The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given the green light to extending the Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration and Tracking (IVFRT) Scheme beyond March 31, 2026, until March 31, 2031, with a budget allocation of Rs 1,800 crore. The IVFRT platform aims to streamline functions related to immigration, visa issuance, and foreigners’ registration in India to enhance security and service efficiency. Initially approved in 2010, the project has seen budget revisions and extensions over the years to meet evolving demands and security challenges.
The core objective of the IVFRT is to modernize and enhance immigration and visa services within a secure and integrated framework, ensuring a smooth experience for legitimate travelers while bolstering national security measures. The recent enactment of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 necessitates the strengthening and modernization of the IVFRT system to effectively address current and future immigration control and foreigner management needs. The project’s continuation aligns with the Government of India’s vision to establish a world-class immigration and visa issuance system to promote international mobility.
The extended IVFRT Scheme will focus on leveraging emerging technologies, transforming core infrastructure, and optimizing technology and service delivery to meet the evolving demands of global travel and security challenges. By adopting state-of-the-art technological solutions, including mobile-based services and self-service kiosks, the scheme aims to enhance passenger movement efficiency while maintaining a robust security architecture. The modernization efforts will also involve upgrading and expanding core infrastructure nationwide to ensure a resilient and scalable system.
The IVFRT system has already demonstrated significant improvements in service delivery and operational efficiency across immigration and visa functions. Notably, it has enabled a 100% contactless and faceless visa process with online appointment scheduling and payment facilities, resulting in faster visa processing times. Moreover, the average passenger clearance time at Immigration Posts has been reduced to 2.5-3 minutes, enhancing overall operational efficiency. The implementation of the Fast Track Immigration-Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP) at major airports has further expedited immigration clearance, benefitting Indian nationals and OCI cardholders.
