Accommodation Reporting · 2026 Update

Form C Is Now Form III: 2026 Guide for Landlords, Hosts & Foreign Tenants in India

By Ruchi Parashar, Director, Fargo Worldwide · Last verified 22 October 2026 · 17 min read

If you run a hotel, PG, homestay or company guest flat, you have probably filed a "C-Form" for a foreign guest. Since 1 September 2025, that report has a new legal basis and a new name: the Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025 call it Form III, and the official form is labelled "[Earlier FORM 'C']". The portal still says "C-Form" in places, so the change is easy to miss.

Key facts at a glance

What changed: Form C is now Form III
In force from: 1 September 2025
Legal basis: Section 8 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025; Rule 17 of the Rules, 2025
Who files: The keeper of accommodation, not the foreign guest
Arrival report: Within 24 hours of arrival
Departure report: Within 24 hours of departure
Records: Kept electronically for at least one year
OCI cardholders: Included
Official source: Rules, 2025 (MHA) · Act, 2025 (India Code)

Quick Answer — What Is Form III in India?

Form C is now Form III: it is the accommodation report that replaced the old Form C under... the Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025. The keeper of accommodation — a hotel, guest house, PG, hostel, homestay, rented accommodation, hospital or other covered premises — must send it to the Registration Officer through the FRRO portal or the Indian Visa Su-Swagatam app no later than 24 hours after a foreign national, including an OCI cardholder, arrives. Departure details must follow within 24 hours of departure.

Not sure whether the report sits with you, your company or the landlord? Request guidance from Fargo Worldwide.

Form C Is Now Form III: What Changed in 2025-2026?

The new name is only the visible part; the legal framework changed too.

Figure 1: The same report under a new law and a new name.

Topic	Earlier position	Current position	Practical implication
Legal basis	Foreigners Act, 1946; Registration of Foreigners Rules, 1992	Immigration and Foreigners Act and Rules, 2025, from 1 September 2025	Update tenancy clauses and SOPs that cite the old laws.
Form name	Form C	Form III, labelled "[Earlier FORM 'C']"	Same purpose; the portal may still say "C-Form".
Reporting window	Form C within 24 hours of arrival	Arrival within 24 hours (Rule 17(5)); departure within 24 hours of leaving (Rule 17(6))	Check-out is a second filing.
Records	Guest register kept by the host	Kept electronically for at least one year, open to inspection (Rule 17(1)–(2))	Keep digital records.
OCI cardholders	Not expressly named in the reporting rule	Expressly included (Rules 16, 17 and 18)	Report OCI guests too.
Private homes	Depended largely on local orders	Non-commercial residential premises excluded by Section 8(1), unless an area direction under Section 8(3) applies	Check local directions before assuming you are exempt.
2026 amendment	—	G.S.R. 424(E) (1 June 2026) changed registration timelines, child reporting and appeals; Rule 17 unchanged	Accommodation duties stand as notified in 2025.

For the June 2026 changes to foreigners' own registration, see our summary of the FRRO new guidelines for 2026.

What Is Form III and Why Is It Required?

Form III is a short electronic report telling the Registration Officer that a foreign national is staying at your premises, why they are in India, where they came from and, later, where they went. The duty comes from Section 8 of the Act, and the reporting method is set out in Rule 17 of the Rules.

These reports show the authorities where foreign nationals are staying and help them spot overstays. They matter to guests too: FRRO offices often ask for the landlord's or hotel's Form C confirmation with registration and extension applications, so a missing report can hold up the guest's case.

Who Must Submit Form III in India?

The duty sits with the keeper of accommodation: under Section 2(j), the person in charge of managing the accommodation, or anyone they authorise. The foreign national does not file Form III, but under Section 8(2) they must give the keeper accurate particulars. Rule 17(7)(a) lists what counts as accommodation, and the list is not exhaustive.

