All foreigners (including those of Indian origin), except those covered under special categories, as mentioned below, are required to register themselves with the concerned District Foreigners Registration Officer/Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, within 14 days of their first arrival in India, if they hold a visa for a period which is more than 180 days.

Registration is required to be done only once during the validity of a visa irrespective of the number of times the foreigner leaves/re-enters India on multi-entry facility. Only if he/she enters India on a new visa will he/she be required to register again.

Pakistani nationals are required to register themselves at the check post of entry into India. They have to handover one copy of the visa application form, given to them by the Indian Mission abroad while granting visa, to the immigration authorities at the check post of entry, who in turn handover the Residential Permit to the Pak national. The Pak national has to carry the Residential Permit along with him/her, to each place of stay, for the purpose of police reporting. This Residential Permit has to be surrendered to the Immigration Authorities at the check post of exit, at the time of departure. Further, except those Pakistani nationals, who are granted visa with the endorsement Exempted from Police Reporting, others have to report their arrival and intended departure, at each place of stay as permitted in the visa, within 24 hours at the nearest police station.

All Afghan nationals are required to register themselves with the concerned FRO/FRRO within 7 days of arrival in India, irrespective of the validity of their visa.

Any violation of the above shall make a person liable for prosecution. (Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939)