The Indian government has offered a chance to the holders of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, temporarily relaxing a rule that requires the OCI holders aged under 20 and over 50 to renew their document.
According to a new notification issued by India’s Ministry of Home, OCI holders up to the age of 20 and those over 50 who have renewed their passport but haven’t got their OCI reissued will be able to travel to India until 30 June 2020. Such travellers are required to carry their old passport along with the current one and the OCI card.
The Indian government says the relaxation has been given in view of "inconvenience or difficulty" faced by OCI holders in travelling to India.
The OCI card, which is a ‘lifetime visa’ for people of Indian origin, since October, has caused several problems, when several India-bound passengers were denied boarding by multiple airlines, citing issues with their OCI.
According to the Indian government, these rules have been in existence since 2005. OCI cardholders up to the age of twenty must have their OCI renewed every time they change their passport. Re-issuance of OCI is mandatory every time passport is renewed up to the age of 20 years, and again after attaining the age of 50 years in view of frequent biological change in facial features in these age group.
If the OCI card is issued at the age of 50 years or later, there is no need for the renewal of the OCI card. In case new passport is issued, it is not mandatory to carry the old passport with which OCI is linked. However it is advisable to carry the old passport as a measure of abundant precaution.