Hotels, resorts, guest houses and serviced apartments

These are commercial accommodation and are squarely covered. Every foreign guest, including OCI cardholders, is reported within 24 hours of check-in and again within 24 hours of check-out. The keeper is usually the operator, even if someone else owns the building.

PG accommodation, hostels and homestays

Rule 17(7)(a) names "paying guest house", "hostel", "home stay" and "rented accommodation". PG operators and homestay hosts, including those listing on booking platforms, should file for each foreign guest.

Corporate accommodation and employer-arranged stays

If a company houses a foreign employee in a flat or guest house it manages, the company may be the keeper. If a landlord or apartment operator manages the premises, the duty may sit with them. The Rules do not settle every arrangement, so agree in writing, in the lease or booking terms, who files the arrival and departure reports.

Hospitals, nursing homes and medical institutions

Under Section 10 and Rule 18, these file Form III for foreign patients and attendants given lodging, within 24 hours of arrival and of departure. They must also report births to foreign parents and deaths of foreigners within seven days. Parents should also read our guide on birth intimation to the FRRO for a foreign child born in India.

Other covered premises

The list also includes clubs, dak-bungalows, rest houses, sarais, tents, and premises of religious institutions, trusts and public or social organisations, such as an ashram hosting a foreign volunteer.

Private residential landlords — read this carefully

The proviso to Section 8(1) says the duty does not apply to "residential premises of non-commercial nature". The clearest example is a relative or friend staying in your home without paying. Two things limit that exception:

Section 8(3) directions. A civil authority can direct that everyone occupying or controlling residential premises in a specified area must report foreign occupants.
Rent is a commercial arrangement. Rule 17 names "rented accommodation", and some district orders issued since September 2025, such as this Kohima district order, expressly list private rentals. We have found no official clarification that a long-term residential tenancy is "non-commercial". A landlord collecting rent from a foreign tenant should plan to file unless the jurisdictional FRRO/FRO confirms otherwise in writing.

Figure 2: A quick guide to who files. Local directions can change the answer.

Local police tenant-verification rules still apply separately.

Educational institutions and Form II

Universities, colleges and schools report foreign students in Form II under Section 9 and Rule 16. For students in their hostels, they file Form III as well.

Does Form III Apply to Foreign Tenants, Tourists and OCI Cardholders?

Form III covers every foreign national in reportable accommodation, but it does not take care of the guest's own obligations. Some typical situations:

TouristAn e-Visa tourist at a homestay. On a visa of 180 days or less, FRRO registration is usually not needed unless the visa says so (Rule 12(4)(a)). The homestay still files Form III.

EmployeeAn engineer on an Employment Visa in a rented flat. They register with the FRRO within 14 days where the visa requires it, and should ask the landlord or company for the Form III acknowledgement early, as the FRRO may ask for proof of address. See our Employment Visa guide.

BusinessA business visitor staying beyond 180 days. Since 1 June 2026, they must register before the 180 days end. The hotel's Form III continues alongside. See our Business Visa guide.

StudentAn international student in a college hostel. The institution files Form II, the hostel files Form III, and the student registers where required.

SpouseA foreign spouse living with family. Their own registration and extensions are separate (see our Entry (X) Visa guide). Whether the home must file depends on the rules for private premises above.

OCIAn OCI cardholder at a hotel or PG. OCI cardholders are not Indian citizens, so they are "foreigners" under Section 2(f), and Rule 17(1) expressly includes them. They do not register with the FRRO (Rule 12(4)(d)), but residents must report changes of address or occupation online (Rule 12(5)). More in our OCI card guide.

Remember: Form III does not register the guest, extend a visa or fix an overstay.

Form III Submission Deadline — The 24-Hour Rule

Rule 17(5) requires Form III "as soon as may be but not beyond twenty-four hours" after the foreign national arrives. Rule 17(6) applies the same limit to departure details, counted from when the guest leaves.

Figure 3: Worked example (illustrative).

The clock starts on arrival at your premises, not on entry into India, visa validity or the guest's 14-day FRRO deadline.

