Those qualifying for Overseas Citizen of India status will no longer have to apply for regular renewal of their OCI cards.
The change was announced on Thursday by India’s Ministry of Home Affairs and will benefit 3.77 million people who have OCI status, many of whom live in the Gulf.
OCI status gives foreign passport holders all the benefits of Indian citizenship except voting rights and the right to own agricultural land. The status has been given to foreigners of Indian origin, foreign spouses of Indian nationals and foreign spouses of OCI cardholders.
India's constitution does not allow dual citizenship and the OCI cards serve as multiple entry, life-long visas for these cardholders to enter or live in India.
"Presently, the OCI card is required to be re-issued each time a new passport is issued up to twenty years of age and once after completing 50 years of age, in view of biological changes in the face of the applicant," said India's Ministry of Home Affairs in an announcement.
"With a view to facilitate the OCI cardholders, it has now been decided by the government of India to dispense with this requirement."
From now on, a person who became an OCI cardholder before turning twenty years old will have to get the OCI card re-issued just once after they turn twenty and are issued a new passport.
This is to update the photo once they have become an adult.
If a person became an OCI cardholder after turning 20, there is no need to ever re-issue of OCI card.
There was never any requirement for renewal between 21 and 50 years of age.
People with an OCI card who were not born in India will still have to provide a copy of the photo page of their passport as well as other paperwork each time a new passport is issued to them.
