Recent Circulars

1. Launch of e-OCI card

• Electronic Overseas Citizen of India (e-OCI) card has been launched on 30.06.2026 for the new applicants and existing OCI card holders (physical booklets). From now onwards, only digital OCI card (e-OCI) will be issued. 
• The holder of e-OCI card will not need to carry the physical copy of the OCI card at the time of Immigration Clearance and for availing other services.
• The e-OCI card can be downloaded by login into OCI portal (https://ociservices.gov.in ) and through the official ‘Indian Visa Su-Swagatam” mobile app. The SOP to generate and download e-OCI may be seen in the following document: https://ociservices.gov.in/onlineOCI/images/E-OCI_technical_SOP.pdf.

• The physical booklets shall continue to remain valid and shall be accepted for immigration and other associated services.

2. PIO to OCI conversion:

After 31st December 2025, PIO (Person of Indian Origin) cards are not being considered as valid document for exit/entry into India. The service of conversion of PIO card into OCI card is discontinued after 31.12.2025. The PIO cardholder is required to submit a fresh application under the ‘New OCI Registration’ category by visiting https://ociservices.gov.in/onlineOCI/

3. Updation of passport details

(i) An OCI cardholder has to update the passport details each time a new passport is issued irrespective of age. This is a gratis service if done within three months (90 days) of issuance of the new passport. However, if the application for update of passport details is submitted after three months (90 days) of issue of the new passport, the application will be processed by charging a fee of GBP 23/- (excluding VFS charges).

(ii) After launch of e-OCI card,  the mandatory requirement of re-issuance of the OCI card on attaining the age of 20 years has been dispensed with. However, such OCI cardholders are required to update their passport details under OCI Miscellaneous services option on the OCI website and also give their biometric information to the nearest VFS centre after submitting the application for updation of passport details, or at the Immigration Post at the time of first entry or departure, as the case maybe.

4. Documents/certificates for OCI applicants under ‘Foreign Spouse Basis’ category:

Instead of apostilled Birth Certificate of foreign spouse and spouse’s parents/grandparents/great grandparents, now apostilled birth certificate of the foreign spouse confirming names of both parents, and any identity document issued by a government authority of applicant’s parents/grandparents/great grandparents, confirming their origin, are required.

5. Cases of OCI applicants of Single parent:

In cases where the parents are legally divorced, legally separated or in cases of adoption or surrogacy by a single parent, in the application form for a minor child, the applicant may mention “None” or “Not Disclosed” in one of the mandatory field “Name of Father/Mother (as applicable)” so as to facilitate submission of OCI application in the case of a minor child by a single parent.

6. OCI cardholders are hereby informed of the limitations associated with status. OCI cardholders are not entitled to the following benefits:

• Voting Rights: OCI cardholders are not eligible to vote in India.
• Holding Public Office: OCI cardholders cannot be members of the Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council, or Parliament.
• Constitutional Posts: OCI cardholders are not eligible to hold positions such as President, Vice President, Judge of the Supreme Court or High Court, and other constitutional posts.
• Public Services: OCI cardholders are not entitled to appointment to public services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union or any State, except for special appointments specified by the Central Government.
• Agricultural Land: OCI cardholders cannot acquire agricultural land, farmhouses, or plantation properties in India.

OCI cardholders are advised to familiarize themselves with the rights and restrictions associated with their status to avoid any potential issues. Failure to comply with the above rules may result in the cancellation of the OCI card.

7. Clarification regarding Name Change / Discrepancy
8. In some cases of applications for OCI services, names of the applicants or parents do not match in different documents required for OCI services. Such a mismatch could be due to the use of different alphabets in the spellings of the names or there may be slight differences in the way the middle or family names are placed in different documents. Such cases are different from those which involve formal change of name.
9. OCI services, like all other Government-delivered services, especially identity-related are governed by the administrative procedures followed by the Government of India, wherein uniformity of name and spelling of names is a prerequisite in all kinds of documents.
10. Hence, in any case of different spellings of names, applicants must submit an affidavit issued by a UK Notary public explaining the cause for the difference / mismatch in the name(s) in different documents, additionally stating that all these documents relate to the same applicant. However, in cases where a name has been formally changed, applicants will have to submit the name change deed.