Immigration to India

There are 4.9 million people living in the Republic of India who were born in another country. They make up about 0.4% of India’s whole population. Almost all of these people, around 98%, used to live in other parts of Asia before moving to India. This movement of people from different places helps build connections between countries and brings new ideas and cultures to India. Understanding immigration helps us see how countries grow and change together.

History

Ancient era

See also: Peopling of India and Journey to the West

The Indian subcontinent has a long history of accepting refugees. Its Jewish community dates back to the fall of Jerusalem in the first century AD, and its Zoroastrianism-adhering Parsis immigrated to escape the 7th-century Muslim conquest of Persia.

Medieval era

See also: Afro-Asians in South Asia

Persians, Turks, and Central Asians migrated to the subcontinent during the Indo-Muslim period. They participated in the imperial bureaucracy, brought Muslim influences such as Sufism, and helped to form the Indo-Persian culture.

Colonial era

See also: Britons in India

The British colonial presence in India varied over time; British people generally stayed in the colony on a temporary basis. Children would often grow up in India, be sent to Britain to receive an education, and then return to India as adults. Playing British sports was one way that the British could stay healthy and maintain their spirits.

Contemporary era

See also: Partition of India § Independence, migration, and displacement; and East Bengali refugees

The modern dynamics of migration to the Republic of India are often specific to its neighbourhood; for example, 97% of immigrants from Bangladesh live in the Bangladesh-bordering regions of the Indian Republic (East India and Northeast India). Medical tourism has also been a factor in some migration decisions.

Return migration of the Indian diaspora is another factor; for example, because of the COVID-19 pandemic's economic disruption, some Indian labour migrants in the Arab Gulf countries were forced to come to India, generally via the Vande Bharat Mission. (See also: Deportation of Indian nationals under Donald Trump)

Illegal immigration

Illegal immigration means moving to a country without following the proper laws or rules. In India, there are many people who have come from other places without official permission. Most of these people come from other parts of Asia, showing that many immigrants to India are from nearby regions. This helps us understand how people move and live in new countries.