Blog
Guides, tips, and updates for the Indian community in the UK.
visa
Indian e-Visa Maximum Stay & Multiple-Entry Rules: How Long You Can Actually Stay
A five-year Indian e-Visa does not mean five years in India. Here is how the per-visit cap, the 180-day calendar-year ceiling, and overstay penalties really work for UK travellers in 2026.
9 min read
visa
Indian Visa for Children with British Passports: e-Visa or OCI? (UK 2026)
Your UK-born child holds a British passport, so India needs a visa. Here's the honest comparison between a per-trip e-Visa and a lifelong child OCI for 2026 — cost, convenience, and the traps.
8 min read
oci
OCI Name Change, Lost or Damaged Card 2026: The Miscellaneous Services Guide
Married and changed your name? Lost your OCI card? Cracked it in the wash? The OCI 'miscellaneous' services cover name changes, error corrections, lost or stolen replacements, and address updates — but knowing which needs a new card versus a quick online update saves weeks and money. Here is the 2026 map.
9 min read
visa
Dubai & UAE Visa on an Indian Passport from the UK 2026: Visa-on-Arrival vs E-Visa
Most Indians living in the UK can fly to Dubai and simply pick up a visa on arrival — but only if the passport AND the UK residence permit are both valid six months out, and only with originals at the gate. Here is the honest 2026 breakdown of visa-on-arrival vs the pre-arranged e-visa, and the validity trap that gets people offloaded before boarding.
10 min read
other
NPS for NRIs and OCIs in 2026: A Plain-English Planning Guide
The National Pension System is one of the cheapest, most tax-efficient ways for an NRI or OCI to build an India-based retirement pot. There is no dramatic 2026 rule change — which is exactly why this is a good year to set it up properly. Here is how eligibility, funding, equity allocation and the annuity rule actually work.
11 min read
visa
The 5-Year India e-Tourist Visa Is Back in 2026: What UK Travellers Get Now
After nearly six years in cold storage, India has reinstated its long-duration tourist visas — including the 1-year and 5-year multiple-entry e-Tourist visa suspended since March 2020. Here's what the restored tiers mean for UK passport holders, the 180-day-a-year stay cap nobody mentions, and how to pick the right validity.
10 min read
passport
Surrender Certificate for a Child 2026: When a Minor's Indian Passport Must Go
When a child becomes British (or any other nationality), India says they have lost Indian citizenship — so the child's Indian passport must be surrendered and a Surrender Certificate obtained, before the child's OCI can be issued. Parents routinely miss this step. Here is the clean 2026 sequence.
11 min read
oci
Indian e-Visa for Former Indian Citizens: Why the Surrender Certificate Comes First (UK 2026)
If you swapped your Indian passport for a British one, India still treats your old citizenship as live until you surrender it. Here is why that quietly derails e-visa and OCI applications, and how to get it right.
8 min read
other
Can You Transfer a UK Pension to India? The Honest 2026 Answer
Every returning NRI asks the same thing: can I move my UK pension pot into an Indian scheme? The honest answer is almost always no — and that is good news, because the people promising otherwise are usually about to cost you up to half your pot. Here is what actually works in 2026.
11 min read
other
Bringing Gold to India in 2026: The NRI Customs Rules Nobody Reads Until the Red Channel
Forty grams for women, twenty for men — but only if you've lived abroad a year, and only on jewellery, never bars or coins. Most NRIs learn the difference at the customs desk. Here's how the 2026 gold allowance actually works before you fly.
11 min read
oci
PIO to OCI Conversion: Your Essential UK Guide
Is your PIO card still valid? Learn why and how to convert your PIO card to an OCI card in the UK before the December 2025 deadline. Save money and travel stress-free!
6 min read
other
NRI PAN Card 2026: PAN 2.0, the New Forms, and the 'Inoperative PAN' Trap
PAN 2.0 brings QR-code cards and a unified portal, and from 1 April 2026 the old Form 49A and 49AA are being replaced by Form 93 and Form 95. But the change catching NRIs out is quieter and nastier: a PAN that wrongly shows 'inoperative' because the tax database still lists you as a Resident. Here is how PAN works for NRIs in 2026 and how to avoid the trap.
10 min read