IVFRT Scheme | 26 Mar 2026

Source: TH 

The Union Cabinet has approved the extension of the Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration & Tracking (IVFRT) Scheme for a five-year period from 1st April 2026, to  31st March 2031, with a financial outlay of Rs 1,800 crore, aligning it with the new Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025. 

• About: The IVFRT scheme, initially approved in 2010, is a core e-Governance initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs aimed at modernising and integrating immigration, visa issuance, and foreigner registration processes in India. 
  • It facilitates legitimate travel while strengthening national security through improved tracking and data integration.  
  • The system links key stakeholders such as Indian Missions abroad, Immigration Check Posts (ICPs), Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROs), and security agencies into a unified framework. 
• Technological Modernization: The scheme adopts emerging technologies such as biometrics, self-service kiosks, and mobile-based services to ensure a contactless and faceless visa process. 
• Security & Surveillance: A critical component is the tracking of foreigners within the country to manage illegal migration and ensure compliance with visa norms. 
• Operational Efficiency: The system has already achieved a 100% contactless and faceless visa process, reducing e-Visa clearance times (91.24% cleared within 72 hours) and cutting average manual clearance at posts to 2.5–3 minutes. 
  • The Fast Track Immigration-Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP) utilizes automated e-gates at 13 major airports, further reducing clearance time to 30 seconds for Indian nationals and Overseas Citizenship of India cardholders. 
• Economic Impact: By streamlining entry processes, the scheme provides a major boost to tourism, medical travel, and the business sectors, enhancing India’s Ease of Doing Business.