India extends IVFRT immigration scheme with Rs 1,800 crore allocation until 2031

The Union Cabinet of India has approved the continuation of the Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration and Tracking (IVF-RT) scheme for an additional five years, with a budgetary allocation of Rs 1,800 crore, until March 2031. The programme is aimed at enhancing the visa and immigration experience for foreign visitors while also strengthening national security. The scheme involves creating a seamless database network linking visa issuance records, immigration data, look-out circulars, travel history, registration with Foreigners Regional Registration Officers (FRROs) or Foreigners Registration Officers (FROs), visa extension requests, and inner line permits. This integration will allow immigration officers to make informed decisions on entry and exit clearance. Initially, the database linking will be implemented at major airports and eventually expand to all integrated check posts and FRRO/FRO offices across the country. The objective is to ensure legitimate foreign visitors experience smoother immigration processing, while potential security threats can be tracked efficiently using technology, reducing reliance on human judgement alone. The government stated that this project is not just a technical upgrade but a strategic transformation to promote international mobility through a world-class immigration and visa issuance system.