New Delhi (NVI): Those having Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cards should get their OCI cards re-issued after attaining the age of 50 years or if they are below 20 years of age and getting passport renewed.
The rule have been emphasised by the Union Home Ministry even as it asked the External Affairs Ministry to relax it temporarily till June 30, 2020 to enable OCI cardholders to travel to India without any problem.
OCI cardholders are foreign citizens of Indian origin.
“This Ministry (of Home Affairs) has been informed that immigration authorities/airlines in some countries are not allowing OCI cardholders to travel to India on the following grounds: The OCI cardholder has not got the OCI card re-issued mandatorily after attaining 50 years of age or the OCI cardholder below 20 years of age has not got his/her OCI card re-issued on renewal of passport,” a note from the MHA said.
“In this regard, it is informed that instruction regarding re-issuance of OCI card on renewal of passport or on attaining the specified age is a requirement expected to be timely complied with by the OCI cardholders,” it added.
However, it said that in view of the problems being faced by OCI cardholders regarding re-issuance of OCI cards, MEA is requested to advise Indian Missions of the following temporary relaxation till June 30, 2020.
In case an OCI cardholder below the age of 20 years has not got the OCI card re-issued on change of passport, he/she may travel on the strength of his/her existing OCI card bearing old passport number till June 30,2020 subject to the condition that along with the new passport, the OCI cardholder carries old passport mentioned in the OCI card, the note from MHA to the MEA said.
In case an OCI card holder who has attained the age of 50 yeras and got his/her passport renewed subsequently but has not got his/her OCI card re-issued on renewal of passport, he/she may travel till June 30, 2020 on the strength of the existing OCI card along with the new and old passports, it said.
The OCI cardholders of the above categories may be advised to have their new OCI card issued in the meantime, the note said.
