OCI Card

OVERSEAS CITIZENSHIP OF INDIA (OCI)

The Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) scheme is operational from December 2, 2005.
A. Who is eligible to apply for Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Card?

Who was eligible to become citizen of India on January 26, 1950; or

Who was a citizen of India on or at any time after January 26, 1950; or

Who belonged to a territory that became part of India after August 15, 1947; and

His/her children and grand children including minors, provided foreign national or
his/her children and grand childrens country concerned allows dual citizenship in
some form or other under the local laws. For minor applicants, one of the parents
should be a foreign passport holder.

B.

Who is not eligible?

Any foreign national who has earlier been a citizen of Pakistan of Bangladesh.

Any foreign national who has an adverse record.

C.

Cancellation of OCI Registration

If during post verification, any adverse report is discovered against the foreign
national, registration as OCI already granted by the Indian Mission/Post shall be
cancelled by an order under section 7D of the Citizenship Act, 1955.

If it is subsequently discovered that a foreign national has obtained OCI by fraud,

false representation or concealment of any material fact or he/she has
demonstrated disaffection towards the Constitution of India or is covered under any
of the provisions of section 7D of the Citizenship Act, the registration of such
foreign national shall be cancelled immediately. In addition, he/she shall be
debarred from visiting India in the future.

D.

Privileges

Persons registered as OCI enjoy:

A multiple entry, multi-purpose life long visa for visiting India.

Exemption from registration with local police authority for any length of stay
in India.

Parity with Non-resident Indians (NRIs) in respect of economic, financial and

educational fields, except in relation to acquisition of agricultural or plantation
properties.

Any other benefits to OCIs will be notified by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs
(MOIA) under Section 7B(1) of the Citizenship Act, 1955.

Persons registered as overseas citizen of India under Section 7A of the Citizenship Act,
1955, shall be entitled to:
(a) Parity with non-resident Indian in respect of:
1.

Entry fees to be charged for visiting the national monuments, historical sites and
museums in India;

2.
in

Pursuing the following professions in India, in pursuance of the provisions contained

the relevant Acts, namely: Doctors, dentists, nurses and pharmacists; Advocates;
Architects; and Chartered Accountants.

(b) Appear for the All India Pre-Medical Test or such other tests to make them eligible
for admission in pursuance of the provisions contained in the relevant Acts.
E.

Restrictions

Persons registered as OCI:

F.
(a)

Cannot acquire agricultural or plantation properties in India;

Do not enjoy any voting rights;

Cannot contest selections to Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha/ Legislative Assembly/Council;

Cannot hold Constitutional posts such as that of President, Vice President, Judge of
Supreme Court/High Court etc.

Guidance for completing online application:

You must register and complete the form (Part-A) ONLINE at the website:
https://passport.gov.in/oci/OnlineOCIRegistrationG.jsp

(b)

When you have completed filling in Part A, click save. A Print Window would appear.
Click OK to print out the application form consisting of Part-A and Part-B will be
printed. For each family application, Part-B is common to all applicants of the
family up to a maximum of four. Separate applications are required for any other
additional members.

(c)

You must then complete Part-B, preferably TYPED. It may also be handwritten but
in CAPITAL LETTERS with Blue or Black Ink.

(d)

The completed application form (Part-A & Part- B) along with the following
documents must be submitted in TWO SETS for each applicant to the Embassy.
Each photocopy should be self-attested by the applicant. For minors the parent
must self-attest the photocopies. When signing on the photocopies of the
documents, please mention as"Self Attested" and sign with name & date.

(1)

Photographs: You must paste Two PHOTOGRAPHS of 2 inches x 2 inches [51

mm x 51 mm] IN COLOR FOR EACH APPLICANT on the space provided in PART
A. DO NOT STAPLE the photographs. Attach third photograph in an envelope with
name written on the back of photograph. [Photograph should be sufficiently bright
color with frontal view of full face against a light background with both ears and
shoulders clearly visible]

As your photograph is scanned and printed on the OCI card and lifelong
visa, it should be of a high quality for reproduction and International Civil
Aviation Organization specifications (pdf file)
(2)

Photocopy of the photo page of the foreign passport, all observation

pages of the foreign passport.

