Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROs)

Why in news?

The Union government plans to establish Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROs) in all State capitals by 2027, said the Ministry of Home Affairs.

• Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROs) – They function as the primary administrative and regulatory arm of the Bureau of Immigration under India's Ministry of Home Affairs.
• They are legally responsible for regulating, tracking, and facilitating the stay, movement, and exit of foreign nationals residing in or visiting India.
• Legal Framework – This administrative rollout aligns with the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, which streamlined India's border and stay regulations by consolidating four older pieces of legislation -
  • The Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920
  • The Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939
  • The Foreigners Act, 1946
  • The Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act, 2000
• Under this consolidated act, FRROs function as the primary regional arms assisting the Bureau of Immigration (BoI).
• In jurisdictions or smaller towns where an independent FRRO is not established, the local District Superintendent of Police (SP) acts as the designated Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO).
• Reason for expansion –
  • A rise in the number of foreigners arriving in India for tourism, medical treatment, and education.
  • The expansion is intended to improve access to immigration and consular services, strengthen regulatory compliance, and support India’s efforts to attract international visitors.
• Expansion of the FRRO network – The number of FRROs has increased to 20 offices nationwide.
• Since 2025, FRROs have been opened in Jaipur, Chandigarh, Guwahati, Aizawl and Amravati.
• The government has recently notified new FRROs in Kohima, Agartala and Bhubaneswar.
• Remaining locations include Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Calicut, Chennai, Cochin, Delhi, Kolkata, Kozhikode, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Thiruvananthapuram.
• The government is pursuing the establishment of FRROs in the remaining States that do not yet have one, including Bihar, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Meghalaya.
• Services provided by FRRO – The FRROs are responsible for regulating and facilitating the lawful stay of foreign nationals in India, including post-arrival registration, issuance of Registration Certificates and Residential Permits, updating personal and travel details, granting permissions for visits to protected areas, and issuing exit permits in specific cases.

Reference

The Hindu | Foreigners’ registration offices in all State Capitals by 2027: MHA