OCI cardholders need permit for Tablighi events: MHA

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 5

All Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders are required to take special permission from the central government if they want to be involved in any missionary, ‘Tablighi’ or journalistic activities in the country. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), in its notification, has offered a major concession to the OCI cardholders by placing them in parity with Indian nationals in the matter of tariffs in airfares in domestic sectors in India, entry fee to be charged for visiting national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, the national monuments, historical sites and museums in India.The OCI cardholders will be entitled to get multiple entry life-long visa for visiting India for any purpose but “need to obtain a special permission or a special permit from the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) or the Indian Mission to undertake research, any missionary, Tabligh, mountaineering or journalistic activities,” the MHA said in the notification. The cardholders will also have to take a special permit to undertake internship in any foreign diplomatic missions or foreign government organisations in India or to take up employment in any foreign diplomatic missions in India.