India: immigration

How much money do Indians abroad send home?

Personal transfer receipts, mainly remittances from Indians working overseas, were US$42.9 billion in April to June 2026, up from US$33.2 billion a year earlier, according to the Reserve Bank of India balance of payments release of 1 September 2026.

Remittances are recorded in the secondary income account of the balance of payments. They help offset India's merchandise trade deficit. The quarterly figures are preliminary and are revised. The RBI's Bulletin notes that India has been the world's largest recipient of remittances since 2008. Annual totals are the sum of the four quarterly releases for each April-to-March year.

Official sources: RBI: Developments in India's Balance of Payments, Q1 2026-27

How many foreign tourists visit India?

India received 99.52 lakh (about 9.95 million) foreign tourist arrivals in 2024, according to the Ministry of Tourism in a reply to Parliament published on 11 December 2025, using Bureau of Immigration data. Arrivals in 2025 were 26.15 lakh in January to March and 16.48 lakh in April to June. The ministry put foreign exchange earnings from tourism in 2024 at ₹2,93,033 crore.

Foreign tourist arrivals count foreign nationals entering India, excluding Non-Resident Indians. A different measure, foreign tourist visits, counts visits to each state, so one traveller visiting several states is counted several times; the World Tourism Day 2026 explainer gives 2.53 crore foreign tourist visits in 2025.

Official sources: PIB: Foreign Tourist Arrivals (Parliament reply) · PIB: World Tourism Day 2026 explainer

Which countries do most foreign tourists to India come from?

The United States was the largest source of foreign tourist arrivals to India in 2024, with 18,04,586, followed by Bangladesh (17,50,165), the United Kingdom (10,22,587), Australia (5,18,205) and Canada (4,76,273), according to the Ministry of Tourism, citing Bureau of Immigration data.

Arrivals from the US, UK, Australia and Canada include many people of Indian origin who hold foreign passports. Arrivals from Bangladesh include travel for medical treatment. The India Tourism Data Compendium, published each year by the ministry, has arrivals by country, port of entry and purpose of visit.

Official sources: PIB: Foreign Tourist Arrivals (Parliament reply)

How many e-visas does India issue?

A total of 31.74 lakh e-visas were issued to tourists from 1 November 2024 to 30 November 2025, according to the Ministry of Tourism, citing the Bureau of Immigration, in a reply to Parliament published on 11 December 2025.

India's e-visa lets eligible foreign nationals apply online for tourist, business, medical and conference visas, with the visa issued electronically before travel. The figure quoted covers tourist e-visas only. Visa rules and the list of eligible countries are set by the Ministry of Home Affairs, and applications are made on the official Indian visa website.

Official sources: PIB: Foreign Tourist Arrivals (Parliament reply)

What is the Immigration and Foreigners Act 2025?

The Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 came into force on 1 September 2025, under a notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on 31 August 2025. It replaced older laws, including the Foreigners Act, 1946 and the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920, with one law covering entry, stay and exit of foreigners.

The Act deals with passports and visas, registration of foreigners, obligations on hotels, universities and hospitals to report foreign guests, and penalties for entering or staying without valid documents. Detailed procedures are in the Immigration and Foreigners Rules and Order 2025, listed on the ministry's Foreigners Division page. Citizenship is governed separately by the Citizenship Act, 1955.

Official sources: MHA: Notification on commencement of the Immigration and Foreigners Act 2025 (PDF) · MHA: Immigration and Foreigners Act 2025 (PDF)

How many immigrants live in India?

The latest figure from the UN Population Division, for 2024, is 0.3%. It was 0.4% in 2015. It is 5th highest of 6 in South Asia, where the median is 1.6%. Of 193 countries with 2024 data, 179th highest.

How many people move to India each year?

The UN Population Division puts net migration in India at -495,753 in 2025. Its high point since 2005 was 2016, at 81,248; its low point was 2022, at -1.35 million. South Asia median: -197,712; India is 6th highest of 6. World rank, highest first: 192nd of 193.

How many refugees live in India?

238,643: that is the number of refugees in the country in India for 2025, according to UNHCR. The peak was 252,867 in 2023 and the low 139,284 in 2005. Of 169 countries with 2025 data, 31st highest.

How many people from India are refugees?

The latest figure from UNHCR, for 2025, is 42,610. That is the highest since at least 2005. South Asia median: 19,940; India is 2nd highest of 6. Worldwide: 35th of 189.

How much money do migrants send home to India?

According to the World Bank, personal remittances received in India was 3.8% of GDP in 2025. The peak was 4.2% of GDP in 2008 and the low 2.6% of GDP in 2017. South Asia median: 7.4% of GDP; India is 4th highest of 5. Of 127 countries with 2025 data, 41st highest.