The Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday, September 28, clarified that there were no changes made to the overseas citizenship of India (OCI) rules.

The Consulate General of India, New York, in a post on X said it had come across reports spreading false information regarding the restrictions on OCI card holders.

We have come across news reports spreading false information that restrictions have been placed on OCI card holders in the recent past.

Friends in the Indian American community are hereby informed that no new change has been introduced in the recent past for OCI card… pic.twitter.com/iD9qGcIQBY

— India in New York (@IndiainNewYork) September 28, 2024

Several OCI card holders had complained about being reclassified as foreigners. The card holders had complained about changes in rules, which required them to take permission to visit protected or restricted areas such as Jammu & Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh.

However, the ministry clarified that the Indian government is only implementing rules that were notified in March 2021 and no new changes have been made.

In March 2021, the ministry of home affairs had ammended the rules which required OCI card holders to seek permission or a permit to visit protected areas in India. The same restrictions apply to foreign nationals visiting Jammu & Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh as well.