Notice for OCI Miscellaneous Service Applicants
Notice for Miscellaneous Service Applicants With a view to avoid inconvenience to OCI cardholders who may be required to get their OCI cards re-issued due to issuance of a new passport, Ministry of Home Affairs vide order dated 22.03.2021 had granted extension of time till 31.12.2021 to all eligible foreigners to get their OCI cards re-issued, if so required. Such OCI cardholders will be allowed to travel to / from India on the strength of their existing OCI cards bearing old passport number along with the new passport. Further, Central Government vide orders dated 16.04.2021 has now dispensed with the requirement to re-issue an OCI card each time a new passport is issued to a foreigner up to 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age. Re-issue of OCI card will now be required only once i.e. when a new passport is issued after completing 20 years of age. However, OCI cardholder will be required to upload a copy of the new passport containing the photo and also a latest photo on the online system each time a new passport is issued up to 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age. Further, those who have been registered as OCI cardholder as spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign origin of an OCI cardholder will be required to upload a copy of the new passport containing the photo and also a latest photo on the online system each time a new passport is issued, along with a declaration signed by the OCI cardholder and his/ her Indian spouse or OCI cardholder spouse to the effect that their marriage is still subsisting.
Appropriate modifications are being made in the OCI Miscellaneous Services portal to implement the above decisions. This is expected to be launched by end May, 2021. OCI cardholders are therefore requested to wait for the updation of the portal before submitting any application for re-issue of OCI card.
