OCI Cardholders Can Travel to and from India While Passport Details Are Being Updated: High Commission Confirms

worldnrinews January 9, 2018

LONDON, October 15, 2026: Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders can continue travelling to and from India without restrictions while their passport details update application is being processed online, the High Commission of India in London has clarified in a public notice.The notice, dated October 14, 2026, addresses concerns among OCI cardholders about international travel during the passport details update process and confirms that travel is permitted from the date the application is submitted until the final acknowledgement of the documents in the online system.

The clarification follows earlier communications from India’s Ministry of External Affairs and various Indian consulates regarding travel requirements for OCI cardholders. The latest notice published on the High Commission of India in London’s website provides further reassurance to OCI holders living in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.

According to the notice, all OCI cardholders must update their passport details in their OCI records, including e-OCI card registration, whenever a new passport is issued. The requirement applies to all cardholders, regardless of age, and the update must be completed within three months of the new passport’s issuance.

Importantly, OCI cardholders do not face travel restrictions during the period between submitting their passport update application and receiving final acknowledgement of their documents through the online system.

The clarification is expected to reassure OCI cardholders who need to travel to or from India while their passport details are being updated. Applicants are advised to follow the official guidance and ensure their passport details are updated within the prescribed timeframe.

For further information, visit the official websites:

Revised guidelines for re-issuance of OCI Cards and need to update details through OCI services portal on change of passport.

The Indian government consulates and high commission offers Miscellaneous Services for OCI cardholders for the reissuance of OCI Card or for updating their passport particulars in OCI. Details are as below:

Updation of details of new/renewed passport details on OCI portal: Gratis Service (non chargeable) for updation of passport details filed after 90 days of issuance of a new passport has now become chargeable service by paying a fee of GBP 23/- (excluding VFS charges).

PIO to OCI conversion: After 31^stDecember 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/.

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.

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.

For more please read the guidelines available on

HCI’s website: https://www.hcilondon.gov.in/ or

OCI services portal: https://ociservices.gov.in/

1. Physical OCI Card and e-OCI are both valid travel documents. If you are an existing OCI card holder, you may download e-OCI and use e-OCI for travel.
2. Existing OCI card/e-OCI holders need to update the renewed passport number by using miscellaneous gratis service under change of passport particulars within 90 days of issuance of renewed passport. If done beyond 90 days, an appropriate fee will be charged for further processing of the application.
3. If the renewed passport has not been linked to the existing OCI within 90 days, the following steps may be followed:

a. File a new gratis application https://ociservices.gov.in/onlineOCI/applyOnline

b. Once the application number is generated (GBRLxxxxxU26), the applicant needs to visit VFS for payment of appropriate fee along with the following documents in originals and photocopies:

i. Duly filled in attached form

ii. Old Passport

iii. New Passport

iv. Existing OCI card/e-OCI

v. Status report this file reference which should show ‘Pending’ on the day of submission of application at VFS (the status report should not have status of the file reference as ‘rejected’ at the time of submission at VFS).

c. Once the fee is paid at VFS (GBP 23 excluding VFS charges), the file reference number will be sent to HCI London for further processing and acknowledgement.

d. After acknowledgement, the status of application will change from pending to under-process. It takes normally 06-08 weeks for the OCI application for granting and details updation.

e. Kindly note that you may track the status on: https://ociservices.gov.in/onlineOCI/statusEnqury

f. Once the status of application changes from pending to under-process, you may travel with the existing OCI card, Old passport and New Passport, provided that there is no change in personal particulars. Also carry a copy of the status report.

4. Miscellaneous chargeable OCI applications would include services catering to change in personal particulars including change/correction in name(s), nationality, marital status, change in appearance etc.

5. Miscellaneous chargeable service catering to loss and damage category of physical OCI Card is discontinued as e-OCI card can be accessed by existing OCI cardholders. Also it is informed that the update of passport number, employment, address and contact are under miscellaneous gratis service.

6. In respect of OCI cardholders attaining the age of 20 years:

The requirement of re-issuance of the OCI booklet upon issuance of a new passport after attaining the age of 20 years has been dispensed with under the e-OCI card registration system.
An OCI cardholder obtaining a new passport after attaining the age of 20 years shall be required to give his/her biometric information to the Indian Mission/Post or FRRO concerned at the time of updation of details on the online system or at the Immigration Post at the time of first entry or departure, as the case may be after such updation of the details.
However, all OCI cardholders irrespective of age shall be required to update the passport particulars on the online system under OCI Miscellaneous Services whenever a new passport is issued and upload a copy of the new passport containing the photo of the passport holder along with a latest photograph on the online system.”

OCI – Travel during updation of new passport details

OCI cardholders can travel to and from India without any restrictions while their application to update passport details on the OCI portal is being processed, from the date of submission until final acknowledgement.