What Happens If My e-OCI QR Code Does Not Scan?

One thing I'd suggest is downloading the e-OCI again if you're unsure whether the PDF was corrupted during download. I did that before my trip from Canada just for peace of mind.

I also compared the personal details with my passport to make sure there weren't any errors. The QR code still didn't work with my phone, but I didn't have any problems while traveling.

If you're still concerned, it may be worth contacting the OCI Helpdesk or the Indian mission before your trip. Requirements and verification methods can change, and they'll be able to advise if there's an issue with the document itself.

I traveled from the UK earlier this year with an e-OCI and had a similar experience.

The QR code didn't open anything when I used a standard QR app. Later, I learned that not every QR code is designed for public scanning. Some are meant to be read only by authorized systems used for document verification.

At immigration, the officer reviewed my passport and OCI documents, and I wasn't asked to scan anything myself. Since all my details matched, the process was straightforward.

If your e-OCI was downloaded successfully from the official portal and the information is accurate, I wouldn't assume the QR code is defective just because a phone app can't read it.

I had exactly the same concern before flying from San Francisco to Delhi.

I tried scanning the QR code with two different QR reader apps, and neither of them recognized it. At first, I thought the download had failed, but everything else on the e-OCI looked fine.

During my trip, nobody asked me to scan the QR code myself. The airline checked my passport and OCI documents, and immigration completed their verification without mentioning the QR code at all.

Based on my experience, a regular QR scanner not reading the code didn't cause any issues during travel.