In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,---
(a) "accommodation" means a temporary or permanent premises of any nature, where a foreigner is accommodated;
(b) "carrier" means a person or entity, including any association of persons or company, whether incorporated or not, who is engaged in the business of transporting passengers or cargo by air, water or land by aircraft or ship or any other mode of transport;
(c) "civil authority" means such authority as may be appointed by the Central Government in this behalf for such area as it thinks fit;
(d) "entry" means entry by air, water or land;
(e) "exit" means exit by air, water or land;
(f) "foreigner" means a person who is not a citizen of India;
(g) "immigration function" means any one of the functions relating to---
(i) the visa issuance and regulation of entry into;
(ii) transit through;
(iii) stay in; or
(iv) movement within and exit from,
India, under the provisions of this Act or rules or orders or directions made thereunder;
(h) "Immigration Officer" means any officer authorised by the Central Government to carry out immigration functions or such other functions as may be prescribed and includes the Chief Immigration Officer;
(i) "immigration post" means the point of entry into and exit from India for the purpose of immigration functions as may be notified by the Central Government;
(j) "keeper of accommodation" means the person in charge of the management of an accommodation and includes any person authorised by him to perform the duties of the keeper of the accommodation;
(k) "notification" means a notification published in the Official Gazette and the expressions "notify" and "notified" shall be construed accordingly;
(l) "order" means the instructions issued under any of the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder;
(m) "other travel document" means the Emergency Certificate or Certificate of Identity or such other travel document which has been issued by or under the authority of the Central Government or Government of a foreign country or any other organisation as may be recognised for this purpose by the Central Government, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed;
(n) "passport" means a passport issued or deemed to have been issued under the provisions of the Passport Act, 1967 (15 of 1967) and includes a passport which have been issued by or under the authority of the Government of a foreign country subject to such conditions as may be prescribed;
(o) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(p) "Prohibited place" means any place as the Central Government may, by order, specify in this behalf;
(q) "Protected area" means any area contiguous with India’s international border or any other area, as the Central Government may, by order, specify in this behalf;
(r) "Registration Officer" means a Registration Officer authorised by the Central Government in this behalf for such area as it thinks fit and includes such officer authorised by him with the approval of the Central Government to perform the duties of the Registration Officer on his behalf;
(s) "Restricted area" means any area within India and outside the protected area, as the Central Government may, by order, specify in this behalf;
(t) "visa" means an authorisation by such authority as may be prescribed in this behalf, permitting a foreigner to enter into or transit through or stay in or exit from the territory of India.