New rule says OCI card holders need not carry old passport

Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders no longer need to carry old passports when travelling to India, according to an advisory by the Indian government easing rules as announced by the Indian Consulate in Dubai.

The government has also extended the deadline of re-issue of OCI cards for all eligible foreigners to the end of this year (December 31). The Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, which also issued the same advisory, noted that carrying renewed passport is mandatory.

Earlier, the OCI cardholders were asked to present the passport containing U Visa sticker and OCI card to avoid problems during Immigration process in India. In case registered OCI has obtained a new passport, the travellers were to carry the passport with the U Visa sticker, new passport and OCI document during all visits to India.

OCI is an accredited permanent residency and is only issued to Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) who own citizenship of any other foreign country except Pakistan and Bangladesh. Introduced in 2005 by the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), OCI status enables multiple entry but does not give the right to vote in Indian elections or hold any public posts or own an agricultural plot.