408. Travel to India with

expired UK passport having OCI

Visa India . . .

Questions: Hello, can you please help. I am travelling to India on a new British passport (my old one expired). My OCI card is in my old (expired) British passport. Can I still travel to India – carrying both passports? Many thanks, Misha Answer: Whether you can travel to India on the basis of your OCI U Visa that is stamped on your expired British Passport would depend on your age. As per current rules, the following persons, based on their age, are required to get fresh OCI documents. 1. Each time a new passport is issued up to the completion of 20 years of age. OCI documents have to be re-issued and payment of appropriate fee is required. 2. Once an OCI holder reaches age 50, they must get their OCI registration certificate and visa re-issued. After a person reaches age 50 and acquire fresh OCI documents, they no longer require new OCI documents and can always travel on the basis of their OCI visa stamped on their expired foreign passport. Explanation: Between the ages of 21 and 50, there is no mandatory requirement to get documents re-issued, when you get a new passport. In such cases, if you travel to India, you would have to carry your previous passport that has the OCI ‘U’ visa stamped on it, along with your new passport and also the OCI booklet. ALL THREE DOCUMENTS ARE REQUIRED. In case someone wishes to get fresh documents issued to them as a matter of convenience, they can do so on payment of the appropriate fee. Once you get new documents, then the requirement to carry your previous passport is not required as the OCI ‘U’ visa will be stamped on your new passport. Hence, if your age is between 21 and 49 or over 50 years of age, and you got a new OCI documents after age 20 or 50. Then you can travel with your expired UK passport that has the OCI Visa Stamp and your new passport. In such cases both passports must be carried and as per new rules, the OCI booklet is also required.