Embassy of India
Buenos Aires
****
Dated June 12, 2020
Subject: Visa & Travel restrictions in response to COVID-19 – Permitting certain other categories of foreign nationals including Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) Cardholders to enter India – regarding.
The undersigned is directed to refer to this Ministry’s O.Ms of even number dated 17th April, 2020, 5th, May, 2020, 7th May, 2020 and 22nd May, 2020 regarding Visa & Travel restrictions in response to COVID 19 and to say that the matter regarding relaxation of the visa & travel restrictions for certain categories of foreign nationals including Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) Cardholders who want to enter India has been considered by the Government.
2. Accordingly, in supersession of this Ministry’s O.M. of even number dated 22nd May, 2020 it has now been decided to permit the following categories of foreign nationals including Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Cardholders to enter Indi:-
(A) Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Cardholders
(i) Minor children who hold OCI cards & whose parents re Indian nationals.
(ii) OCI cardholders who wish to come to India on account of family emergencies like critical medical conditions of immediate family members or death.
(iii) Married couples where on spouse is an OCI cardholder and the other is an Indian national.
(iv) Students who are OCI cardholders where at least one of their parents is an Indian citizen or an OCI cardholder.
(B) Other foreign nationals
(i) Foreign nationals who are minor children where at least one of their parents is an Indian citizen or an OCI cardholder.
(ii) Foreign nationals married to Indian citizen.
(iii) Foreign nationals who are single parents of minor children holding Indian passports or OCI cards.
(iv) Student who are foreign nationals where at least one of their parents is an Indian citizen or an OCI cardholder.
(v) Dependent family members of foreign diplomats and official/service passport holding service staff accredited to foreign diplomatic Missions, consular offices or accredited International Organizations in India.
Foreign nationals covered in sub-paras B (i) to (v) above shall have to obtain a fresh visa of appropriate category from the Indian Missions/Posts abroad. Foreign nationals holding a valid long term multiple entry visa of appropriate category issued by the Indian Missions/Posts abroad shall have to get the visa re-validated from the Indian Mission / Post concerned. Such foreign nationals will not be permitted to travel to India on the strength of any electronic visa obtained earlier.
3. Consequently, the visa restrictions imposed vide this Ministry’s O.Ms of even number dated 17.04.2020 would not apply to the above mentioned categories of foreign nationals. Similarly travel restrictions imposed vide this Ministry’s O.M. even number dated 07.05.2020 would not apply to any aircraft, ship, train or any other vehicle by which the above mentioned categories of foreign nationals (including OCI cardholders) may travel to India.
4. All other terms and conditions laid down in this Ministry’s O.M. of even number dated 07.05.2020 shall continue to remain in effect.
5. This issues with the approval of the Competent Authority.
ORDER
In continuation of this Ministry’s Orders of even number dated 13.03.2020, 16.04.2020 and 05.05.2020 and in this supersession of this Ministry’s Order of even number dated 22.05.2020, the Central Government, in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (a) of sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Foreigners Act, 1946 (31 of 1946), being of the opinion that it is necessary and expedient in public interest to do so, hereby specifies that in relaxation of this Ministry’s Orders referred to above, the right of multiples entry lifelong visa facility granted for any purpose in terms of the Notification S.O. 542€ dated 11th April, 2005 issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs shall stand restored to following categories of persons registered as Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder under section 7A of the Citizenship Act, 1955 (57 of 1955) who want to enter India:-
(i) Minor children who hold OCI cards & whose parents are Indian nationals.
(ii) OCI cardholders who wish to come to India on account of family emergencies like critical medical conditions of immediate family members or death.
(iii) Married couples whore one spouse is an OCI cardholder and the other is an Indian national.
(iv) Students who are OCI cardholders where at least one of their parents is an Indian citizen or an OCI cardholder.
2. All other terms and conditions specified in this Ministry’s Orders dated 13.03.2020, 16.04.2020 and 05.05.2020 shall continue to be in effect.