If a filing is missed, rejected or blocked by the portal

File as soon as possible with accurate details, and never backdate.
Keep evidence of the reason, such as time-stamped screenshots of portal errors.
Correct rejected entries against the passport and resubmit.
For a significant delay or long outage, write to your FRRO/FRO and keep a copy. Do not assume a late filing will be accepted.

Documents and Information Needed for Form III

Fields on the official Form III

Name, address and phone number of the premises
Guest's full name as in the passport, nationality and passport number
Visa number or OCI number, and visa type
Guest's Indian phone number and email
Arrival: arrived from, date, time, purpose of visit, and previous place of stay
Departure: date, time and next destination
Photograph and any remarks
Hospitals only: births to foreign parents and deaths of foreigners

The online module may ask for more, such as date of birth. Follow the fields it shows.

What to have ready

The passport bio page and visa, e-Visa or OCI card, to copy details exactly
A recent photograph
The guest's signed arrival record (Rule 17(1))
Your own details for the one-time provider sign-up; some offices ask for address or ownership proof, and practice varies

Most of these are for filling the form accurately rather than uploading.

Same guest, two sets of paperwork. If your tenant or employee also needs FRRO registration or an extension, the documents overlap. See our FRRO registration and visa extension guide, or contact Fargo Worldwide for a checklist for your case.

How to Submit Form III Online in India

Rule 17(5) requires electronic submission through indianfrro.gov.in or the Indian Visa Su-Swagatam app. Screens change, so follow the portal's current manual.

Open the official portal (the Form C / Form III module) or the app. Avoid look-alike sites.
Register or log in. First-time users sign up once as an accommodation provider. Some offices verify the account first, so do this before your first foreign guest arrives.
Enter details exactly as printed in the passport and visa or OCI card.
Submit the arrival report within 24 hours, ideally at check-in.
Save the acknowledgement. The guest may need it.
Submit departure details within 24 hours of the guest leaving.
Keep the records for at least one year.

Record-Keeping Requirements for Accommodation Providers

Under Rule 17(1), each foreign guest gives and signs their particulars on arrival, and the keeper records the departure date, time and onward address. These records are kept electronically for at least one year and, under Rule 17(2), must be available for inspection by the Registration Officer, the District Magistrate or a police officer not below Head Constable. Entries are in English, or an Indian language if needed, and the keeper must explain the rule to a guest who asks and does not understand English.

Record-management checklist

One digital record per guest, linked to the Form III acknowledgement
Signed arrival particulars and recorded departure details
Secure storage for at least 12 months, with limited access
A named person responsible for filing, plus a back-up
For corporate housing, a shared log for HR, facilities and the landlord

What Happens If Form III Is Not Submitted?

The Act has no separate penalty for Section 8. A failure to report falls under Section 23(b), the general provision for contraventions without a specific punishment: imprisonment of up to three years, a fine of up to three lakh rupees, or both. These are maximums, not automatic outcomes; the result depends on the facts and is for the authorities and courts to decide. Section 25 allows such offences to be compounded for sums notified by the Central Government.

In late 2025, police in two Kashmir districts registered cases against a hotel and a homestay under Sections 8 and 23(b) for not filing Form C. If you find a lapse, correct it promptly, record what happened, and cooperate with any query.

Form III vs Form II vs FRRO Registration

	Form III	Form II	FRRO registration (Form I)
Purpose	Reports a foreign national's stay at premises	Reports a foreign student's admission, course, progress and exit	Registers the foreign national; leads to a certificate of registration
Who files	Keeper of accommodation; hospitals	Universities, schools and other institutions	The foreign national
When	Within 24 hours of arrival and of departure	Within 24 hours of admission, then updates and an exit entry	Within 14 days of arrival where required, or before 180 days for certain visas
Legal basis	Sections 8 and 10; Rules 17 and 18	Section 9; Rule 16	Section 6; Rule 12
OCI cardholders	Included	Included	Exempt (Rule 12(4)(d))

They are not interchangeable. For registration, see our FRRO visa extension and registration guide.

