FRRO Registration Checker: Do You Need to Register in India?
Answer a few questions to find out whether you must register with the FRRO, and the exact date to do it by. Updated for the Immigration and Foreigners (Amendment) Rules, 2026.
Answer the questions to see whether you need to register and your deadline.
Who needs FRRO registration?
Foreigners on a visa valid for more than 180 days must register with the FRRO or FRO within 14 days of arriving in India, unless the visa limits each stay to 180 days. Any visa endorsed "registration required" must also be registered within 14 days. Visitors on visas of 180 days or less only register if they need to stay beyond 180 days, and must then register before day 180. OCI cardholders and children under 12 are exempt.
FRRO registration deadlines by situation
Whether you register depends on how long your visa is valid, what it says about registration and how long you stay, not only on the visa type. This table follows Rule 12 of the Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025, as amended on 1 June 2026.
| Your situation | Register? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Visa valid for more than 180 days, without the "each stay shall not exceed 180 days" condition (for example, most employment, student and research visas) | Yes | Within 14 days of arrival |
| Any visa endorsed "registration required" | Yes | Within 14 days of arrival |
| Visa valid for 180 days or less, leaving within 180 days | No | Not applicable |
| Visa valid for 180 days or less, needing to stay beyond 180 days | Yes | Before 180 days from arrival end |
| Multi-year visa limiting each stay to 180 days, staying within that limit | No | Not applicable |
| Multi-year visa limiting each stay to 180 days, needing to stay longer | Yes, only in emergent circumstances | Before reaching 180 days |
| Former Indian citizen now holding foreign citizenship, without an OCI card | Yes | Within 30 days of becoming a foreign citizen |
| Child born in India to foreign parents | Parents notify the birth | Within 30 days of birth |
| OCI cardholder | No | Report changes of address or occupation if you live in India |
| Child under 12 | No | Not applicable |
Who is exempt from FRRO registration
Rule 12(4) of the Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025 exempts these groups:
- Short-stay visitors: foreigners on a visa valid for 180 days or less who don't stay beyond 180 days, unless the visa is endorsed for registration.
- Holders of multi-year visas that limit each stay to 180 days, as long as they don't stay beyond that limit.
- Children below 12 years of age.
- OCI cardholders. If you live in India, you must still report changes to your permanent address or occupation online.
Some nationalities can be given different timelines by a government order. If your visa endorsement gives a different deadline, follow the endorsement.
What changed in June 2026
The Ministry of Home Affairs notified the Immigration and Foreigners (Amendment) Rules, 2026 (G.S.R. 424(E)) on 1 June 2026. They took effect the same day.
Before 1 June 2026
Foreigners on visas of 180 days or less who stayed longer could register within 14 days after their 180 days ended.
From 1 June 2026
They must register before the 180 days end. On visas limiting each stay to 180 days, registration for a longer stay is granted only in emergent circumstances.
The amendment also changed the rules for children. Where either parent is an Indian citizen who wants the child to keep Indian citizenship, the 30-day birth notification doesn't apply. If that child later acquires foreign citizenship while in India, a parent must inform the Registration Officer within 30 days.
How to register on e-FRRO
Registration is done online. You don't need to visit the FRRO office unless the officer asks you to.
- Create an account on the e-FRRO portal, or use the Indian Visa Su-Swagatam mobile app.
- Choose "Registration" and fill in your passport, visa and address details in India.
- Upload your documents as PDF or image files within the portal's size limits.
- Submit and watch your email. The FRRO may ask for more documents or, if late, a penalty payment.
- Download your Registration Certificate, also called a Residential Permit, from the portal once approved.
Documents you need
Most registrations ask for the following. The FRRO can request more depending on your visa.
- Passport bio page, Indian visa and arrival stamp
- Recent passport-size photograph
- Proof of address in India, such as a rent agreement or Form C from your hotel or host
- Employment visa: employment contract, request letter and undertaking from the Indian employer
- Student visa: bonafide certificate from your university or college
- Medical visa: letter from the treating hospital
For employer-sponsored cases, see our employment visa guide or our FRRO registration service.
If you register late
Missing your registration deadline is a violation under Section 25 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025. The penalty uses the same slabs as an overstay: ₹10,000 for up to 30 days, ₹20,000 for 31 to 90 days, ₹50,000 for 91 to 180 days, ₹1 lakh for 181 days to a year, and up to ₹3 lakh beyond that. Late registration can also hold up visa extensions and your exit from India.
Already late? Use our overstay and late registration fine calculator to estimate the penalty, then file on e-FRRO as soon as possible.
Frequently asked questions
Who needs FRRO registration in India?
Foreigners on a visa valid for more than 180 days must register with the FRRO or FRO within 14 days of arrival, unless the visa limits each stay to 180 days. Any visa endorsed "registration required" must also be registered within 14 days. Visitors on visas of 180 days or less only register if they need to stay beyond 180 days, and must then register before day 180. OCI cardholders and children under 12 are exempt.
What is the deadline for FRRO registration?
Long-term visa holders and anyone whose visa is endorsed for registration must register within 14 days of arrival. Holders of visas of 180 days or less who need to stay longer must register before the 180 days from arrival end. Former Indian citizens who become foreign citizens must register within 30 days, unless they hold an OCI card.
Do e-Visa holders need FRRO registration?
Most e-Visa holders do not, because e-Visas allow shorter stays. Registration is needed if the e-Visa is endorsed "registration required", or if the holder must stay in India beyond 180 days, in which case they must register before day 180.
Do OCI cardholders need to register with the FRRO?
No. OCI cardholders are exempt from registration under Rule 12(4) of the Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025. OCI cardholders who live in India must report any change of permanent address or occupation online.
What changed in FRRO registration rules in June 2026?
The Immigration and Foreigners (Amendment) Rules, 2026 (G.S.R. 424(E), 1 June 2026) require foreigners on visas of 180 days or less who want to stay longer to register before the 180 days end, instead of within 14 days after. Registration to stay beyond 180 days on visas limiting each stay to 180 days is now granted only in emergent circumstances.
What happens if I register with the FRRO late?
Late or missed registration is a violation under Section 25 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025. The penalty starts at ₹10,000 for up to 30 days and rises in slabs to a maximum of ₹3 lakh. It can also delay visa extensions and exit from India.
Do children need FRRO registration?
Children below 12 years of age are exempt. Foreign parents of a child born in India must notify the birth online within 30 days, unless a parent is an Indian citizen who wants the child to keep Indian citizenship.
Can I complete FRRO registration online?
Yes. Registration is filed online on the e-FRRO portal or through the Indian Visa Su-Swagatam mobile app. You usually do not need to visit the FRRO office unless the officer asks you to.
Do business visa holders need to register with the FRRO?
Many business visas limit each stay to 180 days. Holders of such visas do not register unless they need to stay beyond 180 days, and that registration is granted only in emergent circumstances. If the business visa is valid for more than 180 days without that condition, or is endorsed for registration, register within 14 days of arrival.
Official sources
- Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025, Rule 12 (G.S.R. 596(E), 1 September 2025)
- Immigration and Foreigners (Amendment) Rules, 2026, G.S.R. 424(E), 1 June 2026
- Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, Section 25 (penalties)
- e-FRRO portal, Bureau of Immigration
This checker gives general guidance based on the rules in force on 3 November 2026. Your visa endorsement and the FRRO's decision take priority, and some nationalities have different timelines by government order. This is not legal advice.