Hyderabad police step up checks on visa overstayers
HYDERABAD: Hyderabad police have intensified checks to identify foreign nationals staying in the city after the expiry of their visas and those violating immigration rules.
The Hyderabad City Police Special Branch’s Foreigners Monitoring Cell, along with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), local law-and-order police and the IT Cell, has been conducting joint search operations across the city since August 31, 2026.
The operation aims to verify foreigners’ details, enforce visa conditions, prevent illegal activities and create awareness among the public and accommodation providers about their legal responsibilities.
Police identify 49 visa violators during checks
So far, police have identified 49 foreign nationals who were staying illegally in violation of visa conditions and shifted them to designated holding centres.
Of them, 12 have already been deported to their respective countries. The process of deporting the remaining foreign nationals is under way in coordination with the concerned authorities.
The foreign nationals were identified within the jurisdictions of the following police stations:
- Tolichowki police station — 30
- Langar House police station — 6
- Mehdipatnam police station — 6
- Rajendra Nagar police station — 3
- Banjara Hills police station — 2
- Saifabad police station — 1
- Gudimalkapur police station — 1
Checks uncover alleged illegal activities
During field-level checks and inquiries, police said some foreign nationals were found involved in activities that violated Indian laws in addition to immigration violations.
Fake currency, fraud
Police found that some foreign nationals who had overstayed their visas were allegedly involved in circulating counterfeit currency and cheating people. Legal action is being taken against them.
Cannabis seized
Police seized 250 grams of cannabis from one foreign national during the checks.
Misuse of hospital translator, intermediary services
Police found that some foreign nationals who had entered India on student visas continued to work as translators and intermediaries for foreign patients visiting hospitals after their visas had expired.
They were allegedly charging patients high fees and receiving commissions of up to about 15% of hospital bills.
Prostitution-related activity
Police said checks also revealed the involvement of some foreign women in prostitution-related activities.
A Kenyan national who had entered India on a tourist visa and continued to stay after its expiry was found involved in prostitution, police said.
Drug abuse
Police caught a foreign national who was allegedly using alprazolam tablets mixed with cough syrup for intoxication.
In another case in the Rajendra Nagar police station limits, three South Sudanese nationals who had entered India on student visas and had allegedly been staying illegally since 2018, 2023 and 2025 were sent for drug screening on suspicion.
The tests returned positive for cannabis use, police said.
Police ask accommodation providers to verify documents
Police said foreign nationals holding valid passports, visas and other required documents and complying with visa conditions and Indian laws are welcome to stay in India.
However, illegal stay, visa violations and unlawful activities will invite legal action, police said.
House owners, hostel and accommodation providers have been advised to follow the prescribed rules when providing accommodation to foreign nationals.
They must:
- Thoroughly verify the passport, visa and other documents of foreign nationals before providing accommodation.
- Submit information about their stay to the authorities through Form III/C.
- Maintain records required under law and provide information to authorities when sought.
- Inform the local police immediately if they find a person whose visa has expired, who possesses forged documents or whose activities appear suspicious.
The advisory applies to house owners, tenants, hotels, service apartments and others providing accommodation to foreign nationals, whether for commercial or general purposes.
Those providing accommodation to Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders and citizens of Nepal and Bhutan must also comply with applicable legal provisions, the police said.
Hyderabad City Police urged accommodation providers to treat these requirements as a legal responsibility and a public safety measure rather than a formality.
The checks will continue in coordination with the Special Branch’s Foreigners Monitoring Cell, the FRRO and local police to prevent illegal stay and crime, the police said.
