Indians in World: For OCI card holders, the exemption has been given for the first time in the mandatory to keep the old passport with you during the journey.
Washington. People of Indian origin or Indian community who hold a foreign national (OCI) card are no longer required to carry their old passport to go to India. The Embassy of India, referring to the notification issued by the Central Government in this regard, said on Monday that the mandatory to keep the old passport with the OCI card has been abolished. This announcement has removed a major concern of Indians living abroad.
The embassy said, “From now on, an OCI card holder traveling with an existing OCI card with an old passport number is not required to carry an old passport, but it will be mandatory to carry a new (existing) passport.”
The embassy said that the Government of India has decided to extend the deadline for re-issuing OCI cards to December 31, 2021 for cardholders under 20 years and above 50 years of age.
As per OCI guidelines applicable since 2005, cardholders under 20 years and above 50 years of age have to reissue their card every time a new passport is created. The Indian government has extended its deadline several times due to the corona virus pandemic, but for the first time exemption has been given for OCI card holders to keep the old passport with them while traveling.