(3)

Photocopy
of
the
first
page,
photo
page,
last
page
and
other
pages
having
any
observations
of valid/cancelled
Indian
passport of self/parents/grandparentsOR copy of Surrender Certificate of
Indian passport of self/parents or grandparents.
NOTE: OCI APPLICANTS ARE REQUESTED TO SURRENDER THEIR INDIAN
PASSPORTS AND SUBMIT COPY OF SURRENDER CERTIFICATE ALONGWITH
THEIR OCI APPLICATIONS. In case applicant ever held Indian passport and
is not able to surrender it for any reason (loss/misplacement/submission
to some Office), a duly notarized affidavit should be provided to that
effect along with the application for OCI. This would not, however,
constitute a document supporting the claim of Indian origin status;
independent documents indicated herein are required for this.

(4)

Photocopy of one or more of the following documents:

a) Indian Educational certificate issued by educational boards/universities.
b) Indian Property documents attested by a revenue officer not below the rank of
Tahsildar.
c) Indian Photo Voter ID
d) Indian Ration card with photo
e) Indian driving license with photo
f) Any Indian photo ID issued by Central /State Government
g) Indian Birth certificate issued by Government agencies. For any other foreign-born
applicant birth certificate must be in full version and it has to be translated in
Hindi/English by Reputed and Registered translation authority.
h) Indian Pan Card

(5)

Photocopy of the birth certificate for foreign-born children as a proof of relationship

with the child.

(6)

PIO card in Original and self- attested copy of PIO card, if applicable.

(7)

Photocopy of Chinese residence visa.

(8)

Naturalization/Registration Certificate

(9)

Documentary evidence of relationship as parents/grandparents, if Indian origin is

claimed on that basis.

(10)

Marriage certificate where required

(11)

Change of name/appearance affidavit if required.

If the supporting documents are not satisfactory applicant will be asked to

provide more documentary evidence.
Important:
A copy of authorized English translation of the certificate, if it is not in English/Hindi should
accompany such documents.
All documents should be submitted in two individual sets for all the applicants.
Each set should comprise of Part A, Part B and supporting documents.
Signature: The signature of the applicant should be WITHIN AND IN THE CENTER
of the Signature box of Part A of the OCI Application form. Place thumb
impression in signature box in BLUE INK ONLY (right thumb for female and left
thumb for male), if the applicant (including minor children) can sign. Please
make sure the thumb impression is not faint. Parents should not sign for
children in the signature box.
Save a copy of the OCI Applications for your records.
G. Submission
The completed application along with enclosures [please bring along originals for
verification and return] should be submitted at the Embassy. For security reasons, OCI
applications are accepted only from the applicants and not through third party.
Either of the parents can submit the OCI application on behalf of the minor children.
Appearance of minor children is not mandatory.
Time: Between 0930 and 1030 hrs on any working day (Monday-Friday).
H.

Name Change

IF YOUR NAME IN YOUR FOREIGN PASSPORT IS DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE IN THE
INDIAN PASSPORT:
a.

In case of name change due to marriage please submit self attested copy
of the marriage certificate and first 2 pages of spouse passport

b.

Otherwise YOU ARE REQUIRED TO ADVERTISE CHANGE OF NAME IN A

NEWSPAPER IN YOUR LOCALITY AND IN INDIA.

c.
I.

In both (a) and (b) cases please COMPLETE AND NOTARIZE THE CHANGE OF NAME

AFFIDAVIT (pdf file).

Fee

Fees should be paid only in cash.

S. No. Document Type
1.
Adult and minor [ For those NOT holding PIO Cards ]
2.
Person holding PIO Cards [Adult]

Fee in RMB*
2293
225

3.
4.

Person holding PIO Cards [Minors]

Miscellaneous services like : Change of details in the card, correction for
wrong filing of particulars and transferring visa to the new passport
Lost/damaged OCI documents/visa stickers
Refund if not found eligible after deducting the administrative costs
[administrative costs: equivalent of USD 25]. In case of PIO card holders,
no refund is applicable.

5.
6.

J.

