Who must file it
Anyone who provides accommodation to a foreign national for payment, even for a few hours, must submit it: hotels, homestays, guest houses, hostels, Airbnb hosts and landlords (Airbnb help for India hosts). The duty sits with the host, not the guest (NRI Information).
The rules in short
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| Deadline | Within 24 hours of the guest's arrival; at check-in if they stay only a few hours |
| One per person | One form for each foreign guest, even in a group with a leader |
| Where | The e-FRRO C-Form / Form-III portal at indianfrro.gov.in |
| OCI card holders | Must now be reported too, under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 |
| Register | Keep a guest register for Indian and foreign guests (Form B, formerly Form F) as well |
| No internet | Submit the paper form at the local FRRO office |
What you need from the guest
Based on a 2025 advisory from Jammu and Kashmir's tourism directorate (Daily Excelsior):
- arrival and departure dates
- passport and visa details, with a copy of the photo page and visa
- a photo of the guest
- purpose of visit
- an Indian reference contact with mobile number
- next destination in India
How to file, step by step
- Register as an accommodation provider on indianfrro.gov.in once, with your property details. Approval can take time, so do this before your first foreign guest arrives (Business Standard).
- At check-in, collect the passport, visa and a photo.
- Log in and start a new C-Form / Form-III for each guest.
- Fill in the details and upload the photo.
- Submit and save the acknowledgement.
- Report departure where the portal asks for it.
Penalties
Missing Form C can bring penalties, and repeated non-compliance can lead to the property being blacklisted, which matters a great deal for homestays and short stays (NRI Information). Rules and forms change; check indianfrro.gov.in or your local FRRO for the current requirements.
How InnRow helps
InnRow marks Form C as due when a foreign guest checks in, shows it on the Today screen until you mark it filed, and keeps the passport and visa photos with the booking. See Form C reminders.
Questions people ask
What is Form C in hotels?
Form C (Form-III) is the online report a hotel or homestay submits for each foreign guest within 24 hours of arrival, so the Bureau of Immigration knows where foreign nationals are staying.
Is Form C required for OCI card holders?
Yes. Since the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, hosts report OCI card holders through Form-III like other foreign nationals.
Can Airbnb hosts in India skip Form C?
No. Any host who accepts payment from a foreign guest must submit it.
What if I have no internet when the guest arrives?
You can submit the physical form at your local FRRO office.