Air Suvidha 2.0 and OCI holders travelling to India: what to carry and what to expect at the airport

A common assumption among UK OCI holders is that the OCI card, which allows visa-free entry to India, covers all the documentation requirements for arriving in India. It covers the visa requirement — but it does not replace the Air Suvidha 2.0 health self-declaration, which is separate and required for all international passengers regardless of their visa or OCI status.

This post is specifically for UK OCI holders: what the Air Suvidha 2.0 process looks like for you, what documents to carry at the Indian airport, and what the arrival process involves.

OCI does not exempt you from Air Suvidha 2.0

Air Suvidha 2.0 is mandated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare under the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005. It is a health declaration, not a visa or entry permission. OCI deals with your right to enter India; Air Suvidha 2.0 deals with your health status declaration on arrival. They are administered by different ministries and neither replaces the other.

All international passengers need to complete Air Suvidha 2.0 before boarding — including OCI holders, British tourists on e-Visa, NRIs, and foreign nationals. The Ministry of Civil Aviation applies this to international arrivals at all Indian airports.

What to complete before your flight from the UK

Fill the Air Suvidha 2.0 form online at https://airsuvidha.civilaviation.gov.in/ before your departure. You will need your passport details, flight number, your first Indian airport of entry, a list of all countries visited in the past 21 days, your India stay address, a valid email address, and a mobile number for OTP verification.

The form is straightforward for OCI holders: you are entering India on your OCI card, which means your nationality will be British and you have a confirmed India stay address (usually family or your own property). Enter the address exactly where you will be on the first night — hotel, family home, or owned property. If you are going directly to a rural address or a relative's home, make sure you have the full address including the PIN code before starting the form.

What to carry for the India airport arrival

As a UK OCI holder, carry the following at the Indian airport:

• Your current UK passport (the one linked to your OCI — both should match).

• Your OCI booklet (physical — not a digital or mobile version; the physical booklet is required for travel).

• Your Air Suvidha 2.0 acknowledgement — digital on your phone or printed copy.

• Your return ticket and India stay details.

Having all four together at the immigration and health desk is the cleanest approach and avoids delays.

Matching your OCI and passport at the airport

On arrival in India, immigration will check that your OCI booklet matches your current passport. The passport number on your OCI should correspond to your current linked passport. If you have renewed your UK passport since you last visited India and you have not done an OCI Link, there may be a mismatch. OCI Link (the online passport-update service) resolves this before you travel — ideally done as soon as the new passport arrives, well within the 90-day window.

If you are carrying a new passport and your OCI is still linked to an old one, carry both the old and new passport at the airport so immigration can verify the chain. Contact Matrix Solutions before you travel if there is any uncertainty about your OCI and passport matching.

The health desk on arrival

On arrival at the Indian airport, follow the signage for the health desk — typically before the main immigration queue. Present your Air Suvidha 2.0 acknowledgement to the health desk officer. Based on your declared information, an Airport Port Health Officer (APHO) may conduct a health screening — usually a brief check of symptoms or temperature. For most passengers arriving from the UK with no health concerns, this is a quick step.

If you need to amend any details in your Air Suvidha 2.0 declaration and the portal's amendment window has closed, tell the health desk officer and they can assist at the counter. Do not attempt to misrepresent health information — providing false information in the declaration is an offence under Indian law.

If your OCI details need updating before you travel

If you have a new UK passport and your OCI has not been linked yet — or if there is any other mismatch or OCI issue — sort it before booking flights. OCI Link (£100, online) covers a straightforward new-passport link within about 90 days of the passport's issue date. The online OCI Passport Details Update (£125, e-OCI included) covers name changes, lost cards, or a missed 90-day window — no VFS visit. Matrix Solutions prepares both services — WhatsApp us your OCI and passport details and we confirm what is needed before you travel.