The Immigration and Foreigners Order 2025, regulates the capturing of biometric information as mentioned below:
(1) Every foreigner applying for any category of visa, including registration as Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder under section 7A of the Citizenship Act, 1955 (57 of 1955), shall allow his biometric information to be taken by the authority issuing the visa or the authority granting the registration as Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder, as the case may be, before grant of such visa or registration as Overseas Citizen of India cardholder.
(2) A person who is identified as a foreigner or considered to be a foreigner while in India shall allow his biometric information to be taken at such time and at such place by: -
(a) a specified authority of the State Government or a Union territory Administration;
(b) Civil authority;
(c) Registration Officer;
(d) Immigration Officer;
(e) Border Guarding Forces; or
(f) Coast Guard,
on the designated electronic portal of the Central Government for the purpose.
(3) The biometric information shall be taken as per specifications specified by the Central Government from time to time.
(4) The biometric information captured shall be valid for ten years from the date of capturing.
(5) The foreigners who do not have fingerprints or poor fingerprints shall be exempted and only facial traits or iris shall be captured for them.
(6) The foreigner who is having less number of fingers shall give fingerprints of existing fingers only.
For more details kindly visit Ministry of Home Affairs website at www.mha.gov.in
