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Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card

A) Application for OCI cards

1. Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) who have migrated from India and acquired citizenship of a foreign country, other than Pakistan and Bangladesh are eligible for grant of Overseas Citizenship of India.

2. OCI status confers the following benefits:

a. Multiple-entry, multi-purpose life-long visa to visit India

b. Exemption from reporting to Police authorities for any length of stay in India

c. Parity with NRIs in financial, economic and educational fields except in the acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties, and

d. A person registered as OCI is eligible to apply for grant of Indian citizenship under section 5(1) (g) of the Citizenship Act, 1955 if he/she is registered as OCI for five years and has been residing in India for one year out of the five years before making the application.

3. Procedure: Application for registration as OCI is to be made online through the website of the Ministry of Home Affairs www.mha.nic.in. External website that opens in a new window   Alternatively, please go directly to https://ociservices.gov.in External website that opens in a new window   Instructions therein may be perused carefully particularly with respect to supporting documentations required so that there is no mistake in submission of application. A family consisting of spouse and up to two minor children can apply online in the same form i.e. Form XIX. Part A of the application form can be filed online. Part B can be downloaded and printed on computer or filled by hand in block letters. Printed Part A and Part B of the application form have to be submitted to the High Commission.

4. Documents required: The required documents listed below are indicative in nature and an attempt has been made to cover majority of the cases. However, additional documents may be required after examining the application. After making an online application, please report to the High Commission with a hard copy of the application along with the following documents:

  • Two photographs (51mmx51mm) with light background (NOT PASSPORT SIZE) Do's and don'ts regarding photograph are listed on the website.
  • Police clearance certificate from local police
  • Evidence of self or parents or grandparents previous Indian Passport, Birth Certificate, valid foreign passport held and local residential proof.
  • Evidence of relationship as parent/grandparent, if their Indian origin is claimed as basis for grant of OCI.
  • In case the applicant does not have an old Indian Passport, he/she may provide copy of other documents issued from India such as birth certificates, nativity certificates etc. These will be sent to India for verification before acceptance of the application form. If the applicant ever held an Indian Passport, then proof of renunciation of citizenship/surrender of passport should also be submitted.
  • All the above documents are to be produced in original for verification and photocopies of the same are to be attached in duplicate with the application.

5. After grant of registration, a registration certificate in the form of a booklet will be issued and a multiple entry, mulch-purpose life-long OCI 'U' visa sticker will be pasted on the foreign passport of the applicant. While travelling, you are expected to carry the booklet along with your passport containing OCI visa.

B) OCI Miscellaneous Services have been made available on the Ministry's website https://ociservices.gov.in External website that opens in a new window  and can be availed for re-issuance/issuance of duplicate OCI Registration Certificate and Visa in the following category of cases:

  • In case of issuance of new passport (Please refer to para Press release)
  • In case of change of personal particulars viz. name, father's name, date of birth, nationality, change of address/occupation etc.
  • In case of loss/damage of OCI registration certificate/visa
  • Conversion of PIO card to OCI card.


2. Procedure: These services can be availed by applying Online and submitting hard copy of the application along with the requisite fee and enclosures as mentioned in the application to the High Commission.

3. Documents to be enclosed along with the application:

a. Copy of OCI registration certificate and visa

b. In case of issuance of a new passport (Please refer to para Press release), copy of new and old passport along with copy of registration certificate (OCI card) has to be enclosed.

c. In case of loss of OCI Registration Certificate and/or Visa, copy of the complaint lodged with Police authorities and copy of visa and registration certificate to be enclosed.

d. In case of change of personal particulars e.g. wrong filling of particulars by the applicant, copy of the document (s) relevant for affecting the requisite changes viz. Nationality Certificate in case of change of nationality etc. to be enclosed.

1. PRESS RELEASE: “The mandatory requirement of re-issuance of an OCI card each time a new passport is issued to a foreigner up to 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age is dispensed with”, following procedures are required to be followed.

