BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION

Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India

POE Clearance

Long Term Visas (LTV) is issued to Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan nationals coming to India on valid travel documents i.e. valid passport and valid visa and seeking permanent settlement in India with a view to acquire Indian citizenship

Categories of Persons eligible for LTV
  • Members of minority communities in Pakistan/Bangladesh/Afghanistan, namely Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians.
  • Pakistan / Bangladesh women married to Indian nationals and staying in India / Afghanistan nationals married to Indian nationals in India and staying in India.
  • Indian origin women holding Pakistan / Bangladesh / Afghanistan nationality married to Pakistan / Bangladesh / Afghanistan nationals and returning to India due to widowhood / divorce and having no male members to support them in Pakistan / Bangladesh / Afghanistan.
  • Cases involving extreme compassion.
Procedure for grant of LTV

  • Above categories of Pakistan / Bangladesh / Afghanistan nationals coming to India on short term visa (on any category of visa applicable to such Pakistan / Bangladesh / Afghanistan nationals) may be granted extension of their short term visa up to a period of six months by the FRRO / DCP / FRO concerned, after satisfying that the Pakistan / Bangladesh / Afghanistan national has applied for LTV with all the requisite documents.

    Afghanistan nationals under eligible categories already staying in India on ‘Stay Visa / Residential Permit’ may also apply for grant of Long Term Visa (LTV).

  • Pakistan / Bangladesh / Afghanistan nationals eligible for grant of LTV shall apply online on https://www.indianfrro.gov.in. The applicants are required to upload the photograph and all documents and submit the application. Such Pakistani nationals will also make the payment of the requisite fee online.
Fee

A fee of Rs.100/- per application will be payable for grant of LTV by Pakistani nationals. The fee is to be paid online. In the case of such Bangladesh and Afghanistan nationals, no fee will be payable.

Period for which LTV will be granted

LTV for five years at a time may be granted to Pakistan / Bangladesh / Afghanistan nationals eligible under categories (i) to (iii) mentioned above. In respect of category (iv), initial LTV will be granted only for one year.

Other conditions
  • Grant of LTV will be subject to Police Reporting every year at the place where the Pakistan / Bangladesh / Afghanistan national is allowed to stay on LTV.
  • Phone numbers of such Pakistan / Bangladesh / Afghanistan nationals on LTV should be reported to the FRRO / DCP / FRO concerned and any change should be informed to the FRRO / DCP / FRO concerned without delay.
Extension of LTV

For extension the applicant may apply to the FRRO / DCP / FRO concerned on https://indianfrro.gov.in .

Grant of Re-entry facility (Return Visa)
  • FRRO / DCP / FRO concerned may grant re-entry facility (Return Visa) for a maximum period of 90 days to Pakistan / Bangladesh / Afghanistan nationals living in India on LTV or whose request for LTV is under consideration, as follows:-
    • Once in a calendar year to go to their home country i.e. Pakistan / Bangladesh / Afghanistan, as the case may be
    • Once in a calendar year to go to a third country (other than Pakistan)
  • However, in deserving cases on extreme compassionate grounds, FRRO / DCP / FRO concerned may grant ‘Return Visa’ endorsement more than once in a year on merits.
  • In all normal cases where the legitimate purpose is indicated, the Re-entry facility (Return Visa) shall be granted by the FRRO / DCP / FRO concerned within five working days.
Other facilities available to such persons who are granted LTV

  • FRRO/ FRO concerned is empowered to grant permission to Bangladesh / Afghanistan nationals staying in India on LTV to engage themselves in employment of purely private nature i.e. excluding Government / semi-Government, Local Bodies, Cooperative jobs etc.

    In the case of Pakistan nationals staying in India on LTV, such permission will be granted by the State Government / UT Administration concerned.

  • Children of Pakistan / Bangladesh / Afghanistan nationals staying in India on LTV are allowed to take admission in schools, colleges, universities, technical / professional institutions etc. subject to usual conditions prescribed for foreigners in this regard. No specific permission would be required for this purpose.

    However, intimation in this regard shall be sent to the FRRO / DCP / FRO concerned.

