Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration and Tracking (IVFRT) Scheme

Context: The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration & Tracking (IVFRT) Scheme for five years (2026–2031) with an outlay of ₹1,800 crore.

Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration and Tracking (IVFRT) Scheme: Background

• The Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration and Tracking (IVFRT) Scheme is a mission-mode project designed to create a secure, integrated, and service-oriented framework for managing the lifecycle of travellers—from visa application and entry into India to their activities within the country and final exit.
• Launched in: The project was originally approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on May 13, 2010.
  • The newly approved phase will run from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2031.
• Implemented by: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

Aim:

• The primary objective is to modernise and interlink functions related to immigration, visa issuance, and foreigner registration to facilitate legitimate travellers while strengthening national security and curbing illegal migration.

Key Features of IVFRT Scheme

• Interlinked Digital Ecosystem: Connects over 117 Immigration Check Posts (ICPs), 15 FRROs, and 854 Foreigners Registration Offices (FROs) across India into a single global database.
• Contactless & Faceless Services: Enables a 100% online visa process with automated appointments and payments; currently, over 91% of e-visas are cleared within 72 hours.
• Fast Track Immigration (FTI-TTP): Utilises automated e-gates at 13 major airports to reduce passenger clearance time from 3 minutes to just 30 seconds for trusted travellers.
• Technological Innovation: Introduction of self-service kiosks and mobile-based services to ensure seamless movement without compromising the security architecture.
• Biometric Integration: Standardises biometric capture at all entry points, reducing conventional manual clearance time by nearly 50%.

Sharing is caring!