Dec 5, 2022, 2:15 am
Last edit by: oliver2002
Link to the latest guideline in force: https://www.mha.gov.in/sites/default...s_16072021.pdf
If you are below 20 and get a new passport:
go to https://ociservices.gov.in/ click on 'OCI Miscellaneous Services' and update your details, upload a pdf of your new passport and a jpg of a recent passport foto.
You will receive an email confirming the submission and sometime later get another email confirming the update. Nothing is reissued.
If you were issued an OCI card when you were younger than 20 and get a new passport:
you have to apply for a reissue of the OCI card.
go to https://ociservices.gov.in/ click on 'OCI Miscellaneous Services' and update your details, upload a pdf of you new passport and a jpg of a recent passport foto.
Then contact your local mission to submit the old OCI card and receive the new one. Some missions do this on site, mssions with a larger Indian community like the UK/US use a service provider like VFS for that.
If you were issued an OCI card when you were older than 20 and get a new passport:
You don't need to do anything. The next time you fly to India, it would be advisable to carry the old passport with you. If you have time on hand and nothing else to do:
go to https://ociservices.gov.in/ click on 'OCI Miscellaneous Services' and update your details, upload a pdf of you new passport and a jpg of a recent passport foto.
You will receive an email confirming the submission and sometime later get another email confirming the update. Nothing is reissued.
If you were issued an OCI card when you were older than 20 and get a new passport after you turned 50:
go to https://ociservices.gov.in/ click on 'OCI Miscellaneous Services' and update your details, upload a pdf of your new passport and a jpg of a recent passport foto.
You will receive an email confirming the submission and sometime later get another email confirming the update. Nothing is reissued.
The TIMATIC entries are currently as follows: checked on EK on 09FEB2024: https://www.emirates.com/de/english/...destination=in
Visa Exemptions:
Passengers with an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card or booklet. A physical OCI card or booklet is required. A digital or photocopy of the OCI card or booklet is not accepted.
...
Passengers with an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card must apply for a new Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card only once when they obtain a new passport after turning 20 years old.
If you are below 20 and get a new passport:
go to https://ociservices.gov.in/ click on 'OCI Miscellaneous Services' and update your details, upload a pdf of your new passport and a jpg of a recent passport foto.
You will receive an email confirming the submission and sometime later get another email confirming the update. Nothing is reissued.
If you were issued an OCI card when you were younger than 20 and get a new passport:
you have to apply for a reissue of the OCI card.
go to https://ociservices.gov.in/ click on 'OCI Miscellaneous Services' and update your details, upload a pdf of you new passport and a jpg of a recent passport foto.
Then contact your local mission to submit the old OCI card and receive the new one. Some missions do this on site, mssions with a larger Indian community like the UK/US use a service provider like VFS for that.
If you were issued an OCI card when you were older than 20 and get a new passport:
You don't need to do anything. The next time you fly to India, it would be advisable to carry the old passport with you. If you have time on hand and nothing else to do:
go to https://ociservices.gov.in/ click on 'OCI Miscellaneous Services' and update your details, upload a pdf of you new passport and a jpg of a recent passport foto.
You will receive an email confirming the submission and sometime later get another email confirming the update. Nothing is reissued.
If you were issued an OCI card when you were older than 20 and get a new passport after you turned 50:
go to https://ociservices.gov.in/ click on 'OCI Miscellaneous Services' and update your details, upload a pdf of your new passport and a jpg of a recent passport foto.
You will receive an email confirming the submission and sometime later get another email confirming the update. Nothing is reissued.
The TIMATIC entries are currently as follows: checked on EK on 09FEB2024: https://www.emirates.com/de/english/...destination=in
Visa Exemptions:
Passengers with an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card or booklet. A physical OCI card or booklet is required. A digital or photocopy of the OCI card or booklet is not accepted.
...
Passengers with an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card must apply for a new Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card only once when they obtain a new passport after turning 20 years old.
