Stories
India Tightens Blacklisting Rules for Foreign Nationals Amid Cybercrime, Hawala Concerns
- •India has updated its immigration and blacklisting guidelines, expanding the grounds for denying entry or stay to foreign nationals.
- •The revised rules allow for foreign nationals to be placed on a blacklist for various offenses, including cybercrime and hawala activities.
- •The new guidelines were reportedly issued following the arrest of US national Matthew VanDyke and six Ukrainian nationals in March 2026.
- •The arrests were made by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with alleged training of Myanmar-based ethnic armed groups in drone warfare.
- •The NIA initially invoked anti-terror provisions, later adding sections of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, to the chargesheet.
Key Questions Answered
India updated its immigration and blacklisting guidelines following the March 2026 arrest of US national Matthew VanDyke and six Ukrainian nationals by the National Investigation Agency in a case involving the alleged training of Myanmar-based ethnic armed groups in drone warfare.
Foreign nationals entering India on visas valid for 180 days or less who wish to extend their stay must register themselves at any time before the 180-day period expires, effectively replacing the previous 14-day grace period.
While the National Investigation Agency initially invoked anti-terror provisions, its subsequent chargesheet against Matthew VanDyke and the other accused invoked Sections 21 and 23 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, alongside an ongoing UAPA investigation.
