Toronto Consulate clarifies: OCI holders may travel even if new-passport details are pending update

Responding to widespread confusion on social media, the Consulate General of India (CGI) in Toronto issued a public notice on 21 October reminding Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card-holders that they must update their passport particulars in the online OCI portal within three months of receiving a new passport—regardless of age—but that travel to and from India is not barred while the update is being processed. The clarification is significant for Canada’s 700,000 OCI card-holders, many of whom panic-cancelled holiday bookings after reports that airlines were refusing boarding to card-holders whose OCI booklet did not match their latest passport number. CGI-Toronto confirmed that an acknowledgement receipt generated by the portal is sufficient proof of compliance during the interim period. Applicants who fail to update within the three-month window will incur a US $25 fee, but no penalties apply if the turnaround delay is on the consulate’s side. Since 5 April 2026 Canadian OCI applications require in-person biometrics at BLS centres; however, passport-detail updates remain an online-only workflow, easing the burden on frequent travellers. Travel agents welcome the clarification but urge passengers to carry print-outs of both the acknowledgment and the old passport (if still available) to avoid check-in desk confusion. Corporate mobility managers should audit employee OCI records—especially for staff relocating since April—because failure to update could complicate FRRO registration for long stays in India. The consulate says it processed 4,100 OCI miscellaneous service requests in September alone and has diverted additional officers to clear the current five-working-day backlog.