India tightens OCI rules as new eligible Tamils gain access and fines loom for passport lapses

A waiting period is gone but fines are up next

India has revised its OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) framework, expanding eligibility to include fifth and sixth-generation Indian-origin Tamils in Sri Lanka. The update also removes the six-month waiting period after arrival for OCI applications. At the same time, stricter compliance is being introduced, including a fine if applicants fail to update passport details on time to improve monitoring and streamline processing.