New Delhi, Mar 25: The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, has approved the continuation of the Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration & Tracking (IVFRT) scheme for five years from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2031, with a budget outlay of Rs 1,800 crore.
The IVFRT platform integrates immigration, visa issuance and foreigner registration systems, aiming to modernise services while strengthening national security. The next phase will focus on adopting advanced technologies, upgrading core infrastructure, and improving service delivery through unified digital platforms.
The government said the scheme will enhance passenger convenience through features such as mobile-based services, self-service kiosks, and faster immigration clearance. It will also expand infrastructure across immigration posts, FRROs and data centres nationwide.
Officials noted that the system has already enabled a fully online visa process, with over 91% of e-visa applications cleared within 72 hours in recent years, and reduced airport immigration clearance time to about 2.5–3 minutes. Automated e-gates under the Trusted Traveller Programme have further cut processing time to around 30 seconds at major airports. The scheme is expected to boost tourism, business travel and economic activity, while improving monitoring and management of foreign nationals in India.
