Homestay owner booked in Budgam for hiding stay of foreign national

Srinagar, Dec 11: Police have registered a case against the management of a homestay in the Humhama area of Budgam in central Kashmir after it was found to have hosted a foreign national without fulfilling mandatory reporting requirements under immigration laws.

According to officials, a Police Party from Police Post Humhama, under Police Station Budgam, was conducting routine inspections of hotels, guest houses, and homestays in the area as part of an ongoing drive to verify compliance with regulations governing the stay of foreign tourists. During the inspection of Rose Cottage, a homestay/guest house located in Friends Enclave, Humhama, a major violation was detected.

Police said the management had accommodated a foreign national but failed to submit Form C, a compulsory digital registration form that establishments must file on the IVFRT (Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration & Tracking) portal whenever a foreign guest checks in. Form C enables authorities to track the movement and stay of foreign visitors for security and monitoring purposes.

Upon further verification on the Form-C portal, police discovered that the homestay itself was not registered with the Tourism Department, another legal requirement for any establishment hosting foreign visitors. Officials described this dual violation—operating without tourism registration and failing to report a foreign guest—as a serious lapse.

As a result, Police Station Budgam registered FIR No. 337/2025 under Sections 8 and 23(b) of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 against the homestay management. Police confirmed that an investigation has been initiated, and further action will follow based on findings.

A senior police officer said such inspections are being intensified across Budgam to ensure strict compliance with immigration protocols. He said that reporting the presence of foreign nationals is a mandatory security requirement and not merely a procedural formality.

Police have advised all hotel, guest house, homestay, and property owners offering paid accommodation to foreigners to ensure the timely submission of Form C through the designated IVFRT portal and to maintain updated registration with the Tourism Department. Non-compliance, officers warned, will attract legal action.