OVERVIEW
Who Can Apply?
OCI Card holders travelling to India are required to carry their Passport as well as the OCI Card, in order to avoid problems at Immigration check points in India. In case a registered OCI has obtained a new passport, it is important to carry the old passport , the new passport and the OCI document, during all visits to India.
OCI card mentions the passport number of the registered OCI holder. Accordingly, each time a new passport is issued to an OCI holder, it has to be captured on the OCI card. However, as the major benefit of OCI Scheme is life long visa to visit India, problems arise each time a new passport is issued. In some countries old passports are not returned. Further, in many countries, the validity of passport is for 5 years. To obviate these difficulties, new guidelines for issuance of OCI are clarified below :-
Government of India has revised the instructions/ guidelines on Re-issuance of OCI cards on issue of new passports to foreign nationals holding OCI cards.
- Mandatory requirement of re-issuance of an OCI card each time a new passport is issued to a foreign national up to 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age, has been dispensed with.
- OCI card holder is required to get the OCI card reissued only once when a new passport is issued after completing 20 years of age, so as to capture his/her facial features.
- OCI card holder is required to upload online [https://ociservices.gov.in/welcome], a copy of the new passport and a latest photo each time a new passport is issued up to 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age. The uploading of these documents on the OCI portal [https://ociservices.gov.in/welcome], may be done within three months of receipt of the new passport. The service will be provided on gratis (no cost/ free) basis. This facility to upload photo and passport copy, is available on the website.
- Foreign spouse of an Indian citizen or spouse of foreign origin of an OCI card holder are required to upload a copy of the new passport and also a latest photo online [https://ociservices.gov.in/welcome], each time a new passport is issued along with a declaration on subsisting of marriage, copy of the Indian passport of the Indian spouse/passport and OCI card of the OCI card holder spouse.
The OCI card holder travelling on the strength of their existing OCI card bearing old passport number are NOT required to carry their old passport. However, carrying of new passport is mandatory.
Re-issuance of OCI registration certificate and visa is not mandatory, each time a new passport is issued between 21-50 years of age.
- However, if the applicant wishes to avail this service, he/she can apply for the same for the following reasons :-
- In case of change of personal particulars viz. nationality etc.,
- Filing of wrong personal particulars while submitting online application
- In case of change of personal particulars/wrong filing of personal particulars while submitting online application, OCI holders may seek re-issuance of OCI documents by availing the services. They have to enclose the documentary evidence for the change of the personal particulars. However, in case of change of photograph without the change of the passport, personal interview shall be taken by the Competent Authority before the grant of the service
- In case of Loss/damage of OCI registration certificate/visa.
- In case of loss of OCI documents, a copy of the complaint filed with the Police authorities shall be enclosed. Personal interview of the applicant shall be taken by the Competent Authority before the grant of the service.
- In case of filling of wrong personal particulars while submitting online application viz. name, father's name, date of birth etc.,
- In case of filling of wrong personal particulars while submitting the online application, OCI holders may seek re-issuance of OCI documents by availing the services. They have to enclose the documentary evidence for the correct personal particulars.
- In case of mistakes committed by the Indian Mission/Post/Office while entering the personal particulars. In this case, no fee shall be charged for re-issuance of OCI documents.
- In case of change of address/occupation. In this case, new set of OCI documents will not be issued. The applicant may take a print out of the new address/occupation after online submission and keep for record purposes. No fee shall be charged from the applicant.
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