India’s Ministry of Home Affairs has published the first major overhaul of the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) programme in more than a decade. The changes, released on 30 April, widen eligibility to fifth- and sixth-generation Indian-origin Tamils in Sri Lanka and scrap the previous six-month in-country stay rule before applying. Applicants with a valid long-term visa may now file OCI requests immediately upon arrival. At the same time, authorities have introduced a US $25 penalty for failing to update new passport details on the OCI portal within three months, part of a broader push for real-time data integrity ahead of nationwide e-gate roll-outs. Enhanced biometric verification will link OCI cards to automated passport control, promising faster clearance for frequent business travellers. The expanded lineage clause is expected to benefit thousands in the Sri Lankan tea plantation community who lacked documentation under the earlier four-generation limit. Corporates should reassess employee mobility policies: staff previously travelling on long-term visas may prefer the visa-free OCI route for smoother re-entry. Existing OCI holders must review the new compliance calendar—late updates could disrupt travel plans or incur fines at exit immigration.
Source: The Economic Times
