Advisory on Re-issue of OCI Card
The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has issued revised instructions/guidelines on 16 April, 2021 on "Re-issuance of OCI cards due to Issuance of new foreign passports to OCI cardholders".
The Salient points are as follows:
(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.
(iii) OCI cardholder is required to upload ONLINE 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.
Advisory for PIO Card Holders
Validity of Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) Cards has been extended until 30th September 2020. The extension of timeline is subject to the condition that if in the meantime any deadline is notified by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) thereby making handwritten PIO Cards invalid, then PIO Cardholders may have to obtain appropriate visa from Indian Missions/Consulates.
All PIO Cardholders, therefore, are advised to apply for conversion of PIO Cards to OCI Cards immediately to avoid any inconvenience.
