OCI Card or Tourist Visa? Know What is Better for Your Travel to and Stay in India (2024)

19 thoughts on “What is Better, OCI Card or Indian Tourist Visa, for Foreign-born Minors or Foreign Citizens of Indian Origin?”

1. Lionel Nazareth 2022-08-26 at 1:54 pm

   I have an OCI card but recently had to have a new passport as mine had expired . Can i stil travel with my OCI card to India showing my old passport with it.

   Reply ↓

   • indianeagle Post author2022-08-29 at 9:53 am

     Hi Lionel! You can until December 31, 2022.

     Reply ↓

2. Naaz 2022-09-01 at 7:26 pm

   My child passport is getting expired in 2027. I am thinking to apply for OCI card but will I have to reapply for OCI card once her passport gets renewed? Because in that case, I will just go with getting 5 years tourist visa.

   Reply ↓

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3. Priya Sreejish 2022-10-15 at 8:42 am

   no need to renew the OCI mam. Just you have to upload the new passport online..

   https://www.cgisf.gov.in/page/oci-reissuance-clarification/

   Reply ↓

4. Reginaldo Viegas 2022-11-19 at 4:22 am

   I am a British Citizen of Indian Origin.
   Do I need to have an OCI Card to inherit or own property in India ?

   Reply ↓

5. Shahana danish 2022-12-31 at 7:48 am

   Hi
   im a indian passport holder and married to a pakistani ,I delivered 2 kids here in portugal recently my both kids got passport now im planning to travel to india along with my kids as my mother passed away 4 months ago and kids dnt have oci card and they r not registered with indian embassy as well, its a big confusion for me where do I have to start and which dept as ,I have to travel by Jan 15th please guide me if any one can

   Reply ↓

6. Hari 2023-01-14 at 3:36 pm

   Hi,

   I’m planning to apply for OCI card for the first time. I have a tourist visa already. Can I travel to India during the time OCI card application is in progress on my tourist visa?

   Reply ↓

   • indianeagle Post author2023-01-15 at 6:15 am

     Hi Hari! You can travel to India using a valid tourist visa as well.

     Reply ↓

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7. Raj, naam to suna hoga 2023-02-12 at 6:19 pm

   I dont want to apply for an OCI yet because its expensive for me at this point. I am considering a quick evisa for india instead. While I was completing the evisa form, there is a strange question regarding if you had been to India and what is your visa reference no on previous visit.

   How can you complete the online tourist visa application when the question is if you had visited india before – which is of course a yes answer but then it asks you to provide the visa application number. Anyone had this issue before? How did you get past it ? Many thanks

   Reply ↓

8. Ashwin Sonale 2023-02-25 at 8:26 am

   Hi,

   If I travel to india on tourist visa and while my stay if I get my OCI, can I stay longer and exit India on OCI based?

   Cheers

   Reply ↓

   • indianeagle Post author2023-02-27 at 9:06 am

     Hi Ashwin! In our knowledge, you can. You may have to inform the local authority. The Indian Embassy or consulate will better guide you.

     Reply ↓

9. Yash 2023-05-08 at 9:42 am

   Hello, I am a German citizen with an OCI card. However, my passport was recently renewed and I need to get my OCI reissued as well. There is now an emergency in India however, that I need to return urgently for. I got a one-year evisa approved very recently for India. Can I travel with the evisa to India and then get my OCI card reissued after I land in India?

   Reply ↓

   • indianeagle Post author2023-05-08 at 10:36 am

     Hi Yash! In our knowledge, you can travel with the e-visa and enter India.

     Reply ↓

10. Pradeep 2023-08-05 at 9:33 pm

    What is best between e-visa and OCI? How long can we stay in India with e-visa?

    Reply ↓

    • indianeagle Post author2023-08-07 at 8:23 am

      Hi Pradeep! Whether it is a regular paper tourist visa or e-visa, US citizens can stay a maximum of 180 days in one calendar year.

      Reply ↓

11. MJ 2023-08-10 at 5:16 pm

    I am a US citizen with OCI currently in the US and I am planning to take my US citizen baby to India on tourist evisa as my husband is currently in India (he’s Indian citizen) and it will be difficult to apply for the baby’s entry visa or OCI without him here in the US to sign the applications and provide his notarized documents. I was planning to apply for the baby’s OCI in India. But then on the OCI website it says “Foreign nationals cannot apply for OCI in India while on Tourist Visa, Missionary Visa and Mountaineering Visa.” Does that mean I won’t be able to apply for the baby’s OCI in India, even though one parent is Indian citizen and other parent is OCI? We are re-locating to India permanently.

    Reply ↓

    • indianeagle Post author2023-08-11 at 8:42 am

      Hi MJ! We have little idea of your scenario. In our knowledge, parents/a parent of a minor US citizen can apply for an OCI Card in India. We recommend that you contact the Indian Embassy or a consulate in the US for the correct and complete information.

      Reply ↓

12. AL 2024-02-15 at 1:29 am

    I have Oci but my name changed on my new USA passport. My new passport was issued 2 years back but I did not realize that OCI needs to be reissued. I now need to travel to India urgently. Can I get E Visa and go? Renew the OCi card after I am back. If yes, what do I enter in the field for Previous Visa type and number when filing for EVisa

    Reply ↓

    • indianeagle Post author2024-02-15 at 11:03 am

      Hi Asheth! You can apply for an e-tourist visa to India. However, we have little knowledge of your scenario.

      Reply ↓