QUESTIONS about OCI re-issue after turning 20/50 years
Jul 9, 2018, 7:42 pm
#31
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 1
Hello All
I am traveling next month and only came to know this rule now, that new OCI is needed if we get a new US passport after 50. I am little worried as I have not renewed OCI. But I have happily traveled to Bangalore 3 times since dec 2016 -dec 2017 without knowing this rule and never faced any problems at immigration in Bangalore. One time I did not carry my old passport with visa sticker. Ignorance is bliss I guess atleast in my case
I am traveling next month and only came to know this rule now, that new OCI is needed if we get a new US passport after 50. I am little worried as I have not renewed OCI. But I have happily traveled to Bangalore 3 times since dec 2016 -dec 2017 without knowing this rule and never faced any problems at immigration in Bangalore. One time I did not carry my old passport with visa sticker. Ignorance is bliss I guess atleast in my case
Jul 9, 2018, 8:43 pm
#32
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: NJ, USA
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 671
Hello All
I am traveling next month and only came to know this rule now, that new OCI is needed if we get a new US passport after 50. I am little worried as I have not renewed OCI. But I have happily traveled to Bangalore 3 times since dec 2016 -dec 2017 without knowing this rule and never faced any problems at immigration in Bangalore. One time I did not carry my old passport with visa sticker. Ignorance is bliss I guess atleast in my case
I am traveling next month and only came to know this rule now, that new OCI is needed if we get a new US passport after 50. I am little worried as I have not renewed OCI. But I have happily traveled to Bangalore 3 times since dec 2016 -dec 2017 without knowing this rule and never faced any problems at immigration in Bangalore. One time I did not carry my old passport with visa sticker. Ignorance is bliss I guess atleast in my case
Oct 27, 2019, 7:28 pm
#33
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Delta
Posts: 270
Australia: OCI & new passport confusion
There are news reports that OCI holders have been stopped from boarding flights to India from Australia if the OCI booklet did not have a passport number on it matching the traveler's current passport.
https://www.sbs.com.au/language/engl...ights-to-india
Clearly a case of the rule about the OCI having to be renewed once when a person gets a new passport after turning 50 being misinterpreted by someone (who? Australian airlines body?). It appears that the Indian missions in Australia are trying to clarify this. But meanwhile it must be extremely disruptive for many OCI holders traveling from Australia to India. Going by the way the rule is being interpreted, OCI holders over the age of 50 would need to get a new OCI every time they got a new passport for the numbers to always match.
https://www.sbs.com.au/language/engl...ights-to-india
Clearly a case of the rule about the OCI having to be renewed once when a person gets a new passport after turning 50 being misinterpreted by someone (who? Australian airlines body?). It appears that the Indian missions in Australia are trying to clarify this. But meanwhile it must be extremely disruptive for many OCI holders traveling from Australia to India. Going by the way the rule is being interpreted, OCI holders over the age of 50 would need to get a new OCI every time they got a new passport for the numbers to always match.
Oct 28, 2019, 1:25 am
#34
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
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a clarification from the external affairs ministry to the indian embassy in australia, who in turn forward the communication to all airlines in australia, should fix this problem very easily....however, this is easier said that done....our current government is not the best in resolving issues unless it becomes a huge pr opportunity for them....
Oct 30, 2019, 3:09 pm
#36
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Delta
Posts: 270
The PIO card does exist, and is deemed valid for travel to India (by Indian immigration authorities) until some time in 2020, at which time all PIO card holders have to convert their PIO cards to OCI cards. (This is something that has been repeatedly pushed back by the Indian government, so who knows, the deadline may move and PIO cards may continue to be valid a lot longer.) However, there is a bigger practical problem with the PIO card in that it is not a machine-readable document (at least most of them) and therefore airlines will often not accept it as a valid travel document. If you can convince the airline it's valid, then it's fine to use it for entry to India.
Oct 30, 2019, 3:12 pm
#37
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Delta
Posts: 270
It looks like this happened - I believe TIMATIC information for travel to India has been updated to specify that OCI holders need to renew their OCI card only once after they turn 50, which (at least implicitly) means that a mismatch in the passport number is acceptable in these cases. It would be ideal if the TIMATIC information explicitly stated that the old passport need not be carried along too, but I guess this is better than nothing.
