Jaipur, May 3: The Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday issued a directive requiring all Pakistani citizens holding Long-Term Visas (LTVs) -- who have not acquired Indian citizenship -- to reapply through the Electronic Foreigners Regional Registration Office (e-FRRO) portal with verified documents, officials said.

According to Vishnukant, Inspector General of Police (Security), Rajasthan, this decision follows an order issued on April 28, 2025, by Pratap Singh Rawat, Under Secretary of the Ministry's Foreign-I Department. While previous provisions had exempted LTV holders from reapplying, the revised policy mandates a fresh application process.

Applicants must submit a valid LTV certificate, a recent passport-sized photograph with a white background, current address proof, details of their profession, occupation, and religion, and, if applicable, a copy of their Indian citizenship application.

The e-FRRO portal (https://indianfrro.gov.in) will accept applications from May 10 to July 10, 2025. Failure to reapply within this window will result in visa cancellation.

"A decision has been taken by the Union Home Ministry of the Indian government regarding the long term visa policy of Pakistani citizens.

All such Pakistani citizens who have long term visa (LTV) but have not acquired Indian citizenship will now have to apply afresh on the portal of Electronic Foreigners Regional Registration Office (e-FFRO) with verified papers," said Inspector General of Police (Security) Rajasthan.

Vishnukant said: "Orders have been issued in this regard on April 28, 2025, by Pratap Singh Rawat, Under Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Foreign-I Department. In this, all long term visa holders were exempted from re-appeal of their visa. But this decision has been considered by the Indian government."

"The government has now decided that all such Pakistani citizens who have long term visa and have not acquired Indian citizenship will have to apply afresh on the Electronic Foreigners Regional Registration Office (e-FRRO) portal (https://indianfrro.gov.in) with verified documents."

He added that as per the order, the application form for re-applying for long term visa will be available on the portal from May 10, 2025, which will remain open till July 10, 2025.

The long term visa of any Pakistani citizen who fails to re-apply in the said period will be cancelled, Vishnukant said.

(IANS)

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