OVERSEAS CITIZENSHIP OF INDIA (OCI) CARD
I. ELIGIBILITY
OCI Card is a multiple entry life-long visa which enables the holder to have unlimited travel and stay in India.
The following categories of persons (except Pakistan and Bangladesh) are eligible to apply under OCI scheme:
(a) 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;
or
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;
or
Who is a citizen of another country, but belonged to a territory that became part of India after the 15th day of August, 1947;
or
Who is a child or a grand-child or a great grandchild of such a citizen;
or
(b) A person, who is minor child of a person mentioned in clause (a); or
(c) 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 (d) 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, 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 under this section: Provided that no person, who 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 the registration as Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder.
Applicant needs to fill up OCI Application Form Online, upload photograph, signature or thumb impression in case of minor and copies of relevant documents such as Passport, proof of Indian origin and Marriage Certificate etc. After completing the online process, applicant has to take the print out of the online registered application and submit it with all prescribed documents (originals and photocopies) to the Consulate.
Applications are accepted on all working days from 0900 to 1200hrs with prior appointment.
In case the documents are in foreign language – other than English – these need to be translated into English and duly attested by the competent authorities of the country.
The usual time taken for issue of OCI Card is minimum 6-8 weeks.
For online registration please go to the website-
http://passport.gov.in/oci
II. DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
The following supporting documents should be enclosed for each applicant:
1. Copy of original Indian passport that was cancelled and returned to the applicant at the time of renunciation of Indian citizenship along with surrender certificate. Applicants who previously held an Indian Passport but are unable to produce the same for surrender for any reason (loss/misplacement/submitted to this Consulate long time back) are required to furnish a notarised affidavit in original (if Passport is already expired) and also a Police Report in cases where Indian Passport was still valid.
2. Proof of present citizenship – Valid passport of current nationality
3. P I O card, if applied on the basis of PIO card
4. Marriage Certificate duly attested by the competent authorities of the country for claiming OCI to foreign spouse of Indian national. Application for OCI in such case is accepted only after completion of two years of marriage.
5. Evidence of self or parents or grandparents to establish the fact of:
(a) being eligible to become a citizen of India at the time of commencement of the Constitution; or
(b) belonging to a territory that became a part of India after 15 August,1947; or
(c) being a citizen of India on or after 26 January,1950
These documents could be:
(i) Copy of the passport: or
(ii) Copy of the domicile certificate issued by the competent authority; or
(iii) Any other proof substantiating the request. Usually applicants are able to submit a certificate of residence or place of birth of self/parents/grandparents from First Class Magistrate/District Magistrate (DM) of the concerned place.
(iv) Evidence of relationship as parent/grandparent, if their Indian origin is claimed as basis for grant of OCI such as birth certificate or Educational Certificate etc.
Applicant must bring all original documents for verification at the time of application. Please take into consideration that all original documents originating from India have to be attested by the Home Department of the concerned state.
III. FEE FOR OCI
USD 278/-
The fee is received only in cash in US Dollar at the counter. Payment by any other means will not be accepted.
OCI in lieu of PIO Card
The Government of India has withdrawn the PIO Card scheme and replaced it with OCI scheme. As part of the exercise of bringing about uniformity in the scheme, all PIO card holders are required to get their PIO cards converted into OCI cards at the earliest as per instructions issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The conversion of PIO Card to OCI card is gratis (free of charge) for applications submitted until December 31, 2016.
For more details about the OCI Scheme, kindly visit the website https://passport.gov.in/oci/
Renunciation of Indian Citizenship / Surrender of Indian Passports
The Indian Citizenship Act, 1955, does not allow dual citizenship. Holding / acquiring Indian Passport / travelling on Indian passport after acquisition of foreign citizenship constitutes an offence under the Indian Citizenship Act 1955 and Indian Passport Act, 1967, and attracts penalties. Persons of Indian Origin who have acquired foreign Nationality are therefore required to surrender their Indian passports to the nearest Indian Mission/Post immediately after acquisition of foreign citizenship.