Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara has issued a blunt directive to property owners across the state: check the immigration status of every foreign tenant within 24 hours of signing a lease or risk prosecution under the Foreigners Act. The warning follows a year-long investigation that uncovered networks helping undocumented Bangladeshi nationals obtain accommodation in Bengaluru’s tech corridors. ([timesofindia.indiatimes.com](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/karnataka-home-minister-urges-property-owners-to-verify-visas-alert-police-on-illegal-immigrants/articleshow/126456611.cms?utm_source=openai))
State police disclosed that since 2022 they have deported more than 300 foreigners—roughly two-thirds from Bengaluru—for visa overstay or drug offences. Another 120 landlords have already been booked for failing to file the mandatory ‘Form C’ tenant report with their local police station. Fines can exceed ₹50,000 and repeat offenders face jail.
If you’re a landlord, employer or relocation manager who finds the new paperwork daunting, specialized visa-processing platforms can take the burden off your shoulders. VisaHQ, for example, offers an online service that verifies immigration status, stores digital copies of passports and visas, and sends automated alerts ahead of expiry dates—helping you meet the 24-hour Form C deadline with ease (learn more at https://www.visahq.com/india/).
![Karnataka Orders Landlords to Verify Foreign Tenants’ Visas or Face Prosecution]()
Why the sudden clamp-down? Parameshwara says illegal immigration is morphing from a fringe concern into a public-order risk, citing evidence that forged Aadhaar cards are being used to gain employment in gig-economy delivery services. He also linked undocumented migrants to a recent spike in narcotics trafficking.
For multinationals that house expatriate engineers and project managers in serviced apartments, the rules create new compliance headaches. HR teams must now audit vendor leases, ensure passports and visas are scanned into police portals within a day, and anticipate surprise inspections. Industry groups such as NASSCOM have requested a grace period for high-volume corporate housing complexes.
Immigration lawyers note that the state’s order aligns with the national Immigration and Foreigners Act 2025, which makes landlords jointly liable for “harbouring” overstayers. They recommend inserting visa-status warranties and exit-clause penalties into all future rental contracts involving foreign nationals.
State police disclosed that since 2022 they have deported more than 300 foreigners—roughly two-thirds from Bengaluru—for visa overstay or drug offences. Another 120 landlords have already been booked for failing to file the mandatory ‘Form C’ tenant report with their local police station. Fines can exceed ₹50,000 and repeat offenders face jail.
If you’re a landlord, employer or relocation manager who finds the new paperwork daunting, specialized visa-processing platforms can take the burden off your shoulders. VisaHQ, for example, offers an online service that verifies immigration status, stores digital copies of passports and visas, and sends automated alerts ahead of expiry dates—helping you meet the 24-hour Form C deadline with ease (learn more at https://www.visahq.com/india/).
Why the sudden clamp-down? Parameshwara says illegal immigration is morphing from a fringe concern into a public-order risk, citing evidence that forged Aadhaar cards are being used to gain employment in gig-economy delivery services. He also linked undocumented migrants to a recent spike in narcotics trafficking.
For multinationals that house expatriate engineers and project managers in serviced apartments, the rules create new compliance headaches. HR teams must now audit vendor leases, ensure passports and visas are scanned into police portals within a day, and anticipate surprise inspections. Industry groups such as NASSCOM have requested a grace period for high-volume corporate housing complexes.
Immigration lawyers note that the state’s order aligns with the national Immigration and Foreigners Act 2025, which makes landlords jointly liable for “harbouring” overstayers. They recommend inserting visa-status warranties and exit-clause penalties into all future rental contracts involving foreign nationals.