  • In the case of Pakistani nationals belonging to above mentioned categories, living in India on LTV or whose case for grant of LTV is under consideration of the State Government / UT Administration / Ministry of Home Affairs, the State Government / UT Administration concerned may grant additional places limited to a maximum of 2 places at any given point of time in addition to the place of stay. Police Reporting at the additional place granted is to be done within 24 hours of arrival. The Pakistani national should also take exit from the DCP / FRO / FRRO concerned before leaving that place. No place which falls within Protected / Restricted or Cantonment areas should be allowed without prior approval of the Competent Authority.
  • Pakistani nationals living in India on LTV approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs or whose LTV proposal is under consideration of the State Government / UT Administration / Ministry of Home Affairs, may be granted permission for change in mode of travel and port of exit by the State Government / UT Administration concerned. Further, the Pakistani nationals will be allowed only any one of the designated check posts. However, change in mode of travel to ‘by foot’ should not be permitted except with the prior approval of the Competent Authority.
  • Pakistan / Bangladesh / Afghanistan Doctors living in India on LTV can do private practice at their designated place after obtaining prior No Objection from the Medical Council of India and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Additional benefits extended to persons belonging to minority communities in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan i.e. Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians

Permission to take up self-employment or for doing business

Such persons are permitted to take up self-employment or to do business viz. selling of grocery items, household goods, fruits / vegetables or any other business activity except in Protected, Restricted and Cantonment Areas.

However, they can not undertake self employment / business in any contractual labour work related to defence establishment, scientific establishment, sensitive organization, Railways, Ministries, etc.

Further, they will not be allowed to engage in businesses related to telecommunication viz. mobile handsets, SIM cards, Laptop, etc. and security system business relating to computers, information technology, cyber space, Kabari / scrap business with defence units, etc.

Allowing free movement within the State / UT (excluding Protected / Restricted / Cantonment areas)

  • Such persons living in India on LTV approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs are allowed free movement within the State / UT, except in Protected / Restricted / Cantonment areas, without prior approval of the DCP / FRO / FRRO concerned.

    In the case of those staying on LTV in the NCR (National Capital Region), they are allowed free movement within NCR, excluding Protected / Restricted / Cantonment areas, without the prior approval of the DCP / FRO / FRRO concerned.

  • In case such Pakistan/ Bangladesh/ Afghanistan national has to visit a place in any other State/ UT, he/she will be allowed such a visit, except to Protected/ Restricted/ Cantonment areas, for a short period of maximum 15 days after such Pakistan/ Bangladesh/ Afghanistan national has informed the DCP/ FRO/ FRRO concerned.

    For this purpose, such Pakistan/ Bangladesh/ Afghanistan nationals will be required to submit the prescribed form online to the DCP/ FRO/ FRRO concerned.

  • In case the period of stay in the other State/ UT is likely to exceed 15 days on account of medical treatment in hospitals etc., such Pakistan/ Bangladesh/ Afghanistan national will have to get a certificate from the hospital concerned or furnish documentary proof justifying the prolonged stay and upload the same along with the form to be submitted online to the DCP/ FRO/ FRRO concerned.
  • Personal reporting before the DCP/ FRO/ FRRO concerned every year by such persons belonging to the minority communities in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan will be done.
Permission for transfer of LTV papers from one State/ UT to another State/ UT

In respect of such persons, the DCP/ FRO/ FRRO concerned at the place of residence of the Pakistan/ Bangladesh/ Afghanistan nationals are authorized to transfer the LTV papers from one State/ UT to another State/UT after getting no objection from the other DCP/ FRO/ FRRO concerned at the place where such Pakistan/ Bangladesh/ Afghanistan nationals propose to relocate, except the Protected/ Restricted or Cantonment areas.

Penalty on non-extension of Short Term Visa/ LTV and/ or non-Registration on time

The penalty on non-extension of short term visa/ LTV and/ or non-registration on time by such persons is as follows:-

S. No. Duration Financial penalty (in Indian Rupees)
1 1 day up to 90 days ₹ 25
2 91 days up to 2 years ₹ 50
3 More than 2 years ₹ 100
Permission to apply for LTV or Exit at the place of present residence in cases where the applicants have moved to the present place of residence without prior permission

Such persons, who after reaching India on short term visas with specified places, have moved to another place (not allowed in terms of the visa granted) without obtaining prior permission of the Competent Authority and are submitting applications for LTV at the present place of residence may be granted LTV.

In such cases, the State Governments/ UT Administrations concerned may regularize their stay at the present place of residence and to grant permission for applying for LTV at the present place of residence, not being within the Protected/ Restricted or Cantonment areas.

In case such a person applies for grant of Exit at the present place of residence, jurisdictional FRRO/FRO concerned at the present place of residence may grant exit permission after getting a report from the FRRO/ FRO concerned where the person had earlier resided.

