Cabinet Approves ₹1,800 Crore Extension of IVFRT Scheme to Modernize Immigration System
New Delhi, March 25, 2026 – The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the continuation of the Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration and Tracking (IVFRT) Scheme for another five years, from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2031, with a budget outlay of ₹1,800 crore.The IVFRT platform is designed to integrate and streamline immigration, visa issuance, and foreigner registration processes in India through a secure and unified digital framework. The objective is to facilitate legitimate travelwhile strengthening national security.
Originally approved in 2010 by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, the project has undergone multiple extensions and upgrades. The latest phase aims to modernize the system with advanced technologies and expand its capabilities to meet evolving global travel and security needs.
The next phase of the scheme will focus on three key areas:
- Adoption of emerging technologies, including mobile-based services and self-service kiosks
- Upgradation of core infrastructure across Immigration Posts, FRROs, and data centres
- Optimization of digital platforms and service delivery systems
The government said the upgraded system will enable faster, seamless, and secure passenger movement, while improving user experience through unified digital platforms and enhanced network systems.
Currently, the IVFRT system covers 117 Immigration Posts, 15 Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROs), and 854 Foreigners Registration Officers (FROs) across the country.
The platform has already delivered significant improvements, including a 100% contactless and faceless visa process, with 91.24% of e-visa applications processed within 72 hours over the past five years.
Passenger clearance time at immigration checkpoints has been reduced to 2.5–3 minutes, compared to the earlier 5–6 minutes. Additionally, the Fast Track Immigration-Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP), implemented at 13 major airports, has reduced clearance time further to around 30 seconds using automated e-gates.
The government noted that the scheme will boost tourism, business, and medical travel, while enhancing economic growth, international mobility, and employment opportunities.
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