Form C for Foreign Guests: What Hotels and Homestays in India Must Do

When a foreign national stays at your hotel, guest house, homestay or dharamshala, you must report the stay to the immigration authorities using Form C. Many small properties near tourist spots in Punjab and Himachal skip this, especially for NRI relatives on foreign passports. That can cause trouble during an inspection.

Who must submit Form C

Any accommodation provider hosting a foreign national: hotels, guest houses, homestays, hostels, dharamshalas and even private houses taking paying guests. This includes:

• Foreign tourists
• NRIs or OCI cardholders travelling on a foreign passport

Indian passport holders, including NRIs with Indian passports, are not foreign nationals for this purpose.

The basic process

1. Register your property once on the official Indian Bureau of Immigration / FRRO online portal for accommodation providers
2. When a foreign guest checks in, collect a copy of the passport (photo and details pages) and visa or OCI card
3. Submit Form C online with guest details, arrival date and next destination
4. Submit within 24 hours of arrival
5. Update the departure when the guest checks out

Information you'll need

• Name, nationality, passport number, visa details
• Arrival date, where they came from, expected stay
• Address and contact in India, next destination

Common mistakes

• Treating an NRI cousin on a Canadian or UK passport as "family" and skipping the report
• Submitting days later
• Not recording the check-out date
• Accepting photos on WhatsApp but not keeping proper copies

See also the general guest ID verification rules.

Data protection

Passport copies are sensitive. Store them securely, limit staff access, and don't keep copies on a shared phone gallery. See guest Wi-Fi and data security for basic precautions.

FAQs

Is Form C needed for a one-night stay?

Yes. The duration doesn't matter.

What if the portal is down?

Keep a record of attempts and submit as soon as it works. Contact the local FRRO/FRO office if the problem continues.

Procedures can change. Check the official Bureau of Immigration portal or your local FRO for current requirements.