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OCI cardholders face new reminder on restricted activities
The Bureau of Immigration also clarified that OCI cardholders require special permits to visit protected and restricted areas.
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Ankita Baidya - Thu, 02, Jul 2026
- 03:49 EDT
- 23
The Bureau of Immigration has outlined activities that require prior approval for OCI cardholders travelling to India. / File Photo / Canva
The Bureau of Immigration (BoI), Government of India, has reminded Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders that they must obtain prior permission before undertaking certain activities in India, including research and journalism, even though the OCI scheme allows lifelong visa-free travel and residence.
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In a post on its official X account, the Bureau said OCI cardholders must seek clearance from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) or the concerned Indian Mission before engaging in six categories of activities: research, journalistic work, mountaineering, internships with foreign diplomatic missions or foreign government organisations in India, employment with foreign diplomatic missions in India, and missionary or Tabligh activities.
The Bureau also said OCI cardholders require a separate Special Permit to visit Protected, Restricted or Prohibited Areas in India. Applications for both prior permission and special permits can be submitted through the OCI Services Portal.
Do OCI Cardholders Need Special Permissions?
— Bureau of Immigration, Government of India (@BOIndiaOfficial) July 1, 2026
Yes. Special Permission should be sought from FRRO/ Indian Mission concerned if OCI Cardholders wish to undertake any of the following activities in India.
1 Research activities
2 Journalistic activities
3 Mountaineering
4 Internship…
The clarification comes days after the launch of India's new electronic OCI (e-OCI) system, which allows existing OCI cardholders to generate and download a digital version of their OCI card for use during travel.
According to the Bureau, cardholders can log into the OCI Services Portal using their existing credentials, select the "e-OCI" tab and generate a downloadable electronic card that can be stored on a mobile device and presented to airlines and immigration authorities. The Bureau clarified that the physical OCI booklet remains valid and that the e-OCI serves as an additional digital option rather than a replacement.
Great News for All OCI Cardholders!
— Bureau of Immigration, Government of India (@BOIndiaOfficial) July 1, 2026
The e-OCI (Electronic OCI Card) has been officially launched!
No more carrying your physical OCI booklet everywhere. You can now download your digital e-OCI Card on your mobile phone and present it at Immigration Check Posts and to… pic.twitter.com/DpQ5UqYC5r
The Ministry of External Affairs states that OCI cardholders are entitled to a multiple-entry, multipurpose lifelong visa for visiting India and are exempt from registering with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office regardless of the duration of their stay. They also receive parity with Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in several economic, financial and educational matters, although they are not permitted to acquire agricultural or plantation property and do not enjoy political rights such as voting or contesting elections.
Separately, the Ministry of Home Affairs' guidance notes that OCI status does not exempt holders from obtaining Protected Area Permits or Restricted Area Permits where these are required under Indian law.
You can replace the last paragraph with this, which ties the two announcements together more naturally and ends on a stronger service-oriented note:
The Bureau's advisory comes as India continues to digitize services for the Indian diaspora through the new e-OCI platform. However, the Bureau emphasized that OCI cardholders must continue to comply with existing regulations governing restricted activities and travel, including obtaining prior approvals where required. Existing physical OCI cards remain valid alongside the newly introduced digital version.
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