OCI passport update: India removes $25 late fee for applications submitted by December 31

The Government of India has announced a two-month waiver of the $25 late fee for Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders who have delayed updating their passport details on the e-OCI portal.

Under the one-time relaxation, fresh applications for updating passport details submitted between November 1 and December 31, 2026, will not attract the penalty.

As per the BOI notice on X, the waiver gives OCI cardholders who have missed the deadline an opportunity to update their passport information without paying the additional charge. It applies only to fresh passport-detail update applications received through the e-OCI portal during the specified two-month period.


The government has also clarified that changes in personal particulars cannot be submitted as routine passport-detail updates. OCI cardholders seeking to change their name, nationality, parents' names or spouse's name must submit a separate application under the category of 'updation of personal particulars'.

Can OCI cardholders travel while passport updates are pending?

OCI cardholders will not face travel restrictions while their applications for updating passport details are being processed, according to the government's clarification.

This means that applicants do not have to wait for their passport update applications to be processed before travelling to or from India.

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However, travellers are advised to carry three documents when travelling: their old passport, new passport and OCI card.

The clarification is relevant to OCI cardholders who have received a new passport but are yet to complete the online update process. They can continue to travel while their applications are being processed, provided they carry the required documents.

What OCI cardholders should know

The late fee waiver is a temporary measure and applies only to fresh applications submitted between November 1 and December 31, 2026. Applicants must use the e-OCI portal to submit their passport-detail updates to qualify for the exemption.

OCI status is a long-term immigration arrangement for foreign citizens of Indian origin. It allows eligible cardholders to live, work and study in India indefinitely, subject to the applicable conditions.

Those who need to update their passport details should complete the process within the waiver period to avoid the additional penalty.