In response to the lifting of COVID restrictions for fully vaccinated travellers, many Indians in Australia contacted the Indian High Commission for information on renewing OCI visas.
All the queries from the Indian members were resolved by the consular members and the latest information about the consular and passport services is updated in the website.
Highlights:
- Indian High Commission instructs the Indian diaspora to apply for the OCI cards in time.
- The OCI renewal prerequisites were changed in April 2021 by the Indian government.
- Individuals who are about to submit their Indian passports and apply for an OCI card are still allowed to travel to their home country.
- The advisory council has removed the requirements for consistent renewal of OCI cards (to get a new passport) for under 20 individuals.
India further relaxes rules for OCI cardholders
OCI cardholders need to make an important note that “they are not allowed to renew their cards by following the instructions from the Indian government given in April this year.”
All the details will be updated in the OCI portal regularly. Now the recent rules differ from the past ones, and they need to update their details on the OCI portal every time after receiving their new passport. This process is free of charge, but foreign nationals should travel to the consulate.
It also stated that the issued new OCI card is applicable under the following conditions:
- It can be used for getting a new passport after 20 years
- If the candidate loses their OCI registration certificate
- For changing the personal details like name, father’s name, nationality, etc.
Indians who have already submitted their Indian passport can travel to India on an Australian passport after getting the Indian visa. In contrast, Indians who have accepted Australian nationality can still apply for an Indian visa under any emergency if they are yet to surrender their Indian passports.
