Kerala’s deep-sea Vizhinjam port has been formally gazetted as a ‘permanent immigration check-post’ under India’s Immigration & Foreigners Act 2025. The designation enables a full-fledged integrated check-post (ICP) capable of issuing clearances for ship crews, cruise passengers and foreign technical teams without routing paperwork through Kochi or Colombo.
The Adani-operated port, designed to berth Ultra-Large Container Vessels, has already handled 590 ships and 1.27 million TEUs during pilot operations. Officials say the ICP will shave 12–18 hours off crew-change formalities and could redirect up to 30 per cent of south-Indian export volumes that currently trans-ship via Sri Lanka.
![Permanent Immigration Check-Post Cleared for Vizhinjam International Seaport]()
For multinationals moving heavy equipment or project cargo to southern India, Vizhinjam’s new status translates into faster customs and immigration processing and reduced reliance on air freight into Bengaluru or Chennai. Logistics departments should revisit routings and contracts before the next shipping tender cycle.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is expected to post additional immigration officers by year-end, and a dedicated e-gate lane for frequent crew members is planned for mid-2026.
The Adani-operated port, designed to berth Ultra-Large Container Vessels, has already handled 590 ships and 1.27 million TEUs during pilot operations. Officials say the ICP will shave 12–18 hours off crew-change formalities and could redirect up to 30 per cent of south-Indian export volumes that currently trans-ship via Sri Lanka.
For multinationals moving heavy equipment or project cargo to southern India, Vizhinjam’s new status translates into faster customs and immigration processing and reduced reliance on air freight into Bengaluru or Chennai. Logistics departments should revisit routings and contracts before the next shipping tender cycle.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is expected to post additional immigration officers by year-end, and a dedicated e-gate lane for frequent crew members is planned for mid-2026.