1218
225
845
2068

Applying in India or elsewhere

If the applicant is in India, he/she can apply at the Foreigners Regional Registration
Officer (FRRO) at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata or Amritsar or Chief Immigration Officer
(CHIO) Chennai or to the Under Secretary, Citizenship Section, Foreigners Division,
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), NDCC-II Building, JAI SINGH Road, OFF Parliament
Street, Near Jantar Mantar, NEW DELHI 110001

If the applicant is abroad, he/she should submit the application to the Indian
Mission/Post of the country of applicants citizenship, or; where he/she is not in the
country of citizenship, to the Indian mission/post of the country in which he/she is
ordinarily resident.

K.

Instructions regarding online status checking and collection of OCI cards

1.

OCI Cards

OCI cards and lifelong visa stickers are printed in Delhi. Please check the status at:
https://passport.gov.in/oci/OnlineOCIenquiry.jsp. Cooperation of applicants is requested to
refrain from making interim status enquiries and calls as the whole process of grant of OCI
card takes approx. 30 days. Enquiries and status calls will be attended to only after 30
days of acceptance of the application.
2.

Incomplete applications

If any application/information is incomplete, your application will be sent back or you will
be contacted by email provided on the application.
3.

Delivery

We are required to affix the U-visa on your foreign passport and also hand over the OCI
card to you (and your family, if applicable). In order to complete the work, you are
requested to submit your and your family members foreign passport and PIO
card/s, if any at the Embassy, when you see the status as "DOCUMENTS PRINTED
AND RECEIVED IN BEIJING".
L.

OCI Miscellaneous Services

(i) OCI Miscellaneous Services are available in the event of:

Issuance of new passport;

Change of personal particulars viz. nationality

Loss/damage of OCI registration certificate/visa.

Erroneously entering
applications.

Change of address and occupation.

(ii)

wrong

personal

particulars

while

submitting

online

Process

Registered OCI shall make the application online selecting the requisite service(s).
Hard copy of application along with copy of old lifelong visa, old and new foreign passport
and new enclosures to be submitted to the concerned Indian Mission/Post/Office.
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.
OCI Miscellaneous Form:
OCI

Miscellaneous

form

is

available

on

the

following

link

https://passport.gov.in/oci/OnlineOCIMiscMain.jsp

(iii)

(iv)

Enclosures
Application form
One 2x2photograph
Self-attested copy of new foreign passport
Old foreign passport
Old OCI card
Photocopy of New foreign passport, OCI card and lifelong visa
Requisite Fee in cash
Fee

Should be paid in cash

S. No.
1.
2.

Document Type
Change of details in the card, correction for wrong filing of
particulars and transferring visa to the new passport
Lost/damaged OCI documents/visa stickers

Fee in RMB
225
845

IMPORTANT NOTE:
THERE IS NO EMERGENCY SERVICE FOR OCI. Online Status Enquiry: You can check
the
status
of
OCI
application
online
at https://passport.gov.in/oci/OnlineOCIenquiry.jsp. When the status of an OCI document
in the online status enquiry is GRANTED and NOT PRINTED EVEN AFTER A WEEK, please
note that the photograph uploaded could not be printed in Delhi. To rectify this, please
take a copy of the status report and paste a FRESH PHOTOGRAPH (2 inch x 2 inch [51 mm
x 51 mm] with 80% coverage of face) on the left hand below the status report copy & sign
(thumb impression in case of infants) on the right hand side opposite to the photo and
submit it at the Embassy. This will be scanned and uploaded again. This process is likely to
take a further period of up to two weeks and the progress can be watched through status

enquiry.
Indian Passport: If your Indian passport is already cancelled, you need to submit only
self-attested copy of the relevant pages. Otherwise, send original Indian Passport with the
OCI application. If holding PIO card, it should also be enclosed in original with OCI
application.
Travel to India: While travelling to India, it is important for OCI holders to carry both (a)
the passport bearing LIFE LONG visa sticker and (b) the OCI booklet. In case this
passport has expired, there is no need to transfer LIFE LONG visa to their new passports,
but can carry the new passport along with items (a) & (b). Applicants are welcome to
apply for transfer, but it will take the same time as in the case of fresh applications.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI)
Scheme: http://mha.nic.in/pdfs/oci-faq.pdf

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