Do OCI Card Holders Need to Complete the Digital e-Arrival Card?

I travel frequently between Dubai and India, and I’ve seen how this rule is evolving.

Initially, OCI holders were confused because early announcements were not clear. But now, airlines and immigration systems seem aligned that all foreign passport holders (including OCI) should complete the e-Arrival Card.

The system under the Bureau of Immigration India is part of India’s digital entry modernization, so they are slowly removing paper-based processes.

One thing I noticed: even when airlines don’t strictly check it, immigration at arrival expects it to be completed, so skipping it can slow you down at the airport.

From a practical point of view, it’s just safer to assume it is required for OCI holders as well.

Better to fill it 1–3 days before travel and keep a screenshot of the QR code.

I had a slightly different experience flying from London to Bangalore.

I’m also an OCI holder and initially didn’t complete the e-Arrival Card because I thought it was optional. At Heathrow, the airline staff reminded me and gave me around 30 minutes to complete it before boarding.

What I noticed is that enforcement depends a lot on the airline and departure airport, but overall the trend is clearly moving toward mandatory compliance.

A friend of mine who traveled a week later from Toronto said they were not allowed to check in until they completed it.

So even though some older blogs mention exemptions, practically speaking OCI card holders are now included in the requirement.

One suggestion: don’t leave it for the airport. The portal sometimes has OTP delays, and that can create unnecessary stress before boarding.

I travelled from Chicago to Mumbai recently (March 2026), so sharing what happened in my case.

Yes, I had to fill the e-Arrival Card even though I’m an OCI holder. At first I also thought OCI might be exempt, but at check-in, the airline staff actually asked for the confirmation before issuing boarding pass.

From what I understood, the rule has become more standardized now. Earlier there was confusion about OCI exemptions, but in practice, most airlines are treating it as required for all non-Indian passport holders.

I completed it within 48 hours before departure and got the QR code instantly. It took around 10 minutes, but the portal was a bit slow at night.

At Delhi immigration, they didn’t re-check it heavily, but they did scan the arrival details.

So based on my experience, I would say OCI card holders should treat it as mandatory to avoid any last-minute airport stress.