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I recently renewed my Australian passport, but my OCI card is still linked to my old passport details. I have a trip to India coming up in about three weeks, and now I'm worried about whether I'll face any issues at the airline check-in counter or Indian immigration.
I've been reading different experiences online, and the information seems mixed. Some people say they traveled without any problems by carrying both their old OCI card and new passport, while others recommend updating the passport details on the OCI portal before traveling.
In my case, my name, date of birth, and nationality haven't changed—it's only a routine passport renewal with a new passport number. I haven't yet submitted the online passport particulars update because I wasn't aware of it until recently.
Has anyone traveled to India with an old OCI card and a newly renewed passport in the last few months? Did the airline ask for any additional documents? Were you questioned by immigration, or was carrying both passports enough?
I know every case is different and that requirements can change, but I'd really appreciate hearing about recent travel experiences before I decide whether to postpone my trip or update my OCI details first.
I flew from the UK a couple of months ago with a renewed passport and an existing OCI card.
Before my trip, I contacted the application centre because I had the same concern. They advised me to carry my new passport, OCI card, and old passport if it was available, especially since my passport details hadn't yet been updated online.
My journey went smoothly, although the airline spent a few extra minutes checking my documents during check-in. Immigration in India didn't ask any additional questions.
Based on my experience, carrying supporting documents is a good precaution, even if your OCI update is still pending.
My experience was slightly different while flying from Canada.
The airline agent noticed that the passport number on my OCI record didn't match my new passport and asked whether I had my old passport. Fortunately, I had brought it with me because it contained the passport number printed on my OCI card. Once they verified the details, I was allowed to board without any further problems.
Since then, I've made it a habit to carry my cancelled old passport whenever I travel until all my OCI records are updated. It saved me a lot of unnecessary stress at the airport.
I traveled from the US to India earlier this year after renewing my passport.
My OCI card still showed my previous passport number because I hadn't completed the online passport update yet. At airline check-in, they asked to see both my new passport and my OCI card, but there weren't any additional questions. Immigration in India also checked my new passport along with the OCI card, and I entered without any issues.
After returning home, I completed the online passport particulars update through the OCI portal. My experience was straightforward, but I'd still recommend checking the latest travel guidance because procedures can change.
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How long take time to oci card
An OCI Card application generally takes 6–8 weeks, depending on the country, document verification, and the processing time of the concerned Indian Mission. Delays may occur if additional documents or verification are required.