• November 5, 2026

India Announces One-Time Penalty Waiver for OCI Cardholders Updating Passport Details

India Announces One-Time Penalty Waiver for OCI Cardholders Updating Passport Details

LONDON Nov 5: New Amnesty Scheme Offers Relief to OCI and e-OCI Cardholders for Delayed Passport Particulars Updates Between November 1 and December 31, 2026. The Government of India has announced a one-time amnesty scheme to waive the penalty for Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) and electronic OCI (e-OCI) cardholders who have delayed updating their passport details on the official e-OCI portal. The initiative is aimed at providing relief to eligible applicants by removing the penalty fee of USD 25, or its equivalent in local currency, for a limited period.According to a notice issued by the Consulate General of India in Manchester, United Kingdom, the penalty waiver will apply to all fresh applications for “Passport Particulars Updation” received between November 1, 2026, and December 31, 2026.

Three-Month Passport Update Requirement

Under the existing guidelines of the Government of India, OCI and e-OCI cardholders are required to update their passport particulars within three months of receiving a new passport.

Failure to comply with this requirement may result in a penalty fee of USD 25 or its equivalent. However, under the newly approved one-time amnesty scheme, eligible applicants will be exempt from paying this penalty for applications submitted within the designated two-month period.

The initiative provides an opportunity for OCI and e-OCI cardholders who have missed the prescribed deadline to regularise their passport details without incurring the additional financial burden.

Applications to Be Submitted Through the Official Portal

The Consulate General of India has encouraged all eligible OCI and e-OCI cardholders to take advantage of the temporary waiver and ensure that their passport details are updated promptly.

Applications for passport particulars updation must be submitted through the official OCI Services portal:

https://ociservices.gov.in/

Applicants are advised to complete the process within the stipulated timeframe, as the penalty waiver is available only for applications received between November 1 and December 31, 2026.

Important Advisory for Applicants in the UK

The Consulate General of India in Manchester has clarified that OCI and passport-related services are not currently provided at the Consulate itself.

The notice is intended for informational purposes only, and applications must be submitted through the designated OCI service channels.

OCI and e-OCI cardholders are therefore advised to use the official online portal and follow the prescribed application procedures when updating their passport particulars.

Conclusion

The one-time penalty waiver announced by the Government of India is a significant relief measure for OCI and e-OCI cardholders who have delayed updating their passport information. By waiving the USD 25 penalty for applications received during November and December 2026, the government has provided a limited opportunity for applicants to comply with existing requirements without paying the late-update fee.

Eligible cardholders are encouraged to make use of this opportunity before the scheme concludes on December 31, 2026.