India removes immigration requirements for coastal vessel crew

The Indian government has eliminated immigration requirements for sign-on, sign-off, and shore leave for Indian national crew and supernumeraries serving on Indian-flag vessels engaged in coastal trade. This measure, issued via an office memorandum from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, aims to remove procedural bottlenecks for the country’s seafaring community.

Under the new regulations, shore access for these crew members will be managed by respective port authorities rather than through formal immigration clearance. The exemption applies to various vessel types, including research vessels, dredgers, and barges.

To ensure oversight, port authorities are directed to maintain detailed records and data of the crew. Additionally, the Bureau of Immigration will conduct periodic surprise inspections and may request crew lists from the affected vessels to maintain monitoring mechanisms.