Imaan Sheikh is the Managing Editor at Daily Hive. You can reach her at imaan@dailyhive.com

Travelling to India soon? Make sure you fill out a new online arrival form at least a few days before embarking on your journey.
All foreign nationals visiting India are now required to fill a digitized e-Arrival Card using the <a href="https://boi.gov.in/" target="_blank">Indian Bureau of Immigration website</a>, the <a href="https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/" target="_blank">Indian visa website</a>, and the official Indian Visa Su-Swagatam mobile app, available on <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.nic.ivfrt.visitindia&amp;pcampaignid=web_share" target="_blank">Google Play</a> and the <a href="https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/indian-visa-su-swagatam/id1573902563" target="_blank">App Store</a>.
This process must be completed at least 72 hours before your arrival.
India does not allow its nationals to hold dual citizenship. Therefore, overseas Indians who have acquired foreign citizenship will also need to submit the e-Arrival Card, even if they hold an Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card. Indian nationals are exempt.
Here&#8217;s what the e-Arrival Card looks like on the <a href="https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival/" target="_blank">Indian government&#8217;s visa website</a>:
<div id="attachment_2201684" style="width: 2570px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2201684" class="size-full wp-image-2201684" src="https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/10/acaf343c-3b03-4a17-90e3-557a6ea6be2d-scaled.png" alt="" width="2560" height="1624" srcset="https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/10/acaf343c-3b03-4a17-90e3-557a6ea6be2d-scaled.png 2560w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/10/acaf343c-3b03-4a17-90e3-557a6ea6be2d-500x317.png 500w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/10/acaf343c-3b03-4a17-90e3-557a6ea6be2d-1024x650.png 1024w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/10/acaf343c-3b03-4a17-90e3-557a6ea6be2d-1536x974.png 1536w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/10/acaf343c-3b03-4a17-90e3-557a6ea6be2d-2048x1299.png 2048w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/10/acaf343c-3b03-4a17-90e3-557a6ea6be2d-1200x761.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />Bureau of Immigration, Government of India</div>
According to an <a href="https://www.cgitoronto.gov.in/alert_detail/?alertid=332" target="_blank">Oct. 7 notice</a> from the Consulate General of India in Toronto, &#8220;The facility of physical filling of e-Arrival Card will also continue up to a maximum of six months, or till further notice. However, it is advised to use the digital options.&#8221;
<h2 align="justify">OCI card conversion deadline approaching</h2>
Earlier this year, the Consulate General of India in Canada <a href="https://www.cgitoronto.gov.in/news_letter_detail/?id=147" target="_blank">announced</a> changes to the Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card, the still-valid predecessor to the OCI card.
&#8220;Indian immigration will accept all Person of Indian Origin (PIO) cards, along with a valid foreign passport, as a valid travel document till Dec. 31, 2025, or acceptance of handwritten PIO card by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), whichever is earlier,&#8221; the May 27 notice reads.
PIO cardholders were warned that no further extension would be given, and they would have to convert their PIO Cards to OCI cards by the Dec. 31, 2025, deadline. All PIO cardholders with valid cards as of Jan. 9, 2015, were advised to convert to the OCI format before the strict deadline.
&#8220;In the meantime, if any deadline is notified by ICAO, thereby making handwritten PIO cards invalid, then PIO cardholders may have to obtain appropriate visa from the Indian Missions/Posts abroad for travel to India,&#8221; the notice further reads.
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Travelling to India soon? Make sure you fill out a new online arrival form at least a few days before embarking on your journey.