Q556. OCI holder returning to India - What to declare on Arrival Card at airport

Q678. OCI holder returning to India - What to declare on ‘Arrival card’

Question: Hi Your service is excellent and provides many answers. I am a Canadian citizen holding an OCI card. i am soon moving back to India for good. What am I expected to fill out/declare as my reason for arriving in India in the disembarcation card provided? Thank you Abha

Answer: Arrival card in India requires that passengers arriving in India fill out the form as it applies to them. Since there are no restrictions on OCI returning to India and living in India there is nothing to hide! simply mark whatever is applicable to you. There is no column that asks if you are a returning OCI going to settle in India. There are probably two main questions on the arrival card that may apply to some OCI holders arriving in India: 1. Date of departure: If you don’t know, I would put ‘unknown’ The reason for this in my opinion, even though you may never wish to leave India, one never knows as circumstances may change in the future. There is no point in lying on any form. 2. Purpose of Visit: Here you are asked to select and tick the category that applies to you. If none of them is applicable then ‘Others’ is an option on the form. o If questioned simply tell the truth. You are returning to India for settlement, if things work out you will stay or at some point of time leave. A image of arrival form section showing information required from OCI holders is shown above to give you an idea.