Rule 7 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Rule 7 is the procedure behind section 6 of the Act. A member of a Legislature, an office-bearer of a political party, a Judge, a Government servant or an employee of a Government-owned or Government-controlled body who wants to accept foreign hospitality while visiting abroad applies in Form FC-2 for prior permission. The rule sets the enclosures, a lead time of two weeks, and a rule for emergent medical aid.
This article reads rule 7 as per the Rules as amended by the notifications named in this article; the latest consulted is S.O. 3272(E) dated 22 June 2026. Rule 7(1) was amended by paragraph 5 of G.S.R. 695(E) dated 10 November 2020, and S.O. 3272(E) amended Form FC-2, not the rule. The rest of the rule rests on the third-party consolidation of 17 September 2019, so confirm it against the official text. Later amendments should be checked. For advice on travel invitations in a public role, a legal consultation can help.
A person in one of the categories in section 6 who wishes to accept foreign hospitality applies to the Central Government in electronic form in Form FC-2 for prior permission. The application carries an invitation letter from the host and, for ministry-sponsored visits, administrative clearance; it must reach the authority ordinarily two weeks before the proposed onward journey. For emergent medical aid, intimation is due within one month; none is needed if the value is up to one lakh rupees or equivalent.
Rule 7(1): who applies, and how
The base text reads: "Any person belonging to any of the categories specified in section 6 who wishes to avail of foreign hospitality shall apply to the Central Government in Form FC-2 for prior permission to accept such foreign hospitality." Paragraph 5 of G.S.R. 695(E) dated the 10th November, 2020 substituted, for the words "electronically online to the Central Government", the words "to the Central Government in electronic form". As it stands: such a person shall apply "to the Central Government in electronic form in Form FC-2". The rule gives no portal step and this article gives none.
Who is in section 6
Section 6 restricts "any member of a Legislature or office-bearer of a political party or Judge or Government servant or employee of any corporation or any other body owned or controlled by the Government" while visiting any country or territory outside India, who shall not accept foreign hospitality except with the prior permission of the Central Government. "Corporation" is explained by Explanation 2 to section 3(1), as substituted in 2020. See the article on section 6 for the full text and the article on section 3 for "corporation".
Rule 7(2) to (4) at a glance
| Sub-rule | Provision |
|---|---|
| (2) | Every application for acceptance of foreign hospitality shall be accompanied by an invitation letter from the host or the host country, as the case may be, and administrative clearance of the Ministry or department concerned in case of visits sponsored by a Ministry or department of the Government |
| (3) | The application for grant of permission "must reach the appropriate authority ordinarily two weeks before the proposed date of onward journey" |
| (4) | In case of emergent medical aid needed on account of sudden illness during a visit abroad, the acceptance of foreign hospitality "shall be required to be intimated to the Central Government within one month of such receipt", giving full details including the source, approximate value in Indian Rupees, and the purpose for which and the manner in which it was utilised |
| (4) proviso | No such intimation is required if the value of such hospitality in emergent medical aid is up to one lakh rupees or equivalent |
Notes on the sub-rules
- Invitation letter and clearance. Clearance is needed "in case of visits sponsored by a Ministry or department of the Government". For other visits, rule 7(2) requires the invitation letter. Form FC-2 item 14 also says that the host's letter on the details of hospitality and a recommendation letter from the applicant's organisation are to be enclosed.
- "Ordinarily". The two-week lead time is "ordinarily" required. The rule does not say what follows if the application reaches the authority later.
- Emergent medical aid. This matches the proviso to section 6, which says permission is not necessary for emergent medical aid needed on account of sudden illness contracted during a visit outside India, but an intimation must be given within one month of receipt. The copy consulted shows "one month" as substituted for "sixty days" by G.S.R. 659(E) dated 16.9.2019.
- Threshold. The proviso to rule 7(4) removes the duty to intimate where the value is up to one lakh rupees or equivalent. The section 6 proviso itself prints no such threshold.
Form FC-2
Form FC-2 is headed "Application for seeking prior permission of the Central Government to accept foreign hospitality" and is marked "". The text as substituted by G.S.R. 695(E) is addressed to the Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs. It carries a note that, for foreign hospitality availed in an emergent medical aid situation, the intimation is to be given on plain paper to the Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, within one month. Its items cover:
- Name, date of birth, name of father or husband, PAN and Aadhaar numbers, contact details and passport particulars (items 1 to 7).
- Status: member of Legislature, office bearer of a political party, Judge of the Supreme Court or a High Court, Government servant, or employee of a corporation or other body owned or controlled by Government (item 8).
- Details of hospitality proposed (item 9), hospitality availed in the last three years (item 10), whether acceptance was ever denied (item 11), particulars of host(s) (item 12) and the connection with the host (item 13).
- Enclosures (item 14) and a Declaration and Undertaking, signed by the applicant, that the particulars are true and correct.
S.O. 3272(E) dated the 22nd June, 2026, in paragraph 12, inserted after serial number 8 a new serial number 8A, "Details of office and service particulars", with five lines: (a) Name of Legislature or House and Constituency for a member of a legislature; (b) Designation and name of party for an office bearer of a political party; (c) Designation and name of Court for a Judge; (d) Service, batch or year of joining, designation and office details for a Government servant; (e) designation, office details and name of corporation or body for an employee of a corporation or body. For the Form generally, see the article on Forms FC-1, FC-2 and FC-4.
Example (invented). A Government servant, Mr. Raghunath Verma, is invited to a conference abroad, with hospitality in cash and in kind from the host. His department sponsors the visit. His application in Form FC-2 must be accompanied by the host's invitation letter and by the department's administrative clearance, and should reach the authority ordinarily two weeks before the proposed date of onward journey. Had he fallen ill suddenly during the visit and accepted emergent medical aid valued above one lakh rupees, he would have to intimate within one month.
Need help with an invitation abroad?
Whether an invitation counts as foreign hospitality, and whether you belong to a category in section 6, are questions on the facts. A legal consultation can go through the invitation, your office or service particulars and the timing before you apply.
Key takeaways
- Rule 7 is the procedure for prior permission under section 6, by application in Form FC-2 in electronic form.
- The application carries an invitation letter and, for ministry-sponsored visits, administrative clearance.
- It must reach the authority ordinarily two weeks before the proposed onward journey.
- For emergent medical aid, intimation is due within one month; none is required up to one lakh rupees or equivalent.
- S.O. 3272(E) added serial number 8A to Form FC-2 for office and service particulars.
Read next
- Section 6: foreign hospitality needs prior permission
- Forms FC-1, FC-2 and FC-4: intimations, hospitality and annual return
- Rule 8: service of a prohibitory order
- Rules 6 and 6A: foreign contribution from relatives and personal gifts
Disclaimer: Based on the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 as enacted, read with the Amendment Act, 2020 and the other amendments named in this article, and on the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Rules, 2011 as amended by the notifications named (latest consulted: S.O. 3272(E) dated 22 June 2026), as consulted on 2 October 2026. No consolidated official text was available; some provisions rest on a third-party copy and are identified as such. Later amendments, notifications and Ministry of Home Affairs orders should be checked. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.