  • An OCI cardholder shall have to get the OCI card re-issued once when a new passport is issued after completing 20 years of age. For this purpose, the OCI cardholder shall submit an online application under OCI Miscellaneous Services and then submit at the High Commission with necessary documents.
  • An OCI cardholder may upload a copy of the new passport containing the photo of the passport holder and also a latest photo on the online system under OCI Miscellaneous Services each time a new passport is issued up to 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age. These documents may be uploaded by the OCI cardholder within three months of receipt of the new passport. This service will be provided on gratis basis.
  • In case of those who have been registered as OCI cardholder as spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign origin of an OCI card holder, the OCI cardholder shall upload a copy of the new passport containing the photo of the passport holder and also a latest photo on the online system under OCI Miscellaneous Services each time a new passport is issued. In such cases, the OCI cardholder and his/her Indian spouse or OCI cardholder spouse will have to give a declaration that their marriage is still subsisting. Copy of the Indian passport of the Indian spouse / passport and OCI card of the OCI cardholder spouse shall also be uploaded in such cases. These documents may be uploaded by the OCI cardholder foreigner spouse within three months of receipt of his / her new passport. This service will be provided on gratis basis.
  • Immediately on uploading of the documents mentioned above, an email will be auto sent by the system to the OCI cardholder confirming that the documents have been successfully uploaded.  Further after scrutiny and verification, an acknowledgement through e-mail will also be automatically sent to the OCI cardholder informing that the updated details have been taken on record.
  • There will be no restriction on the OCI cardholder to travel to / from India during the period from the date of issue of new passport till the date of final acknowledgement of his / her documents in the online system.

2. The timeline for re-issuance of OCI card in respect of OCI cardholders who may be required to get their OCI card re-issued has been extended till 31 December 2021.

3. It is, advised that OCI cardholders may take steps to comply with the existing OCI guidelines in Para 1 above and renew their OCI cards / upload new passport details as required by the rules.”


C) PIO card holders who are otherwise eligible for registration as an OCI may apply following the same procedure as for the miscellaneous services and they will be considered for grant of registration in the same manner as other applicants. The application is required to be supported with the eligibility documents listed at Para 4 above. PIO card holders should submit a copy of his/her PIO card. PIO card will have to be surrendered to the Embassy for grant of OCI registration certificate and an OCI 'U' visa sticker.

D) Collection of OCI documents: On preparation of OCI document, applicant is required to be present in person.

E) OCI card does NOT entitle the cardholder to undertake any missionary, mountaineering and research work in India, without the prior permission of the Government of India. Prior permission of the competent authority is also required for visiting restricted/protected area (for details, visit http://www.mea.gov.in/Images/pdf/ForeigD-FAQs-onPAPandRAP.pdf.  External website that opens in a new window PDF file that opens in new window. To know how to open PDF file refer Help section located at bottom of the site.

F) Advantages of the OCI as compared to PIO cardholders:

a. An OCI card holder is entitled to life-long visa with free travel to India whereas for a PIO card holder, it is only valid for 15 years.

b. A PIO cardholder is required to register with local Police authority for any stay exceeding 180 days in India on any single visit whereas an OCI card holder is exempted from registration with Police authority for any length of stay in India.

c. An OCI gets a specific right to become an Indian Citizen, whereas the PIO card holder does not have this.

G) Kindly note that the High Commission will accept an application for grant of OCI status after satisfying itself on the adequacy and authenticity of supporting documentation provided. In certain case this is likely to take time as the documents may require verification from the issuing authorities in India. In these cases the High Commission cannot prescribe the time frame within which the OCI card will be issued. In these cases, at the stage of initial application, an acknowledgment will be provided to you by post. Applicants will be periodically informed about the processing of their application and are also advised to keep in touch with the Embassy to follow up.

H) For any more details, please contact the High Commission.

Fees:

  • Fresh OCI MVR 4300 /-
  • Lost case OCI MVR 1600 /-
  • Misc services on OCI - MVR 440 /-
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