Opening of Bank Accounts

Such persons applying for LTV are permitted to open NRO (Non-Resident Ordinary) Rupee account without prior approval of the Reserve Bank of India subject to the following conditions:-

  • Such persons who have applied for grant of Long Term Visa (LTV) may be allowed to open a NRO bank account and the account may be opened initially for only six months, which may be renewed at six monthly intervals when the application for Long Term Visa (LTV) is under consideration of the Government. Once LTV is granted, the accounts may be made perpetual.
  • Such persons who have already been granted LTV may be allowed to open NRO bank account on perpetual basis.
  • The accounts may be converted into resident accounts when such persons are granted Indian citizenship.
  • NRO account may be opened in authorized banks.
Permission to purchase a small dwelling unit for self occupation and suitable accommodation for carrying out self-employment without prior approval of the Reserve Bank of India

Such persons are permitted to purchase a small dwelling unit for self occupation and suitable accommodation for carrying out self-employment without prior approval of the Reserve Bank of India subject to the following conditions:-

  • They may be allowed to purchase a small dwelling unit sufficient to serve the needs of the individual/ family for self use and suitable accommodation for carrying out self- employment.
  • They will not be allowed to purchase immovable property in and around Restricted / Protected areas including Cantonment Areas.
  • They must submit a declaration that they are residing in India on LTV.
  • The registration documents of the property should mention the nationality and the fact that such persons are on LTV so that the same document may not be misused to apply for inclusion of their name in electoral roll and get a voter’s ID card with the intention to circumvent the laid down procedure for obtaining Indian citizenship.
  • They should declare source of funds for the purchase which may include assets brought by them while entering India, soft loans from relations, donations etc.
  • The property of such persons may be attached/ confiscated in the event they indulge in anti-India activities.
  • A copy of the documents of purchased property shall be submitted to the DCP/ FRO/ FRRO concerned and to the Ministry of Home Affairs (Foreigners Division).
  • They can sell the property only after acquiring Indian citizenship. However, in case such person wants to dispose the property before acquiring Indian citizenship, it can be done only with the prior approval of DCP/ FRO/ FRRO concerned.
Issuance of Driving Licence

Such persons living in India on LTV are eligible for issue of Driving Licence. For this purpose, the address given in the LTV document will be considered as valid proof of address.

Issuance of PAN Card and Aadhaar Number
  • Such persons living in India on LTV are eligible for issue of PAN Card. For this purpose, the address given in the LTV document will be considered as valid proof of address.
  • Such persons living in India on LTV are eligible for issuance of Aadhaar number. For this purpose, the address given in the LTV document will be considered as valid proof of address. Further, Aadhaar number shall be made mandatory and all other benefits extended to such persons will be linked to the Aadhaar number.

Grant of LTV to male Muslim Community members from Kerala

Male Muslim community member being originally Indian citizen went to Pakistan after partition leaving behind family in India and returned back to India and settled in the State of Kerala on a valid passport issued by the Government of Pakistan which has either been expired or lost and –

  • such person has gone to Pakistan between the period of 15th August 1947 and 31st December 1965;
  • such person should not have married while in Pakistan;
  • such person should not have acquired any immovable property in Pakistan;
  • such person, while going to Pakistan, should have left behind family members who are Indian citizens;
  • such person should have no intention whatsoever of returning to Pakistan;
Grant of LTV to persons of minority communities of Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who have entered into India on or before 31st December 2014 either without any valid document including passport/ other travel document or with valid documents but the validity of any of such documents has expired
  • A number of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Afghan nationals belonging to minority communities in those countries, such as Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians, were compelled to seek shelter in India due to religious persecution or fear of religious persecution. Such foreigners may submit applications for grant of Long Term Visa (LTV) online on (https://indianfrro.gov.in).
  • The applicant will have to pay a fee of ₹ 100/- along with the application.
  • During the period of stay in India, such persons from Afghanistan/ Bangladesh/ Pakistan granted LTV will be permitted to engage themselves in employment of purely private nature i.e. excluding Government/ Semi-Government, local bodies, cooperative jobs etc. with permission from the State Government/ UT Administration concerned.
  • Children of such Bangladeshi and Pakistani nationals can take admission in schools, colleges, universities, technical/ professional institutions etc. subject to usual conditions prescribed for foreigners in this regard. No specific permission will be required for this purpose. However, an intimation in this regard shall be sent to the FRRO/ FRO/ DCP concerned.
Grant of LTV to foreign nationals who claim to be refugees

FRRO concerned may issue LTV to the foreign nationals who claim to be refugee after justifying his/her claim (on the grounds of a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, sex, nationality, ethnic identity, membership of a particular social group or political opinion).

Economic immigrants i.e. foreigners who have arrived in India in search of economic opportunities, without any fear of persecution, WILL NOT be eligible for LTV. If such people are detected, they shall be deported by the competent authority by invoking the Foreigners Act 1946.