The Indian government has taken steps to provide support to minority communities who have sought refuge from religious persecution in India, originating from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. The Ministry of Home Affairs has stated that members of minority groups (Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian) who have entered India on or before December 31, 2024, seeking to escape religious persecution, will not be required to possess valid passports or other forms of identification to continue living in the country. This also applies to those whose passports have expired or who entered India without valid documents.
This order, issued under the recently implemented Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, provides considerable relief, particularly to the large population of Hindus from Pakistan who arrived after 2014, addressing their concerns about their future and right to residency.
The Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, a recent law, dictates the conditions for foreigners entering and residing in India. The law typically requires foreigners to have valid visas and passports for entry. However, it provides exemptions for those fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who arrived prior to 2015.