new Delhi: Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai on Wednesday said Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) and Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card holders (who are considered OCI cardholders) are entitled to multiple entry lifelong visas to visit India.
“As per notification dated 4th March 2021, Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card holders and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) card holders (being deemed to be OCI card holders) are entitled to multiple entry lifelong visa to visit India,” the opinion said. he said. Rajya Sabha, ANI reported.
The OCI card, among other benefits, allows a foreign national of Indian origin a multiple-entry, multi-purpose lifetime visa to visit India.
People below the age of 20 and above the age of 50 are required to renew their passport every time under the provisions of the OCI card, which grants the cardholder a lifetime visa to India, PTI reported last year.
The Indian government had earlier relaxed the provisions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The central government had earlier allowed certain categories of OCI card holders stranded abroad to enter the country.
Earlier, visas for foreign nationals and OCI cards were suspended as part of new international travel restrictions following the COVID-19 pandemic, as per rules issued by the Indian government.
OCI card holders were asked to carry their old passport with them for traveling to India.
OCI cardholders, however, are not required to carry their old passport under the new provisions, but will still be required to carry their new passport.