Oct 30, 2019, 11:53 pm
#38
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
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It looks like this happened - I believe TIMATIC information for travel to India has been updated to specify that OCI holders need to renew their OCI card only once after they turn 50, which (at least implicitly) means that a mismatch in the passport number is acceptable in these cases. It would be ideal if the TIMATIC information explicitly stated that the old passport need not be carried along too, but I guess this is better than nothing.
Oct 31, 2019, 3:56 am
#39
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
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The timatic entries can be viewed here:
https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/IN-...quirements.htm
Expired passports are mentioned a few times:
The OCI and new passport <20 >50 is now a special warning:
Passengers older than 21 and younger than 49 years are not required to apply for a new OCI card when they get a new passport. They can present the OCI card with a valid passport.
Passengers older than 50 years must apply for a new OCI on the first renewal of the passport after 50 years. If the OCI card is issued for the first time after the passenger is older than 50 years, there is no need to issue a new OCI ever time a new passport is issued.
https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/IN-...quirements.htm
U visas are no longer issued to those who have been granted Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) status. Passengers with OCI status must travel with their OCI cards and will not be required to show a "U" visa. Passengers arriving at Delhi (DEL) and traveling without an OCI card are allowed to enter if they have a "U" visa on their old or current passport.
Furthermore, Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) Cards are no longer being issued. Passengers with PIO status must convert their PIO status to OCI status before the 31 March 2020. From the 31 March 2020, passengers with a PIO card will no longer be allowed to enter.
Passengers with a Registration Certificate/Residential Permit must also travel with the supporting documents allowing them to stay in India, e.g. PIO.
Furthermore, Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) Cards are no longer being issued. Passengers with PIO status must convert their PIO status to OCI status before the 31 March 2020. From the 31 March 2020, passengers with a PIO card will no longer be allowed to enter.
Passengers with a Registration Certificate/Residential Permit must also travel with the supporting documents allowing them to stay in India, e.g. PIO.
Valid visa stickers in expired passports are acceptable if accompanied by a valid passport of the same nationality of the expired passport. Passengers must have both the expired and the valid passport.
Valid ETA issued on expired passports are accepted if accompanied by a valid passport of the same nationality. Passengers must have both the expired and the valid passport.
Valid ETA issued on expired passports are accepted if accompanied by a valid passport of the same nationality. Passengers must have both the expired and the valid passport.
Warning:
Passengers younger than 20 years must apply for a new OCI card every time they get a new passport.Passengers older than 21 and younger than 49 years are not required to apply for a new OCI card when they get a new passport. They can present the OCI card with a valid passport.
Passengers older than 50 years must apply for a new OCI on the first renewal of the passport after 50 years. If the OCI card is issued for the first time after the passenger is older than 50 years, there is no need to issue a new OCI ever time a new passport is issued.
Nov 7, 2019, 10:35 am
#40
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,203
ALERT
Seems babus have woken up and working hard to make "Mera bharat mahan" again
So when it come to sheer Indian bureacratic stupidity Modi and Kangress are on equal footing
You get OCt at age 22, for next 27 years facial changes have no issue to babus.
You get OCI at age 49, within 2 years they need new OCI card (yes, and they claim it is lifetime!!)
Any even then why not just re-issue OCI with new photo and pasport numer>? why does have to go through entire PAINFUL proces all over again?
Nov 11, 2019, 8:17 am
#43
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
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Nov 25, 2019, 2:15 pm
#44
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Tri-State
Posts: 1,888
Sorry to be late into this thread 
Someone opened an internal ticket with IATA's TIMATICweb folks. They are the ones who fix such things. It took three working days to fix it. The AUS consulates did nothing to facilitate it.
Someone opened an internal ticket with IATA's TIMATICweb folks. They are the ones who fix such things. It took three working days to fix it. The AUS consulates did nothing to facilitate it.
Dec 5, 2019, 5:27 am
#45
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 2
Travel with original OCI Card with new passport after last name change
Hi!
My daughter has to make an urgent trip to India next week. She recently got a new passport with her last name changed after her wedding. Will she be able to travel on her original OCI Card and new passport along with her marriage certificate and old passport as proof of identity?
Thanks!!
My daughter has to make an urgent trip to India next week. She recently got a new passport with her last name changed after her wedding. Will she be able to travel on her original OCI Card and new passport along with her marriage certificate and old passport as proof of identity?
Thanks!!