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India relaxes travel conditions for Overseas Citizens

The Indian government has handed a breather to the holders of Overseas Citizen of India card.

TAS News Service

info@thearabianstories.com

Saturday, December 28, 2019

MUSCAT: Following months of confusion over the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards, the Indian government has temporarily relaxed a rule that saw many airlines deny boarding to several OCI holders.

OCI cardholders, in certain age groups, can travel to India even if they have not re-registered it after the issuance of their new passports, as the government has relaxed travel conditions till June 30, 2020, Embassy of India in Muscat said in a statement. 

In a statement issued on Friday, the embassy said an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder is required to re-register each time a new passport is issued till 20 years of age and once after 50 years of age. 

The OCI card gives the cardholder lifelong visa to India.

“In case an OCI cardholder below the age of 20 years has not got the OCI card re-issued on change of passport, he/she may travel on the strength of his/her existing OCI card bearing old passport number subject to the condition that along with the new passport, the OCI cardholder carries old passport mentioned in the OCI card,” the statement said.

“In case an OCI cardholder who has attained the age of 50 years and got his/her passport renewed subsequently but has not got his/her OCI card re-issued on renewal of passport, he/she may travel on the strength of the existing OCI card along with new and old passport,” the embassy added. 

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