India Extends Immigration and Visa Scheme Until 2031
The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recently approved the extension of the Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration & Tracking (IVFRT) Scheme for an additional five years, starting from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2031. The initiative comes with a significant budget allocation of ₹1,800 crore aimed at modernizing India’s immigration and visa functions.
The IVFRT platform is designed to streamline and enhance the processes related to immigration and visa issuance while ensuring the security of travelers and the country. Since its initial approval by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in May 2010, the project has undergone several revisions and extensions with a total investment exceeding ₹3,200 crore, adapting to the evolving landscapes of global travel and national security.
Modernizing Immigration Processes
One of the core objectives of the IVFRT is to upgrade the immigration and visa services within a secure and integrated framework. This latest extension aims to reimagine and refresh the existing structures while incorporating cutting-edge technologies for an improved user experience. The modernization comes in response to the new challenges posed by international travel and recent legislative developments, including the Immigration and Foreigners Act of 2025.
The new phase of IVFRT focuses on three primary areas: integrating emerging technologies, transforming core infrastructure, and optimizing both technology and service delivery. Technologies like mobile services and self-service kiosks will offer seamless, secure options for travelers, ensuring their needs are met efficiently.
Significant Impact on Travel and Economy
The IVFRT has a broad scope, covering 117 Immigration Posts, 15 Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROs), and 854 Foreigners Registration Officers (FROs) nationwide. The system has already shown notable improvements, achieving a 100% contactless and faceless visa application process. Over the past five years, 91.24% of e-Visa applications were processed within 72 hours, and the average immigration clearance time has halved, now taking just 2.5 to 3 minutes.
The Fast Track Immigration-Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP) introduced automated e-gates at 13 major airports, further enhancing the process by reducing immigration clearance time to a mere 30 seconds for enrolled users, which currently includes Indian nationals and OCI cardholders.
This initiative is expected to have vast positive implications for India’s economy. By making the country more attractive for foreign tourists and facilitating smoother business interactions, the IVFRT will stimulate sectors like tourism, healthcare, and commerce. Improved immigration services will not only reinforce national security but also promote economic growth and create job opportunities across various industries.
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