MHA designates Vizhinjam, Hazira and Pipavav as immigration checkposts

(INDIA) India’s Ministry of Home Affairs has named three new seaports as official immigration checkposts, a move that could reshape how foreign crew and passengers enter the country by sea. Through a gazette notification dated 20 November 2025, the ministry added Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala, and Hazira Port and Pipavav Port in Gujarat, as Category II entry points under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.

What the designation means

The decision gives these ports the legal power to clear people arriving on international ships, putting them on par with longer‑established gateways such as Mumbai and Kochi. Category II checkposts typically:

• Allow entry and exit for crew and a limited set of passengers who meet visa and security rules.
• Are generally geared toward cargo shipping and crew movements, rather than large tourist flows.
• Differ from larger passenger terminals, which fall under other categories with wider facilities and multiple agencies on site.

Until now, crew on foreign vessels calling at Vizhinjam often had to remain on board because there was no immigration counter, forcing ship operators to plan crew changes at other ports and adding time and cost to schedules.

National expansion of border infrastructure

This move forms part of a wider expansion of India’s border infrastructure. In September 2025, the Home Ministry issued an earlier notification listing:

• 37 airports
• 34 sea and river ports
• 37 land border crossings
• Also named six international railway stations along the India‑Pakistan and India‑Bangladesh frontiers

That earlier step also followed separate measures to make e‑visas workable at more than 31 airports and 6 seaports across the country.

The three newly declared ports — at a glance

Vizhinjam: rapid rise and why immigration matters

Vizhinjam International Seaport stands out because of its rapid growth as a deep‑water container hub. Key facts:

• Commercial operations began in December 2024.
• In less than a year the port handled around 500 vessels and processed about 1.1 million TEUs (twenty‑foot equivalent units), exceeding original annual capacity projections.
• Vizhinjam has drawn mainline services away from transhipment hubs outside India.

In October 2025, Vizhinjam received the MSC Verona, a container ship with a draft of 17.1 metres, believed to be the deepest such vessel ever handled at an Indian port. That visit highlighted why shipping lines have pushed for full immigration services at the port: large ships need flexible crew‑change options and faster turnarounds to keep global schedules on track.

Current limitation and planned ICP

Prior to the recent notification, the absence of an immigration counter meant foreign crew could not legally step ashore at Vizhinjam — even for medical visits or emergencies. The Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) has acknowledged receipt of the Home Ministry order and is awaiting detailed directions from New Delhi on:

• Staffing
• Equipment
• Coordination with customs and port authorities

An integrated immigration check post (ICP) is planned at Vizhinjam to sit alongside customs and security units in a single zone. Local port officials say the target is to have the ICP ready within six months, roughly aligned with the start of export‑import cargo flows by road and rail from the hinterland. Until the ICP is operational, most crew changes for ships calling at Vizhinjam will continue to be handled through Kochi.

Local economic and tourism impacts

Kerala Ports Minister V. N. Vasavan said the immigration facility will “give a major boost to business around the harbour” and help link the new terminal with inland waterways. She noted Vizhinjam’s proximity to Thiruvananthapuram airport, making it an ideal point for crew rotations — staff can fly in, clear formalities, join their vessels, and later leave the country via the same route.

“Crew members who spend a short time ashore are also likely to visit nearby tourism circuits, which can bring more income to local people,” the minister said.

Local businesses near the harbour — small hotels, taxi drivers and tour guides — have already started preparing for more foreign visitors, even if most are seafarers staying only a few hours or days between sailings.

Hazira and Pipavav: supporting western coast cargo growth

While Vizhinjam has drawn most attention, the inclusion of Hazira Port and Pipavav Port as immigration checkposts is expected to:

• Support cargo growth along India’s western coast
• Make it easier to schedule vessel calls without routing crew changes through more distant points such as Mumbai

Both Gujarat facilities already handle containers, liquid cargo and bulk goods. Shipping executives say formal immigration counters there will reduce the need to route crew changes through other ports, improving operational efficiency.

Administrative, security and operational requirements

The Home Ministry has not yet released detailed public guidelines for the three ports, but officials indicate the basic rules will mirror existing practice at other sea checkposts:

• Proper visas required for foreign crew and passengers wishing to disembark
• Security vetting to involve intelligence and coastal security agencies
• Coordination with state police, port companies and customs for counters and processing zones

The FRRO is expected to work with partners to set up:

• Counters for immigration processing
• Equipment for capturing biometric data
• Secure areas for arrivals and departures

The Ministry of Home Affairs has previously stated on its official website that any new checkpost must meet strict standards on staffing, data security and coordination with national databases.

Industry perspective and broader aims

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, central authorities have aimed to spread international entry points more evenly along India’s coastline to:

• Relieve pressure on traditional hubs
• Support new private ports
• Improve attractiveness for transhipment traffic

Industry groups argue that smoother immigration procedures at cargo terminals can help Indian exporters by cutting delays and improving schedule reliability.

What this means for seafarers and coastal states

For seafarers, the new rules may bring:

• Shorter waits to sign on or off vessels
• Fewer long trips to alternative ports
• Better access to health care and emergency travel

For coastal states such as Kerala and Gujarat, the immigration upgrades signal that their ports are moving closer to the centre of India’s trade map, rather than serving only as feeder terminals.

Remaining steps and timeline

Operational details remain to be finalised. Immediate next actions include:

1. FRRO to receive detailed Home Ministry directions.
2. Coordination with state police, port companies and customs to set up counters and biometric equipment.
3. Construction and commissioning of the ICP at Vizhinjam — target within six months.
4. Finalisation of public guidelines and staffing allocations.

Key deadlines and requirements are pending official circulars and staffing plans from New Delhi; stakeholders are watching for those directives to implement the new Category II checkposts effectively.