399. Six month passport

validity requirement to visit

India?

Questions: Dear Sir My kids are UK Passport holder and have OCI booklets. Their British passport validity is ending in mid june 2012. Can they travel to India from UK in April 2012 for two weeks on current passport or are they required to renew their British passport by Indian law. In other words do their passport need to valid for certain period (say for example 3 or 6 months). I thank you for your very informative website. Please reply ASAP Kind regards Rajiv Answer: According to the PASSPORT (ENTRY INTO INDIA) RULES, 1950, Rule 5 specifies the conditions of a valid passport to be the following: 'that it should have been issued or renewed by or on behalf of the Government of the country of which the person to whom it relates, is a national, and shall be within the period of its validity. that it should also have been endorsed by a proper Indian or Diplomatic consular or passport authority by way of visa for India for such period as may be specified therein' My understanding is that ‘Shall be within the period of its validity’ means the passport must be valid! and should have a proper visa. The six month rule that many people often mention, is probably applicable when applying for an Indian visa. When applying for an Indian visa, the visa applicants passport, must be valid for at least six months from the date of application. If it is not, the visa is denied. I realize that since the travel involves children, you are naturally concerned. You can alleviate your concerns by either confirming with the Indian consulate in your area, or perhaps by getting fresh passports for your children, since their passports will expire within two months of their travel date anyway.