India has introduced significant updates to its passport and visa regulations, aiming to streamline travel for specific groups entering or departing the country. For Indian citizens, the most notable change is the waiver of passport requirements when traveling to or from Nepal and Bhutan via land or air. Instead, travelers can present identity documents recognized in the Indian Visa Manual. However, this exemption is strictly limited to direct travel between these nations; those transiting through third countries must still hold a valid passport to pass through designated immigration checkpoints. This policy also extends to Indian military personnel and their families traveling on official government transport.

The government has also extended entry relaxations to various foreign nationals under specific conditions. Citizens of Nepal and Bhutan can now enter India without a passport, provided they present valid identification and are not arriving from or transiting through countries like China, Pakistan, Hong Kong, or Macau. Additionally, the new guidelines offer exemptions to specific groups, including registered Sri Lankan Tamil refugees and foreign military crews arriving solely for vessel repairs. Furthermore, Tibetans who entered India under specific permits and religious minorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan—who fled due to persecution and arrived by December 31, 2024—are now permitted to reside in the country without adhering to standard visa and passport requirements.