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By Vipul Jain | 06 Nov, 2025
If you are a foreign national and your OCI is still in process, then yes, you can apply for an Indian visa. There are no restrictions on OCI card applicants whose applications are still under process.
With a valid Indian visa, they can enter India for various purposes, such as business meetings, interviews, family functions, medical emergencies, or tourism.
An OCI cardholder can easily apply for a visa if their OCI card is under process, but to get a valid visa, you must be eligible to apply for the Indian visa, which we will going to see in this blog.
You will need an Indian visa to get easy entry into India while your OCI card is still in process. This will help you to provide a smooth travel experience without any inconvenience.
An individual who has applied for an OCI card through VFS Global and whose application is still in process can easily enter Indian with a valid visa.
To apply for a visa while your OCI card is still in process, you must have a valid foreign passport.
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The Indian visa and OCI card both provide applicants a safe travel way, but the main question is which is better between the Indian visa or the OCI card. So let's see some of the differences between the Indian visa and the OCI card.
| Indian Visa | OCI card |
|---|---|
| The Indian visa allows a short-term stay to foreign nationals of Indian origin. | An OCI card is a long-term visa that provides long stays to foreign nationals of Indian origin. |
| An Indian visa does not provide permanent residency to foreign nationals of Indian origin. | An OCI card provides a permanent resident status to overseas Indians. |
| Through an Indian visa, travelers can visit Indian and explore its rich heritage and cultures. | Through an OCI card, you can get work opportunities, business or investments in India, to own residential and commercial property |
| An Indian visa does not provide you with the same rights as NRI in India. | An OCI card provides long-term stays, the right to own property and financial assets, the freedom to work in and multiple entries. |
Here are the types of Indian visa you can apply for while your OCI card is still being processed.
Tourist Visa: You can apply for an e-tourist visa or a regular tourist visa with the sole purpose of visiting India to see its natural beauty, architecture, tradition, and culture.
OCI cardholders can apply for a 10-year, multi-entry tourist visa with a maximum stay of 180 days, or a 5-year, multi-entry tourist visa with a maximum stay of 180 days.
Entry Visa: An OCI cardholder can apply for the entry visa under the following circumstances,
Business Visa: Foreign nationals can apply for a business visa to travel to India for business or work. If an individual's OCI card is still in progress, they can also apply for a business visa to enter India and attend business meetings, interviews, and business-related contracts.
A business visa is valid up to 10 years and can be extended for more than 180 days by registering with the FRRO.
To apply for the visa while your OCI card is still in process, you need to submit some documents, which are given below:
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No, you cannot travel to India with an OCI if it is not approved yet. To travel to India, you will need to apply for a valid Indian visa to get entry into the country securely with a foreign passport.
No, you cannot visit India while your OCI card is still in process. It is not a legal process, and to go to India, you have to apply for an Indian visa with a valid foreign passport.
If your OCI card is taking too long to process, then you need to call or go to your nearest Indian mission post office or VFS center to get updates about your OCI application status.
Yes, you can easily enter India with a valid e-visa and a foreign passport if your OCI card is linked with the e-visa, and you can also exit with your OCI card. If your visa is not linked with OCI, then you can do it by yourself, by filing out an online application form or visiting the nearest FRRO centers.
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