Form C Is Now Form III
On 1 September 2025, the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 came into force, replacing four older laws that had governed foreigners in India since as far back as 1920. One of its practical changes: the familiar Form C — the form hotels file to report foreign guests — was renamed Form III, now issued under Rule 17 of the Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025.
The name changed, but the duty got broader and the penalty got real. Here is what accommodation providers and foreign travellers each need to know.
Who Must File Form III
The legal duty sits with the keeper of accommodation — not the guest. That includes:
- Hotels of every category
- Guesthouses and lodges
- Homestays and serviced apartments operating commercially
- Hospitals, institutions, and other premises accommodating foreign nationals
Whenever a foreign national checks in, the keeper must transmit Form III electronically within 24 hours of arrival — and must also report the departure.
What about hosting a friend at home? The Act exempts residential premises of a non-commercial nature — a private home hosting a guest without payment — unless a civil authority specifically directs otherwise. If you rent rooms commercially, even informally, the duty applies.
The Big Change: OCI Cardholders Are Now Reported Too
Under the old Form C regime, OCI cardholders were exempt from guest reporting. That ended with the 2025 Act: official guidance confirms Form III must be filed for foreign guests including OCI cardholders, along with Nepalese nationals and other foreign citizens. Hotels that skip Form III for OCI guests out of old habit are now non-compliant.
If you hold an OCI card, expect hotels to ask for your passport and OCI card at check-in — that is the law working as intended, not overreach. For what OCI status does and doesn't cover, see our OCI services page.
The Penalty: Rs. 50,000 Per Case
This is where the 2025 regime has teeth. Under the MHA's compounding notification of 1 September 2025, non-submission of Form III within 24 hours of arrival and departure — or contravention of the related provisions under Section 8 of the Act and Rule 17 — carries a penalty of Rs. 50,000 per case.
"Per case" matters: a guesthouse that failed to report ten foreign guests is exposed on ten counts, not one. For a small property, a single season of non-compliance can exceed its annual profit.
Form III vs FRRO Registration — Don't Confuse Them
These are two separate obligations that often get mixed up:
| Form III | FRRO Registration | |
|---|---|---|
| **Who acts** | The accommodation keeper | The foreign national personally |
| **When** | Within 24 hours of each arrival (and on departure) | Within 14 days of arrival, for qualifying visas over 180 days |
| **Applies to** | Every foreign guest, including OCI cardholders | Student, Employment, Medical, Missionary visa holders (OCI cardholders and children under 12 exempt) |
| **How** | Filed electronically by the property | Via the [e-FRRO portal](/blog/efrro-portal-complete-guide) |
A hotel filing Form III does not register you with the FRRO — if your visa requires FRRO registration, that is still your own responsibility. Note also a 2026 tightening: foreign nationals on visas of 180 days or less who intend to extend their stay must now complete registration before completing 180 days in India. Check your date with our deadline calculator.
What This Means for Foreign Travellers
You don't file Form III yourself — but it affects you in practical ways:
- Carry your passport and visa (and OCI card, if applicable) at check-in; properties must record them
- Expect every stay to be on record — the reporting system tells the authorities where foreign nationals are staying, which also feeds into FRRO jurisdiction for any application you later make
- Book compliant accommodation — a property that refuses to take your details is a red flag, not a convenience
- Keep your own status clean — if your visa has lapsed, the paper trail exists; regularise through the FRRO rather than hoping to go unnoticed (see overstay consequences)
For Property Owners: Getting Compliant
- Register your property for electronic Form III filing and build it into every foreign-guest check-in
- File within 24 hours of arrival — and report departures too, which owners commonly forget
- Include OCI cardholders in your filings; the old exemption is gone
- Keep internal records of submissions — with a Rs. 50,000-per-case penalty, proof of filing is cheap insurance
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Form C still valid, or must I use Form III?
Form III replaced Form C when the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 took effect on 1 September 2025. The filing duty and process continue — under the new name and rules.
Does Form III apply to Airbnb-style homestays?
Commercially operated accommodation — including paid homestays and short-let apartments — falls within the keeper-of-accommodation duty. Only genuinely non-commercial residential hosting is exempt, unless a civil authority directs otherwise.
Do hotels report Indian citizens on Form III?
No. Form III concerns foreign nationals — including, since 2025, OCI cardholders, who were previously exempt.
Who pays the penalty if a hotel fails to file — the guest?
The duty and the penalty sit with the accommodation keeper, not the guest. The guest's own obligations (visa validity, FRRO registration where required) are separate.
Disclaimer
India Visa Experts is an independent consultancy, not affiliated with the Government of India or the Bureau of Immigration. Requirements and penalty amounts reflect the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, its Rules, and MHA notifications as verified in July 2026, and can change. This article is general guidance, not legal advice — for a specific compliance question, seek professional advice.