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Hi everyone,
I'm an OCI cardholder living in the USA and will be traveling to India next month after almost two years. While preparing for my trip, I came across information about the e-Arrival Card requirement and got a bit confused about which travel document details I should enter.
I hold a valid OCI card along with my U.S. passport. When filling out the online arrival information, should I use my foreign passport details only, or do I also need to enter my OCI card number somewhere? Some travel groups mention using the passport information, while others say they included OCI details as well.
For reference, I became a U.S. citizen in 2023 and received my OCI card in early 2024. My passport was renewed recently, but my OCI card is still linked to the previous passport number. I have carried both passports while traveling before, but this is my first trip since hearing about the e-Arrival Card process.
Has anyone traveled recently to India as an OCI holder? What documents did you enter, and did immigration officers ask for anything beyond the OCI card and foreign passport?
I want to avoid delays at immigration and make sure everything is entered correctly before departure.
My experience was a little different. I traveled from Toronto to Delhi in February and had renewed my Canadian passport after obtaining OCI.
I entered my current passport information and also kept a digital copy of my OCI card on my phone. During airline check-in, the staff specifically asked to see the OCI card because they needed to verify my eligibility to travel without a visa.
Indian immigration only checked my passport and OCI card. The process took less than five minutes.
One thing I learned is that airline staff are sometimes more cautious than immigration officers because they verify travel authorization before boarding. Make sure your OCI card details are legible and match your personal information.
I traveled from Chicago to Mumbai in April as an OCI card holder and faced the same confusion. In my case, I entered the details from my current U.S. passport because that was the primary travel document used for boarding and immigration.
I carried my OCI card and old passport since my OCI was issued against the previous passport. At immigration, the officer asked for my current passport and OCI card. The old passport was never requested, although I had it with me just in case.
Based on my experience, the passport details were the important part of the arrival information. The OCI card served as proof of my visa-free entry eligibility.
Requirements can change, so it's always worth checking the latest travel instructions before flying.
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I recently traveled from the UK to Bengaluru using my OCI card. From what I understood, the e-Arrival Card information should generally match the passport you're using for travel.
I entered my British passport details and travel itinerary information. I did not enter my OCI card number because there was no mandatory field for it in the section I completed.
At immigration, the officer briefly checked my OCI card and foreign passport and stamped my entry without any additional questions.
If your OCI card is linked to an older passport, you may want to carry both passports if available. Many OCI holders continue to do this as an extra precaution, especially during passport renewal transitions.