Common Form III Mistakes to Avoid

Mismatched passport details, such as swapped given name and surname.
Old terminology in tenancy clauses and SOPs that still cite the Foreigners Act, 1946.
Filing late, for example leaving a Saturday arrival until Monday.
No departure report, leaving stays open in the system.
No retained records beyond the portal submission.
Leaving out OCI guests.
Expecting the tenant to file the keeper's report.
Treating Form III as the guest's registration.

Practical Form III Compliance Checklist for 2026

Confirm your premises are reportable and check for any local Section 8(3) direction.
Activate your provider account before the guest arrives.
At check-in, collect passport, visa or OCI details and a photograph, and get the arrival particulars signed.
Submit Form III within 24 hours and save the acknowledgement.
Share the acknowledgement with the guest if they need it for the FRRO.
On departure, record date, time and destination, and report within 24 hours.
Keep the record electronically for at least one year.
If anything goes wrong, file promptly, document why, and contact your FRRO/FRO.

Need Assistance With Form III or FRRO Documentation?

We help landlords, hotels, PG operators and HR teams understand who reports what, and we prepare FRRO registration, extension and exit documentation for foreign nationals across India. Final decisions rest with the FRRO/FRO and other competent authorities.

WhatsApp us Call +91 85954 31267

Frequently Asked Questions About Form III in India

Is Form C now called Form III in India?

Yes. The Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025 renamed the accommodation report Form III, and the official form is labelled "[Earlier FORM 'C']". Its purpose is unchanged: telling the Registration Officer that a foreign national is staying at your premises. The portal and many local notices still say "C-Form", so both names are in use.

When did Form III replace the earlier Form C?

On 1 September 2025, when the Immigration and Foreigners Act and Rules, 2025 took effect. The Rules superseded the Registration of Foreigners Rules, 1992, except for things done or omitted before then. Reports filed since that date are made under Rule 17, even where the portal still calls them C-Forms.

Who is responsible for submitting Form III?

The keeper of accommodation, meaning the person managing the premises or someone they authorise. In hospitals, it is the person in charge. The guest does not file Form III but must give the keeper accurate particulars under Section 8(2). Where an owner, manager and company are all involved, agree in writing who files.

Is Form III mandatory for hotels in India?

Yes. Hotels are commercial accommodation, so Section 8(1) applies in full. A hotel must send Form III within 24 hours of each foreign guest's arrival, including OCI cardholders, send departure details within 24 hours of check-out, and keep the particulars electronically for at least a year.

Does Form III apply to PG accommodation?

Yes. Rule 17(7)(a) expressly lists paying guest houses and hostels. A PG operator housing a foreign student, intern or professional should file within 24 hours of arrival, report departure within 24 hours of leaving, and keep the records for at least a year.

Does a landlord need to submit Form III for a foreign tenant?

It is safest to assume so. Rule 17 names "rented accommodation", and we have found no official clarification that a residential tenancy counts as "non-commercial" under Section 8(1). A local Section 8(3) direction may also apply. Ask your jurisdictional FRRO/FRO, and file if in doubt.

Are private residential landlords automatically covered?

Not automatically. Section 8(1) excludes residential premises of a non-commercial nature, such as a friend staying free of charge. But under Section 8(3), a civil authority can require everyone occupying or controlling residential premises in a specified area to report foreign occupants, and then the exception does not apply.

Does Form III apply to OCI cardholders?

Yes. OCI cardholders are not Indian citizens, so they are "foreigners" under Section 2(f), and Rule 17(1) expressly includes them. Hosts must report OCI guests on Form III. This is separate from FRRO registration, from which Rule 12(4)(d) exempts OCI cardholders.

Is Form III required for foreign tourists?

Yes, when they stay in covered accommodation such as a hotel, homestay or guest house, even if they hold an e-Visa and never need FRRO registration. A tourist staying free in a private home may fall within the non-commercial exception, unless a local Section 8(3) direction applies.

