Overseas Citizenship of India
OVERSEAS CITIZENSHIP OF INDIA
ADVISORY ON LIBERALISED PROCEDURES FOR RE-ISSUANCE OF OCI CARDS
22 April 2021
1. 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 no longer required. From now on, the OCI cardholder is required to get the OCI card re-issued only once when a new passport is issued after completing 20 years of age.
2. OCI cardholder is required to upload online a copy of the new passport and a latest photo each time a new passport is issued up to 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age. The uploading of these documents may be done within three months of receipt of the new passport. The service will be provided on Gratis basis.
3. Foreign spouse of an Indian citizen or spouse of foreign origin of an OCI cardholder are required to upload a copy of the new passport and also a latest photo online, each time a new passport is issued along with a declaration on subsisting of marriage, copy of the Indian passport of the Indian spouse/passport & OCI card of the OCI cardholder spouse.
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Government of India’s OCI Scheme is operational from 02.12.2005. 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 grant Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI).
A foreign national, - (i) who was a citizen of India at the time of, or at any time after 26 January, 1950; or (ii) who was eligible to become a citizen of India on 26 January, 1950; or (iii) who belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15 August, 1947; or (iv) who is a child or a grandchild or a great grandchild of such a citizen; or (v) who is a minor child of such persons mentioned above; or (vi) who is a minor child and whose both parents are citizens of India or one of the parents is a citizen of India - is eligible for registration as OCI cardholder.
Besides, spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign origin of an Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder and whose marriage has been registered and subsisted for a continuous period of not less than two years immediately preceding the presentation of the application is also eligible for registration as OCI cardholder. However, no person, who or either of whose parents or grandparents or great grandparents is or had been a citizen of Pakistan, Bangladesh or such other country as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify, shall be eligible for registration as an Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder.
Foreign nationals cannot apply for OCI in India while on Tourist Visa, Missionary Visa and Mountaineering Visa. Moreover, the foreigner has to be ordinarily resident of India to be eligible to apply for OCI registration in India.
Note: 'ordinarily resident' will mean a person staying in a particular country or in India for a continuous period of 6 months.
Following benefits will be available to registered OCIs :
1) Multiple entry, multipurpose lifelong visa to visit India
2) Exemption from registration with Foreigners Regional Registration Officer / Foreigners Registration Officer for any length of stay in India.
3) Parity with NRIs in respect of all facilities to the latter in financial, economic and educational fields except in matters relating to the acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties.
*However, they shall not be entitled to rights with regard to equality of opportunity in matters of public employment and election to Constitutional Offices like President/Vice-President/Judges of Supreme Court or High Courts/Members of Parliament of Legislative Assembly/Council or right to vote under Representation of the People Act 1950.
Documents Required :
Please note that all the documents originating in the Philippines should be authenticated by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) of the Philippines.
a) Registration form to be submitted online at :
b) Photo uploaded online and four pieces of 2x2 inches photos to be submitted along with printed copy of registration form submitted online.
c) Proof of citizenship of applicant
d) Evidence of self or parents or grandparents:
i. Being eligible to become a citizen of India at the time of commencement of the Constitution; OR
ii. Belonging to a territory that became part of India after 15 August 1947 OR
iii. Being citizen of India on or after 26 January 1950
What documents are accepted as evidence?
1) Primary evidence : Documents issued by or under the authority of any law in India
• Copy of passport or
• Copy of domicile certificate issued by the competent authority or
• Any other proof (birth certificate, school leaving certificate , domicile certificate , bank accounts, title deeds of properties).
• Nativity Certificate: will be issued by the State Government in India by an authority not below a District Collector/ District Magistrate about an applicant being PIO eligible for registration as OCI.
2) Secondary evidence : Documents issued outside India by or under the authority of a foreign sovereign government.
• Passport of foreign country indicating the place of birth of the applicant in India..
• Any other documents satisfactorily proving the residence/nationality as an Indian
• Evidence of relationship as parents/grandparent, if their Indian origin is claimed as basis for grant of Overseas Citizenship of India
• PIO Card holders must also submit a copy of their PIO Card *While primary evidence could be accepted as conclusive evidence, secondary evidence may be referred to M/OIA, whenever in doubt.
Processing time: 60 days minimum (depending on receipt of card from Ministry of Home Affairs)
Fees :
CONVERSION OF PERSON OF INDIAN ORIGIN (PIO) CARD INTO OCI CARD
1. Please note that the issue of new PIO card has been discontinued and all PIO card holders are required to convert their PIO cards to OCI cards.
2. Please follow the link below to apply for conversion of PIO card to OCI card https://ociservices.gov.in/. The documents required for converting PIO card to OCI card is available in this website.
3. Please note that the deadline for conversion of PIO card to OCI card is 31 December 2022.
Fee :
OCI MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES
i. Registered OCI shall make the application online selecting the requisite service(s)
ii. Hard copy of application along with requisite enclosures to be submitted to the concerned Indian Mission/Post/Office.
iii. Application can be submitted in Indian Mission/Post/Office in whose jurisdiction the applicant is ordinarily residing irrespective of the fact whether the same Mission/Post/Office has issued the original OCI documents or not.
iv. Fee of PHP 1,560 for renunciation of Overseas Citizen of India.
v. After receipt of application, Mission/Post/Office shall issue File (Acknowledgement) Number to the applicant by e-mail.
vi. The status of the requisite service(s) can be checked by the applicant on Online Status Enquiry.
vii. After grant of the requisite service(s), new OCI documents shall be issued after cancellation of the old documents.