The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) refreshed its India travel advisory on 27 July 2026, adding two new compliance items that anyone entering India—including UK business travellers—must now factor into their pre-trip check-list. First, the guidance explicitly references the Government of India’s new electronic Overseas Citizen of India (e-OCI) card. Unlike the previous booklet-style OCI, the e-OCI is a fully digital credential that must be presented (in printed or mobile form) alongside a valid foreign passport. Travellers who hold OCI status are advised to download the e-OCI PDF from the portal and carry a hard copy until Indian airports upgrade their scanners. Airlines have been instructed to verify the digital OCI before boarding; several carriers have already started “soft checks” at UK departure gates. Second, the FCDO highlights India’s re-introduction of a compulsory Self-Declaration Form (SDF) for all international arrivals. The form—submitted on the upgraded Air Suvidha 2.0 portal within 24 hours of departure—captures travel history and basic health data to assist Indian authorities in Ebola surveillance. Failure to upload the SDF can result in long secondary screening lines or, in rare cases, denial of boarding. Travellers transiting through the Gulf are reporting that airlines will not issue boarding passes without proof of the completed form, making advance submission essential. The update signals India’s ongoing shift toward digital pre-clearance. Corporate mobility managers should update employee travel briefs and ensure that mobility platforms include automated reminders for both the e-OCI download and the SDF filing window. Companies with frequent travellers may want to assign a compliance coordinator to monitor form submissions and keep a buffer of printed e-OCI copies. Because the advisory comes from the UK but reflects Indian entry requirements, its practical reach is global: any traveller who checks the GOV.UK site for reference will now be aware of these two obligations. With peak autumn conference season approaching, ignoring the new steps could translate into missed flights and costly rescheduling for project teams bound for India.