What is the deadline for submitting Form III after arrival?

Rule 17(5) says "as soon as may be but not beyond twenty-four hours" after the guest arrives. The clock starts on arrival at your premises, not on entry into India or FRRO registration. Filing at check-in, with the passport in front of you, is the simplest way to stay within it.

Is departure information also required?

Yes. Rule 17(6) requires departure details to be sent electronically within 24 hours of the guest leaving: date, time and next destination. Rule 17(1) also requires the keeper to record these in their own records. Stays left open with no departure entry are a common gap.

Can Form III be submitted online?

Yes, and the Rules require electronic submission, through indianfrro.gov.in or the Indian Visa Su-Swagatam app. First-time users usually register once as an accommodation provider, and some FRRO/FRO offices verify the account before it can be used. Follow the portal's current instructions.

What information is needed to complete Form III?

The premises' name, address and phone; the guest's full name as in the passport, nationality, passport number, visa or OCI number and visa type, Indian phone and email; arrival details (from where, date, time, purpose, previous stay); departure details; and a photograph. The portal may ask for more.

How long must accommodation records be retained?

At least one year, electronically, under Rule 17(1). They must be available at all times for inspection by the Registration Officer, the District Magistrate or a police officer not below Head Constable. Hospitals have a matching one-year requirement under Rule 18(1).

Is Form III the same as Form II?

No. Form II, under Rule 16, is filed by educational institutions about foreign students' enrolment, course, progress and exit. Form III reports where a foreign national is staying. An institution with a hostel files both: Form II for enrolment and Form III for the hostel stay.

Is Form III the same as FRRO registration?

No. FRRO registration is the foreign national's own obligation under Section 6 and Rule 12, made in Form I where the visa requires it. Form III is the host's report of the stay. Neither replaces the other, and a filed Form III does not count as the guest's registration.

Does submitting Form III extend a foreigner's visa?

No. It only reports where the guest is staying. It does not extend, convert or validate a visa, or cure an overstay. Extensions and conversions are separate e-FRRO applications by the foreign national, and someone who has overstayed may need an exit permit before leaving India.

What should an accommodation provider do after missing the deadline?

File as soon as you notice, with accurate details, and never backdate. Record why it was late and keep evidence such as portal error screenshots. If the delay was significant, inform your jurisdictional FRRO/FRO in writing. Do not assume a late filing will be accepted without question.

What should be done if the Form III portal is unavailable?

Try both the portal and the Su-Swagatam app, and take time-stamped screenshots of errors. Note the guest's details offline. If the outage runs close to the 24-hour limit, email or call your FRRO/FRO and keep a record. File as soon as the system is back.

Where can a landlord or accommodation provider obtain official guidance?

Start with the Act, the Rules and the June 2026 amendment notification, linked below. For local practice, contact the FRRO or FRO with jurisdiction over your premises. Outside the main FRRO cities, the district Superintendent of Police usually acts as the Foreigners Registration Officer.

Official Sources and Further Reading

Law and official resources: Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 — India Code (Sections 2, 8–10, 23, 25 and 36) · Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025 — Ministry of Home Affairs (Rules 12 and 16–18; Forms II and III) · Immigration and Foreigners (Amendment) Rules, 2026 — G.S.R. 424(E), 1 June 2026, Gazette ID CG-DL-E-01062026-273046, searchable on egazette.gov.in · Bureau of Immigration e-FRRO portal, including the Form C / Form III module.

Legal Disclaimer: This article is general legal information based on the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, the Rules, 2025 and the Amendment Rules, 2026 as checked on 22 October 2026. It is not legal advice. Fargo Worldwide (OPC) Private Limited is a private immigration consultancy, not affiliated with the Government of India, the Bureau of Immigration or any FRRO/FRO, and does not guarantee any government decision. Please verify requirements with official sources or your jurisdictional FRRO/FRO.

Form C Is Now Form-III: Complete Guide for India in 2026