Overseas Citizen of India- OCI Card
Overseas Citizen of India Card
A foreign national, who was eligible to become citizen of India on 26.01.1950 or was a citizen of India on or at any time after 26.01.1950 or belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15.08.1947 and his/her children and grand children, is eligible for registration as an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI). Minor children of such persons are also eligible for OCI. However, if the applicant had ever been a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh, he/she will not be eligible for OCI.
I APPLICATION FORM AND PROCEDURE:
- OCI card needs to be re-issued each time a new passport is acquired by the cardholder up to the age of 20 years.
- OCI card is required to be re-issued mandatorily only once after completing 50 years of age irrespective of the fact whether the cardholder has obtained a new passport or not.
- Re-issuance of OCI card is not required each time a passport is issued to a cardholder between 21 and 50 years of age. There is no mandatory requirement of carrying the old passport but may be advisable to carry as part of abundant precaution.
OCI Travel Advisory – Re-issue of OCI Card (On getting a New Passport)
for latest guidelines related to OCI services, please visit on the following link:
https://ociservices.gov.in/ 
Apply online from the website:
II DOCUMENTS TO BE ENCLOSED DURING SUBMISSION
The following documents must be enclosed with each application:
1 Proof of present citizenship: In case application is filled in India, a copy of valid visa/Residential permit for a minimum valid period of three months should also be enclosed.
2 Evidence of self or parents or grandparents:
(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 part of India after 15 th August, 1947; or
(c) Being citizen of India on or after 26th January, 1950
These could be:
- Copy of the Indian passport :
- Copy of the domicile certificate issued by the Competent authority ;or
- 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.
3. Evidence of relationship as parent/grandparent:if their Indian origin is claimed as basis for grant of OCI.
III FEE:
- Fee to be deposited in Cash
- US $ 277 for each applicant to be paid at the Embassy at the time of submission of application.
- Fees for PIO card holders is US $ 102. In case of minor PIO card holder a fee of US $145 to be paid. The time for submission is on all working day from 10 am to 11.30 am.
- PIO card holder should submit a copy of his/her PIO card.
The application form, completed in all respects, along with enclosures should be submitted to the Indian Embassy, Ankara.
IV Procedure for Granting Registration:
After preliminary scrutiny, if there is no adverse information available against the applicant, the Indian Mission/Post shall register a person as an OCI within 30 days of application after verification of the antecedents of the applicant by security agencies within 20 days from the date of acknowledgment. If during the verification, any adverse information comes to the knowledge of the MHA, the registration as an OCI already granted by the Indian Mission/Post shall be canceled by an order under section 7 D of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
V Collection of OCI documents :
On preparation of OCI document, applicant is required to present in person or he/she can send a duly authorized person, along with his/her foreign passport & PIO card (if any) for collection of the OCI documents from the same office where he/she applied. No passport and OCI documents will be received/sent by Dak/Post or Mail.
VI Renewal of OCI Card
(https://ociservices.gov.in/ ).
Renunciation of OCI
- If any overseas citizen of India of full age and capacity makes in the prescribed manner a declaration renouncing his overseas citizenship of India, the declaration shall be registered by the Central Government, and; upon such registration, that person shall cease to be an overseas citizen of India.
- Where a person ceases to be an overseas citizen of India under subsection (1), every minor child of that person registered as an overseas citizen of India, shall thereupon cease to be an overseas citizen of India.
- Re-issuance of OCI is mandatory every time passport is renewed up to the age of 20 years, and again after attaining the age of 50 years in view of frequent biological change in facial features in these age group.
OCI-General Information
1. Benefits :
a. Multiple entry lifelong visa for visiting India for any purpose.
b. However, OCI Cardholders are not entitled to undertake any Research work, Missionary work, Mountaineering and Journalism in India without prior permission of the Government of India. OCI cardholder shall also require Protected Area Permit (PAP)/Restricted Area Permit (RAP) to visit any place which falls within the Protected/Restricted Area notified by the Government as in the case of any other foreigner.
c. Exemption from registration with Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) or Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) for any length of stay in India.
d. 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.
e. Treated at par with the Non-Resident Indians in the matter of inter-country adoption of Indian children.
f. Treated at par with resident Indian nationals in the matter of tariffs in air fares in domestic sectors in India.
g. Shall be charged the same entry fee as domestic Indian visitors to visit national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in India.
h. Parity with NRIs in respect of :
- Entry fees to be charged for visiting the national monuments, historical sites and museums in India ;
- Pursuing the following professions in India, in pursuance of the provisions contained in the relevant Acts, namely :-
(i) Doctors, dentists, nurses and pharmacists ;
(ii) Advocates ;
(iii) Architects ;
(iv) Chartered Accountants
- To 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.
Benefits to which OCI Cardholder is not entitled to :
a. Not entitled to vote, be a member of Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council or Parliament, cannot hold Constitutional posts such as President, Vice President, Judge of Supreme Court or High Court, etc.
b. Shall not be entitled for appointment to public services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union or of any State except for appointment in such services and posts as the Central Government may, by special order, in that behalf, specify.
c. Cannot acquire agricultural or plantation properties in India.
