Immigration to India

People who were born in another country live in the Republic of India. There are about 4.9 million of them. They make up a small part of India’s population.

Most of these people, about 98%, came from other places in Asia. When people move from one place to another, it helps connect different countries. It also brings new ideas and cultures to India. Learning about immigration helps us understand 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 began when people came after the fall of Jerusalem in the first century AD. Its Zoroastrianism-following Parsis came to escape the 7th-century Muslim conquest of Persia.

Medieval era

See also: Afro-Asians in South Asia

Persians, Turks, and Central Asians moved to the subcontinent during the Indo-Muslim period. They joined the government, shared Muslim traditions like Sufism, and helped create the Indo-Persian culture.

Colonial era

See also: Britons in India

The British colonial presence in India changed over time. Most British people stayed in India only for a while. Children often grew up in India, went to Britain for school, and then returned to India as adults. Playing British sports was one way the British stayed healthy and happy.

Contemporary era

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

Today, many people moving to India come from nearby places; for example, 97% of immigrants from Bangladesh live near the border in East India and Northeast India. Some people also move to India for medical tourism.

Return migration of the Indian diaspora is another reason; for example, because of the COVID-19 pandemic's problems, some Indian workers in the Arab Gulf countries had to return to India, usually through the Vande Bharat Mission.

Illegal immigration

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