Overseas Citizen of India

The Constitution of India does not allow holding Indian citizenship and Citizenship of a foreign country simultaneously.
Based on the recommendation of the High-Level committee on Indian Diaspora, the Government of India decided to register Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) of certain category as has been specified in the Section 7A of the Citizenship Act, 1955 as Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) Cardholder.

Registered OCI Cardholders shall be entitled to the following benefits:

• Multiple entry lifelong visa for visiting India for any purpose.

• Exemption from registration with Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) or Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) for any length of stay in India.

• Parity with Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in respect of all facilities available to them in economic, financial, and educational fields except in matters relating to the acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties.

• Registered Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder shall be treated at par with Non-Resident-Indians in the matter of inter-country adoption of Indian children.

• Registered Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder shall be treated at par with resident Indian nationals in the matter of tariffs in air fares in domestic sectors in India.

• Registered Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder shall be charged the same entry fee as domestic Indian visitors to visit national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in India.

  
  

Application for registration as Overseas Citizenship of India card can be made online at https://ociservices.gov.in. 

Before filling the application, Instructions may be perused so that there is no mistake in submission of application. For detailed guidelines on OCI services, please visit https://ociservices.gov.in/ .

Checklist for Registration as Overseas Citizen of India cardholder

  General Guidelines

• All the relevant/uploaded copies are to be attached along with application.

• Photograph (3nos) to be affixed on the application should be of square shape of size not less than 51x51mm (with 80% coverage of face) with light background (not white) with front of persons head and shoulders showing full face in middle of the photograph.

• The applicant should be ordinarily resident for more than 6 months.

• Other Nationals (for category II given below) has to produce a copy of date and method of acquisition of present Nationality.

• If the parents are divorced, court order of dissolution of marriage, which specifically mentions that the legal custody of the child is with the parent, who is applying for OCI Card. If the court order is in any foreign language, translation in English or Hindi by an authorized translator is to be enclosed.

• In case of Canadian National

• Landing paper / Work permit of applicant/ sponsor

• In case of Family class. a letter from Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board and notarized affidavit pleading that neither the applicant nor the sponsor has sought Refugee status in Canada.

• Last Canadian Address and Visa Copy.

• Application Fee in cash for New Registration OR 107.650

• Submission/Enquiry Time: Between 9.30 am to 12.00 pm

• Interview is mandatory for Spouse based application.
  
  

Conversion of OCI in lieu of PIO card

For Omani / Other Nationals of Indian Origin.

On basis of Indian Parents / grandparents / great grandparents.

On the basis of Spouse of foreign origin of citizen of India or Spouse of foreign origin of OCI cardholder)

OCI Miscellaneous Services

These services can be availed for re-issuance / issuance of duplicate OCI documents in the following category of cases:

1. In case of issuance of new passport.

2. In case of change of personal particulars viz. name, father's name, nationality etc.

3. In case of loss/damage of OCI registration certificate/visa.

4. In case of manually filled in applications (discontinued now) mistakes have been committed by the Indian Mission/Post/Office while entering the personal particulars.

5. In case of change of address/occupation.

  Application Fee for Misc. OCI Services OR 11.450 (in Cash)

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