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Yes, OCI cardholders living in India must have a valid foreign passport to travel to India. An OCI card is a travel document and a lifetime visa for foreign national Indian origin people. It acts as a visa, not as a passport. So a foreign national should have a valid foreign passport, which acts as proof of foreign nationality.
I was in a similar situation after moving from Canada to India. Although I wasn't travelling immediately, I renewed my Canadian passport before it expired because many organizations still asked for a valid passport as proof of identity and nationality.
I wasn't questioned about my OCI status, but having a valid passport made banking and other documentation much easier. Based on my experience, it's better not to let the passport expire if you can avoid it.
I'm an Australian citizen with an OCI card and have been living in Bengaluru for almost two years. My passport expired while I was in India, and I renewed it through my country's embassy.
I didn't face any immigration issues while staying in India, but I couldn't travel internationally until I received the new passport. After renewal, I made sure to keep my OCI records updated where applicable. Since requirements can change, I'd recommend checking your embassy's guidance before your passport expires.
Yes, an OCI cardholder should have a valid passport, which is an important travel document. If an OCI cardholder stays in India without a valid passport, then it is illegal, and they can face penalties. As, OCI card allows foreign nationals to have a life-long visa, to travel to India, they need to have a valid passport for their stay in the country.
I have applied for the OCI card and get many benefits from the OCI card, like multiple visa-free entries, no need to report the duration of stay in India to any higher authority or local police, but for the entry or exit in India, an OCI cardholder needs a valid passport, which also acts as a valid proof of foreign nationality.
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From what I understand, the OCI card doesn't replace your foreign passport. When I renewed my U.S. passport, I continued carrying both documents whenever I travelled.
Even if you're staying in India for an extended period, an expired passport can create practical issues if you suddenly need to travel or complete official documentation that requires a current passport. Renewing it ahead of time saved me a lot of stress.