OCI Card Services

1. Information on OCI / PIO cards is available at https://ociservices.gov.in/

2. For details of the OCI Scheme and PIO Cards, please visit the site of Ministry of Home Affairs: https://mha.gov.in

3. Compulsory capturing of biometrics of OCI cardholders at Immigration Check Posts on arrival in India

4. Revised instruction/guidelines on "Re-issuance of OCI cards due to Issuance of new foreign passports to OCI cardholders".

(i) Mandatory requirement of re-issuance of an OCI card each time a new passport is issued to a foreigner upto 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age is dispensed with.

(ii) OCI cardholder is required to get the OCI card re-issued only once when a new passport is issued after completing 20 years of age. The OCI cardholder shall submit an online application under Miscellaneous Services with a fee of US $ 278 (Including ICWF charges of US$ 3) after uploading of requisite documents

(iii) OCI cardholder is required to upload ONLINE under Miscellaneous Services, a copy of the new passport and a latest photo each time a new passport is issued upto 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age. The uploading of these documents may be done within three months of receipt of the new passport. The service will be provided on Gratis basis.

(iv) Foreign Spouse of an Indian Citizen or spouse of foreign origin of an OCI cardholder are required to upload a copy of the new passport and also a latest photo ONLINE 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 & OCI card of the OCI cardholder spouse.

PIO Card Validity Extended up to December 31, 2021

The Indian Immigration will accept all Person of Indian Origin (PIO) cards (including handwritten PIO cards), along with valid foreign passport, as valid travel document till December 31, 2021, instead of earlier deadline i.e. September 30, 2020. Indian Immigration Check Post(s) will continue to consider all PIO card valid for exit from/entry into India till December 31, 2021 as last and final opportunity. This extension of timeline is subject to the condition that if in the meantime, any deadline is notified by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) thereby making handwritten PIO cards invalid, then PIO cardholders may have to obtain appropriate visa from Indian Missions/Posts. It may, however, be ensured that the PIO card is valid at the time of travel.