Cabinet Extends IVFRT 3.0 Scheme with ₹1,800 Crore Outlay

Key facts

• The Union Cabinet approved the continuation of the Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration and Tracking (IVFRT) scheme for a period of five years starting from 1 April 2026.
• The project has been allocated a total budget outlay of ₹1,800 crore to modernise immigration processes and strengthen border management.
• The extension follows the enactment of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, to create a technologically advanced immigration ecosystem.
• The IVFRT 3.0 phase will focus on three primary areas: emerging technology innovations, transformation of core infrastructure, and optimisation of technology-enabled service delivery.
• The modernisation drive includes the implementation of mobile-based services, self-service kiosks, and automated e-gates under the Fast Track Immigration-Trusted Traveller Programme.
• The digital platform currently spans 117 immigration posts, 15 Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRRO), and 854 district-level registration authorities across India.
• The system has enabled a 100% contactless visa process and reduced average passenger clearance time at checkpoints to approximately 2.5-3 minutes.
• Over 91% of e-visa applications have been processed within 72 hours under the existing framework, which now provides more than 30 immigration-related services.