NPR SLIPS VALID FOR LONG TERM VISA: MHA

NPR SLIPS VALID FOR LONG TERM VISA: MHA

Subject: Governance

Context: Migrants belonging to the six non-Muslim minority communities from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh, while applying for long-term visas (LTVs), can also produce National Population Register (NPR) enrolment slips as proof of duration of their stay in India, according to a Union Home Ministry manual.

Concept:

• The NPR number is part of an illustrative list of more than 10 documents that could be provided to apply for an LTV.
• It is a precursor to acquiring Indian citizenship either by naturalisation or registration under Section 5 and 6 of the Citizenship Act, 1955, for the six communities — Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Christians and Buddhists — from the three countries.
• The special provision of LTVs for Hindus and Sikhs from Pakistan and Afghanistan was first made in 2011.

Long term visa (LTV)

• For foreigners of non-Indian origin, a longer-term visa is classed as one that permits the holder to stay in India for longer than 180 days (six months) continuously.
• The main visas that provide this are the Employment, Entry and Student visas.