New Delhi | September 3, 2025 : In a major relief for religious minorities from neighboring countries, the Union Home Ministry has announced that Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians who entered India till December 31, 2024, to escape religious persecution will be allowed to stay without a passport or other valid travel documents.

The New Order

The order, issued on Tuesday, falls under the newly enforced Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025. It clarifies that members of minority communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan can legally remain in India even without proper documents, provided they crossed into the country on or before December 31, 2024.

However, the ministry made it clear that this order only permits stay and does not automatically grant citizenship. The provision primarily aims to address the concerns of thousands of people, particularly Hindus from Pakistan, who arrived in India after 2014 and were uncertain about their legal status.

Difference from CAA

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), passed last year, applied only to minority migrants who entered India on or before December 31, 2014, making them eligible for citizenship. In contrast, the latest order widens the scope by recognizing those who arrived up to the end of 2024, though without promising citizenship.

Legal experts suggest that this move bridges a gap left after CAA’s enforcement, offering protection from deportation but keeping the question of citizenship unresolved.

Who Is Covered?

According to the MHA order, people from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan belonging to minority communities who entered India without valid documents or with expired ones will now be covered.

The order also clarifies exemptions for other groups:

Citizens of Nepal and Bhutan entering India by land or air will not require passports or visas.

Indian citizens entering from Nepal or Bhutan will continue to enjoy the same exemption.

Members of India’s naval, military, or air forces, along with their families, when traveling on official duty through government transport, will also be exempt from carrying passports or visas.

Implications

For many minority migrants, especially Hindus from Pakistan, this order comes as a relief. Over the years, several had crossed into India due to rising fears of persecution but were left in limbo since they missed the 2014 cut-off under CAA.

By extending protection to those who arrived until 2024, the government acknowledges the continued flow of migrants escaping religious persecution. While the order ensures safety from deportation or detention under foreigner laws, the absence of a citizenship provision keeps their future uncertain.

Looking Ahead

Officials suggest that future deliberations may address whether these groups will eventually be granted citizenship rights. For now, the focus remains on allowing them to live in India without fear of being penalized for lacking valid travel documents.

The latest directive under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, thus provides much-needed relief while leaving the larger debate on citizenship open for the future.