What Changed for OCI Cardholders?
Before October 4, 2025, OCI cardholders were exempt from the e-Arrival Card requirement. That exemption has been removed.
Since October 4, 2025, all OCI cardholders — regardless of how many times they've visited India before — must file the e-Arrival Card within 72 hours of every scheduled arrival. This applies to every flight, including connecting flights through India.
This is a permanent change, not a temporary measure.
How to File as an OCI Cardholder
- Open indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival within 72 hours of arrival.
- Select "OCI Cardholder" as the document type.
- Enter your OCI card number exactly as printed (no spaces, no dashes).
- Enter your passport details (current travel passport, not the passport the OCI was issued on).
- Enter flight, arrival airport, India address, and emergency contact.
- Submit and download QR code immediately. Save offline. Print a copy.
Common OCI-Specific Issues
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| OCI card number rejected | Enter without spaces or dashes. Try with and without "OCI" prefix. Use the number on the card, not the application number. |
| Portal asks for visa number | OCI cardholders select "OCI" as the entry type and use their OCI card number in the visa number field. |
| Children on OCI cards | Each traveler (including minors) needs their own e-Arrival Card entry. Use the family filing option to include all travelers in one submission. |
| Lived in India — do I need this? | If you're arriving on your OCI card, yes. PIO cards (discontinued) are treated as visas — check with your airline or immigration. |
Family Filing for OCI Families
The official form supports multiple travelers in a single submission. You'll need:
- OCI card number for each family member
- Current travel passport for each person
- A single India address and emergency contact (can be the same for the whole family)
Each traveler gets their own QR code, even in a family filing.
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Do OCI cardholders need the India e-Arrival Card?
Yes — since October 4, 2025. Every OCI cardholder must file before every trip. There is no exemption.
I'm a dual citizen. Which passport do I use?
Use the passport you're travelling on. If you hold Indian citizenship, you do not need an e-Arrival Card — Indian citizens are exempt.
My OCI card was issued years ago. Does it still work?
Yes. OCI card validity is not affected by this rule change. You still use the same OCI card — you just now need to also file the e-Arrival Card before each trip.
What if my flight is delayed and I now arrive outside the 72-hour window?
If your arrival time changes, your e-Arrival Card linked to the original flight should auto-update if the airline files a schedule change. If you're outside the window, file again with the new arrival time as soon as you're within 72 hours.