Central government launches new ‘e-OCI’ card system for overseas Indians

 

 

The central government has launched a new ‘e-OCI’ card system for overseas Indians. From now on, OCI card holders can store it on their mobile phones and use it while traveling. Now, they just need to show this digital card at airports and immigration counters.

The existing OCI booklets will continue to be fully valid. E-OCI is just an additional digital facility to make traveling easier. Since it is always available on mobile, it reduces the chances of documents getting lost or damaged and also helps in speeding up the checks at airports.

To download the e-OCI card, you need to visit the official website https://ociservices.gov.in and log in with your user ID and password. Then select the e-OCI section. After logging in, select the ‘e-OCI’ tab found on the dashboard on the home page.
Here you will see the details of your OCI application. You can download the card by clicking on ‘Generate e-OCI Card’ in the last column.

Once the card is ready, you can download it on your mobile phone or other devices and keep it safe. It can be shown at immigration counters and airlines during your travels. If you do not currently have the email ID registered on the OCI portal, you can renew it by entering your passport details and a new email ID through ‘OCI Miscellaneous Services’ on the website. After the government approves it, you can download the new e-card.

The report states that OCI cardholders need to obtain special permission in advance to come to India and do research, journalism, mountaineering, missionary work, work in foreign embassies, or visit certain restricted areas in India.