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Overseas Citizenship of India

Overseas Citizenship 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 grant Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI). The Scheme of OCI in operational since December 2005.

Eligibility:

As per section 7A of The Citizenship Act, 1955 (57 of 1955), following categories of foreign nationals are eligible for registration as Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Cardholder:

  1. Any person of full age and capacity:
    1. who is a citizen of another country, but was a citizen of India at the time of, or at any time after the commencement of the Constitution i.e. 26.01.1950; or
    2. who is a citizen of another country, but was eligible to become a citizen of India at the time of the commencement of the Constitution i.e. on 26.01.1950; or
    3. who is a citizen of another country, but belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15.08.1947; or
    4. who is a child or a grandchild or a great grandchild of such a citizen; or
  2. a person, who is a minor child of a person mentioned in (a) above; or
  3. a person, who is a minor child, and whose both parents are citizens of India or one of the parents is a citizen of India; or
  4. spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign origin of an Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder registered under section 7A of the Citizenship Act, 1955 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.

Note: 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.

Note: 'ordinarily resident' will mean a person staying in a particular country or in India for a continuous period of 6 months.

Registration

Applications for registration as OCI Cardholder is to be submitted only on the online system. For this purpose, please log on to https://ociservices.gov.in

Effective 30 June 2026, the Government of India has replaced the physical OCI booklet with an electronic Overseas Citizen of India (e-OCI) card, for both new applicants and existing OCI holders. Holders will no longer need to carry the physical OCI booklet for immigration clearance or other services, reducing the risk of loss, damage, duplication, or forgery.

New OCI Applicants

  • Register or log in to the OCI portal (https://ociservices.gov.in)
  • Select “Apply for New OCI Application” and complete the online form, uploading the required documents.
  • Submit the duly filled application form at the Embassy along with the original documents for verification.
  • Pay the fee and complete biometric enrolment at the Embassy.
  • Once the OCI application is granted, the applicant will be notified by registered email/SMS that e-OCI card is ready for download.
  • Download the e-OCI card from the OCI portal.
  • Only the digital e-OCI card will be issued to all new applicants.

Existing OCI Cardholders

  • Log in to the OCI portal using your existing credentials.
  • Download your e-OCI card registration.
  • Physical OCI booklets shall remain valid for immigration clearance and other associated services.

After the launch of e-OCI card, the requirement of re-issuance OCI card on obtaining new passport after attaining age of 20 years has been dispensed with. Now OCI card holders shall be required to update their passport particulars on the OCI portal under “Apply for Miscellaneous Services” and give their biometrics to the Embassy or at the immigration in India at the time of first entry of departure, as the case may be, after such updation of the details. Upon updation of the details an automated notification will be send to the applicant’s registered email/SMS and updated e-OCI card can be downloaded from the portal.

OCI card holders must update their passport details at the portal within three months of issuance of new passport. If the passport details are not updated within three months a fee of USD25 will be charged. In case OCI card holder travel without updating the new passport details, immigration authorities may issue oral warning requiring compliance within one month or before departure from India whichever is earlier.

Enclosures to be attached with the application:

In case of fresh application for registration as OCI Cardholder, following documents are to be attached:

  1. Proof of present citizenship - Copy of present valid passport (applicable in all cases), with validity of minimum 6 months at the time of submission of application.
  2. In case application is submitted in India, copy of any type of Visa (other than Missionary Visa and Mountaineering Visa)/ Residential Permit with 3 months validity as on the date of application.
  3. Evidence of self or parents or grandparents or great grandparents being a citizen of India at the time of, or at any time after the commencement of the Constitution i.e. 26.01.1950 or being eligible to become a citizen of India at the time of commencement of the Constitution i.e. 26.01.1950 or belonging to a territory that became part of India after 15th August, 1947: These could be:
    • Copy of the Indian Passport; or
    • Copy of the Domicile Certificate issued by the Competent Authority; or
    • Copy of Nativity Certificate from the Competent Authority; or
    • OCI Card/ PIO card of parents/ spouse along with the documents upon which the OCI/ PIO card was issued; or
    • Any other proof substantiating the request. Usually, applicant does submit a certificate of residence or place of birth of self/parents/grandparents from First Class Magistrate/District Magistrate (DM) of the concerned place.
  4. Evidence of relationship as parent/grandparent/ great grandparent, if their Indian origin is claimed as basis for registration as OCI Cardholder: The document of relationship could be "Birth Certificate" issued from competent authority mentioning both parents' name. In case the birth certificate is issued by a foreign authority, it is to be Apostilled or endorsed by the concerned Indian Mission abroad.
  5. In case of minor child whose both parents are citizens of India or one of the parents is a citizen of India:
    • Copy of child's birth certificate
    • Copy of Indian passport of the parents / one of the parents or copy of the Domicile Certificate or Nativity Certificate issued by the Competent Authority in respect of the parents/ one of the parents or any other proof substantiating the status of the parents/ one of the parents as being Indian citizen(s).
    • 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 the OCI card.
  6. Evidence as spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign origin of an OCI Cardholder:
    • Registered marriage certificate; indicating that the marriage has taken place before 2 years on the date of application. AND
    • In the case of spouse of an Indian citizen - Copy of the Indian Passport of the spouse or copy of the Domicile Certificate or Nativity Certificate issued by the Competent Authority in respect of the Indian spouse or any other proof substantiating the status of the spouse as being an Indian citizen
    • In the case of spouse of an OCI Cardholder - Copy of the present valid Passport of the spouse and copy of the OCI Card of the spouse and copies of the documents upon which the OCI Card was issued to the spouse.
    • Apostilled Birth Certificate of foreign spouse, spouse’s parents/ grandparents/ great grandparents in order to ensure that they are not of Pakistan/ Bangladesh origin or any other country as notified by the Government of India.

Processing time: 45-60 days

Note: Concealment of any material fact or false representation etc. will lead to cancellation of registration as Overseas Citizen of India (Please refer to section 7D of the Citizenship Act, 1955).

OCI Miscellaneous Services

OCI Misc services (change of particular, lost/damage OCI card, updation of new passport etc.) can be availed by all registered OCIs at: https://ociservices.gov.in/.

For OCI related Fee, please visit the link below:
eoimanila.gov.in/consular-fees