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Quick answer: an OCI card does not expire, so you do not renew it. What you do is update your details. From mid 2026, Indian missions say the old requirement to get a physical card reissued after a new passport has been dispensed with. You update your passport details online within three months of receiving the new passport, and the card is now digital (e-OCI), which you download after logging in to the OCI portal.
This is general information, not an official notice. OCI rules changed in 2026 and many pages still carry older wording. Follow the OCI portal and the notice of the mission that issued your card. This guide is independent and is not affiliated with any government body.
What e-OCI is
- The e-OCI card was launched at the end of June 2026 for new applicants and for existing holders of the physical booklet (see the Embassy press release). New applicants get a digital card only, and no fresh physical booklets are printed.
- Holders are not required to carry a physical card for immigration or other services. Physical booklets stay valid and accepted.
- You download it by logging in at the OCI portal or through the Indian Visa Su-Swagatam mobile app (see the High Commission page).
- Commentary says existing holders usually need no new application and that the rollout may take time across missions (see Fragomen). Press reports mention a daily download limit, which has not been confirmed from an official page.
“Renewal” and the older rules
OCI is described as a lifelong, multiple entry, multi purpose visa, so nothing expires. The old rule, from an April 2021 order, asked for one reissue after the first new passport past age 20 and none after 50. Many blogs and some mission pages still repeat it. The 2026 notices say reissue of physical cards has been discontinued and that a new passport is handled by updating details online (see the Embassy of India, Minsk and the Consulate General in Chicago). If a page says you must pay for a physical reissue after age 20, check its date and confirm with your mission.
When to update
- New passport. Update within three months of receiving it. Upload a copy of the passport and a recent photograph. Within three months this is free according to several mission pages.
- Change of personal particulars, such as nationality, name, address, occupation or a significant change in appearance.
- Wrong details entered in the original application, such as a name, a father’s name or a date of birth.
- Foreign spouse category. A declaration that the marriage subsists and the Indian spouse’s passport or OCI may also be asked for.
Biometrics are given at the mission or at the immigration counter during the update or on the next entry or departure, according to the 2026 notices. Read the notice of the mission that issued your card.
How to update online
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Log in at the OCI portal. The one time code goes to your registered email, so the email must still work. |
| 2 | Choose Apply for Miscellaneous Services and select the service, for example new passport or change of particulars. |
| 3 | Upload the passport copy and a photo of the specified size, and submit. A confirmation email is sent. |
| 4 | If a fee applies, pay it and upload the receipt. |
| 5 | When approved, the updated e-OCI is available to download after login and you are notified. |
See the Embassy of India, Zagreb page for a description of the flow. Details differ a little between missions, so use the page of your own.
Updating your email address
The portal sends its one time code to the registered email, so a dead email address blocks login. Third party guides describe an email update service under miscellaneous services that needs your OCI number, date of birth and passport number, followed by approval. For the steps to change a mobile number, check with your mission before you plan around it.
Fees
There is no single global figure. A passport update within three months is free according to several mission pages. After three months, fees vary. The Consulate General in Chicago listed USD 25 plus a USD 3 welfare fee and a USD 19 service charge, USD 47 in total, in October 2026. Other missions list different amounts in their own currency. Check your mission page, and do not rely on a figure from a blog.
Mistakes to avoid
- Paying for a physical card reissue because an old page said to.
- Missing the three month window after a new passport.
- Letting the registered email lapse, which blocks login.
- Uploading a photograph of the wrong size or an old one.
- Assuming one mission’s fee applies to yours.
If you do not yet have an OCI card, see the guide to applying for an OCI card from the USA. For the papers you need for Indian property, see the guide to the documents NRIs need for Indian property and the NRI Aadhaar guide, and note that OCI cardholders follow a separate Aadhaar route.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to renew my OCI card?
No. OCI is lifelong, so nothing expires. You update your details, for example when you get a new passport.
Do I need a new physical card after a new passport?
The 2026 mission notices say reissue of physical cards has been discontinued and that you update your passport details online. Older pages that ask for a paid reissue after age 20 are out of date.
When must I update after a new passport?
Within three months of receiving it, according to the mission pages. Upload the passport copy and a recent photograph.
How do I download my e-OCI?
Log in to the OCI portal or the Indian Visa Su-Swagatam app and download it. The one time code goes to your registered email.
What if my registered email no longer works?
You cannot log in. Third party guides describe an email update service, but confirm the steps with your mission.
What does an update cost?
Free within three months of a new passport according to several missions. After that it varies by mission. Check your mission page.
Sources
| Point | Source |
|---|---|
| e-OCI launch | Embassy of India, Astana and High Commission of India, Lilongwe |
| Update, not reissue (2026) | Embassy of India, Minsk and Consulate General of India, Chicago |
| Online flow | Embassy of India, Zagreb |
| Commentary | Fragomen |
| Portal | OCI portal |
Reviewed on 30 October 2026. The original Ministry order of 2026 was not available as a primary source, so these points rest on the mission pages that reproduce it. Confirm with the mission that issued your card. This guide is not an official notice.
NaviMumbai.com is an independent information site and is not affiliated with any government body.
