New OCI Card Rules 2026: Some OCI services updates and new OCI Card 2026 rules took effect starting April 1, alongside the reduced customs duty on international arrivals’ foreign imports to India. The Government of India has stopped accepting the PIO Card as a valid travel document. OCI Cardholders must obtain a Digital e-Arrival Card before boarding flights to India, as the physical disembarkation form has been discontinued permanently. Also, the OCI service portal has been revamped for a more seamless user experience.
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India removes 6-month stay rule for OCI Applicants
The OCI Card rules in 2026 include no 6-month stay requirement for OCI applicants applying from India. Earlier, applicants applying for an OCI Card in India often faced confusion around proving “ordinary residence,” which was commonly interpreted as a six-month stay. This led to delays and uncertainty.
Effective 8 April 2026, the Bureau of Immigration India has officially clarified that eligible foreign nationals can apply for OCI without completing six months of stay in India. As long as you have a valid visa and required documents, you can submit your application soon after arrival in India.
Revised fees for OCI Card services
The revised fee structure for OCI Card services is effective starting 1 April 2026. The new OCI application fee continues to be fixed at USD 275 (same as before) or its equivalent amount in local currencies outside India. If you file a fresh application in the UAE, you need to pay approximately AED 1,010 (equivalent to USD 275) other than an additional service charge. The OCI application fee in Singapore is SGD 349. The new OCI registration in Canada costs CAD 376, effective April 2026.
Rs 15,000 is the standard fee for fresh OCI Card applications submitted within India. The fee must be paid through a demand draft drawn in favor of “Pay and Accounts Officer (secretariat), Ministry of Home Affairs”, payable at New Delhi.
- USD 275: Fresh OCI application abroad
- Rs 15,000: Fresh OCI application in India
- USD 25: OCI Card reissuance with change in personal details
- USD 100: Duplicate OCI Card issuance (lost or damaged)
- USD 25: OCI Card reissuance after 20 years of the cardholder’s age
- USD 25: OCI Card renunciation
- USD 25: A late fee for updation of passport details after 3 months of a new passport issued
OCI Card 2026 rules for children and foreign spouses
The OCI Card latest updates also include clearer requirements for specific categories of applicants. For children, the apostille of birth certificates has become an important step in the fresh OCI application process.
For foreign spouses of Indian citizens or OCI cardholders, stricter compliance is required. Applicants must provide updated passport details along with a declaration confirming that the marriage is still valid. In some cases, children may not need to be physically present at centers like VFS Global if both parents provide consent.
List of documents required for OCI Card in India (2026)
- Foreign passport (with sufficient validity)
- Foreign citizenship proof (naturalization certificate, if applicable)
- Proof of Indian origin (old Indian passport, surrender certificate, or relevant documents)
- Recent passport-size photograph (as per OCI specifications)
- Signature (for online application upload)
- Valid Indian visa or residence permit
- Address proof in India (rent agreement, utility bill, or declaration)
- Marriage certificate (for spouse-based OCI applications)
- Birth certificate (mandatory for child applicants; must be apostilled if issued outside India)
- Registration Certificate/Residential Permit (required only if your visa mandates FRRO registration)
Check out our simplified take on the OCI guidelines regarding when to renew your OCI Card for a fee and when to update it online for free. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter for international travel news, visa updates, diaspora stories, Indian Eagle deals, and flight discount offers.
Latest updates for OCI Cardholders in 2026
- When a new passport update is pending, OCI Card holders can travel to and from India given the previous OCI Card was valid.
- OCI applicants among children may not need to visit the VFS Global center for an appointment. Parents can attend with proper authorization.
- Foreign spouses of OCI Cardholders and Indian citizens must upload their latest photo, new passport, and a marriage declaration online after every passport renewal.
