The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday relaxed visa and travel restrictions for certain categories of the Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders stranded abroad and wish to return to India.
“Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has relaxed visa and travel restrictions imposed in response to COVID -19, permitting certain categories of Overseas Citizen Of India (OCI) cardholders, who are stranded abroad, to come to India,” said the Union Home Ministry.
The categories of the OCI cardholders, who have been permitted to return to India, include minor children born to Indian nationals abroad and holding OCI cards and OCI cardholders who wish to come to India on account of family emergencies like death in family.
The other categories of OCI cardholders permitted to return to India include couples where one spouse is an OCI cardholder and the other is an Indian national and they have a permanent residence in India.
One of the categories includes university students who are OCI cardholders (not legally minors) but whose parents are Indian citizens living in India.
“The travel restrictions, imposed earlier by May 7,2020, would not apply to any aircraft, ship, train or any other vehicle deployed for bringing back the above mentioned categories of OCI cardholders who are stranded abroad,” the MHA said.
“All other terms and conditions laid down by MHA on May 7 would continue to remain in effect,” the MHA added.