Trivandrum, Cochin, Goa, Calicut, Lucknow. They also function with the District Superintendents of Police located across all other districts, and there are 13 FRRO’s and 674 FRO’s in India.
Who is an Expatriate?
An expatriate is a person who resides in a country other than their native country. In common usage, the term often refers to professionals, skilled workers, or artists taking positions outside their home country, either independently or sent abroad by their employers.
What are the registration requirements at FRRO?
- Foreign nationals, including those with Indian origin, who wish to visit India for a long-term and intend to stay for more than 180 days on a Student Visa, Medical Visa, Business, Employment, and Research visa are required to register themselves with the FRRO. They should register within the first 14 days from the date of arrival at a registered FRRO/FRO office.
- Foreigners below the age of 16 years (minors) need to report in person or via an authorized representative at the registered FRRO office in a specific location. Children below the age of 16 years do not require registration. (This regulation is applicable in select cities only)
- Registration may also be required in cases where it is specifically mentioned as- “registration required”.
Checklist for FRRO registration formalities
Registration is essential for all foreigners who have a visa for a period that exceeds 6 months, except the exempted categories. This registration needs to be done within 14 days of first arrival at the nearest office of the Foreigners Registration Officer. Documents required at the registration are given below:
- Original passport on which visa is endorsed.
- Photocopy of the passport and initial visa.
- Four photographs of the applicant.
- Details of residence in India.
- HIV test report from one of the WHO recognized Institutions from people in the age group 15 to 60 years, if the foreigner is visiting India on a visa for more than one year.
- Copy of the marriage certificate in case of those seeking extension of stay on grounds of being spouse of an Indian national.
- Bonafide certificate from the University/College/Institution in case of student visa.
- Accreditation certificate from Press Information Bureau in case of journalist visa.
- Approval of the Department of Company Affairs in case of Board level appointments in Public Limited Companies.
- Copy of the approval from Government of India in case of a joint venture or collaboration (in duplicate).
- Copy of permission from the RBI in case of contract or agreement, in case of Employment visa.
- Undertaking from the concerned Indian company on the following lines in case of Employment/Business visas:
FORMAT OF UNDERTAKING:
We take full responsibility for the activities and conduct of Mr/Mrs/Ms __________ national of _________ during his/her stay in India. If anything adverse comes to notice during this period, we undertake to repatriate him/her at our cost.
Date/Seal
__________ (Signature of competent authority.)
- Addresses of Registration Offices:
- FRRO, Hans Bhavan, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi. Tel: 0091-11-319 489
- FRRO, 237, AJC Bose Road, Calcutta, Tel: 0091-33-247 0549
- FRRO, Tata Press Building, 414, S.V. Marg, Mumbai. Tel: 0091-22-621 169
- CHIO, 26, Haddows Road, Chennai, Tel: 0091-44-827 7036
- At other places- The Superintendent of Police of the Districts are Foreigners Registration Officers
- Certificates of registration will be issued by the registration officers only.
The foreigners are required to surrender their certificates of registration to the Registration Officer of the place where they are registered, or at the place from where they intend to depart, or to the Immigration Office at the post/check post of exit from India. If the certificates are surrendered to someone other than the Immigration officer at the post/check post of exit, then the foreigners need to produce the receipt that indicates such surrender to the Immigration officer at the post/check posts of exit.
- Registration needs to be done only once during the validity of a visa, irrespective of the number of times the foreigner leaves or re-enters India on a multi-entry facility.
- Categories of foreigners are exempted from registration are:
- US nationals holding ten-year Tourist/Business Visas provided their continuous stay during each visit does not exceed six months.
- Foreigners of Indian origin holding five-year multiple entry X visas with an endorsement that “stay should not exceed six months during each visit”.
- Foreigners holding five-year Tourist Visas, who are actively engaged in tourist/travel trade, desirous of visiting India frequently over extended periods for promotion of tourism, etc., provided that their visa contains an endorsement that “continuous stay should not exceed six months”.
- Foreigners below the age of 16 years.
- Foreigners can visit restricted/prohibited areas only after getting a valid permit as visa alone is not enough to visit such places.
- Foreigners coming from or through yellow fever countries must come with a valid vaccination certificate.
- On arrival/departure, foreigners should fill up Disembarkation/Embarkation forms.
Supporting Documents that must be submitted online to obtain services from FRRO
- For Fresh Registration
| S. No. | Visa Type | Mandatory Documents Required |
| 1 | Medical Visa | PhotographPassport and Visa Residence Proof Medical Certificate |
| 2 | Medical Attendant Visa | Photograph Passport and Visa Residence Proof Medical CertificatePassport and Visa page of Medical Visa holder |
| 3 (i) | Student Visa (Provisional Registration) | PhotographPassport and Visa Residence Proof Bonafide CertificateNOC |
| 3 (ii) | Student Visa (Final Registration) | PhotographPassport and Visa Residence Proof Form S/ Bonafide Certificate |
| 4 (i) | Employment Visa (General) | PhotographPassport and Visa Residence Proof Contract PaperRequest LetterUndertaking Letter |
| 4 (ii) | Employment Visa (VIE Intern) | PhotographPassport and Visa Residence Proof Contract PaperRequest LetterUndertaking Letter |
| 4 (iii) | Employment Visa (NGO) | PhotographPassport and Visa Residence Proof Contract PaperRequest LetterUndertaking LetterCertificate of Registration |
| 5 (i) | Business Visa | PhotographPassport and Visa Residence Proof Business Proof RBI/ Government Of India Approval Undertaking Letter Incorporation Letter Memorandum of Articles DIN No. PAN Card |
| 5 (ii) | Business Visa (AIESEC Intern) | PhotographPassport and Visa Residence Proof Government of India Approvalfor internAIESEC letter |
| 6 (i) | Entry (X) Visa for dependents of Employment Visa, Business Visa , Student and Research Visa | PhotographPassport and Visa Passport Principal Visa HolderResidence ProofRequest letterUndertaking Letter |
| 6 (ii) | Entry (X) Visa (Spouse or dependent of Indian citizen/ Person of Indian Origin) | PhotographPassport and Visa Passport Principal Visa HolderResidence ProofMarriage CertificateProof of spouse/ dependent of PIOUndertaking Letter |
| 6 (iii) | Entry (X) Visa (others) | PhotographPassport and Visa Residence Proof Other documents Letter from Secretary, AurovilleLetter from Managing Trustee of Shri Aurobindo Ashram |
| 7 | PIO Card | PhotographPassport and Visa Residence Proof PIO Card |
| 8 | Journalist Visa | PhotographPassport and Visa Residence Proof Accreditation Certificate |
| 9 | Research Visa | PhotographPassport and Visa Residence Proof Bonafide Certificate |
| 10 | Re-entry on Tourist Visa (In case of Afghanistan, China, Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Sudan, Foreigners of Pakistan Origin & Stateless Persons) | PhotographPassport and Visa Residence Proof |
| 11 | Conference Visa | PhotographPassport and Visa Residence Proof Invitation Letter |
| 12 | Project Visa | PhotographPassport and Visa Residence Proof Undertaking Letter |
| 13 | Missionary Visa | PhotographPassport and Visa Residence Proof Request LetterUndertaking LetterProof of Missionary RegistrationProof of Government of India Approval |
