The Foreigners Act, 1946 is an Act of the Imperial Legislative Assembly enacted to grant the certain powers to the Interim Government of India in matters of foreigners in India. The Act was enacted before India became independent. Provisions The Act defines a foreigner as "a person who is not a citizen of India". Section 9 of the Act states that, where the nationality of a person is not evident as per preceding section 8, the onus of proving whether a person is a foreigner or not, shall lie upon such person. According to the Foreigners (Report to the police) Order, 2001, made under the Foreigners Act 1946, where any person who has reason to believe that a foreigner has entered India without valid documents or is staying in India beyond the authorized period of stay accommodates such a foreigner in a premises occupied, owned or controlled by him, for whatever purpose, it shall be the duty of such a person to inform the nearest police station, within 24 hours, of the presence of such foreigner. The Foreigners Act empowers the Indian government to detain a person until deportation back to their country of origin. See also Illegal immigration to India Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 Indian nationality law National Register of Citizens of India Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act, 1983 Illegal immigration to India References Acts of the Imperial Legislative Council 1946 in law Expatriates in India 1946 in India Foreign relations of India Indian nationality law Legislation in British India