OCI & PIO Card Holders Entitled To Multiple Entry Lifelong Visa For India: MoS Home Nityanand Rai

The OCI card, among other benefits, allows multiple entry, multi-purpose life-long visa to an Indian-origin foreign national to visit India.

MoS Home Nityanand Rai (File Photo)

New Delhi: Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai on Wednesday said the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) and the Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card holders (being deemed OCI cardholders) are entitled to multiple entry lifelong visa for visiting India.

“As per notification dated 4th March 2021, Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card holders and the Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card holders (being deemed OCI cardholders) are entitled to multiple entry lifelong visa for visiting India,” Rai said in the Rajya Sabha, ANI reported.

The OCI card, among other benefits, allows multiple entry, multi-purpose life-long visa to an Indian-origin foreign national to visit India.

Those below 20 years and above 50 years need to renew their OCI card every time they have their passport renewed under the provisions of the OCI card, which gives the cardholder lifelong visa to India, PTI reported last year.

The Indian government had earlier relaxed the provisions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Central government had earlier allowed certain categories of the OCI card holders, who were stranded abroad, to come to the country.

Earlier, according to the regulations issued by the Indian government, the visas of foreign nationals and OCI cards were suspended as part of the new international travel restrictions following the Covid-19 pandemic.

The OCI cardholders were asked to carry their old passport with them to fly to India.

The OCI cardholders, however, under the new provisions are not required to carry their old passports but will still need to carry their new passport.