General Information:

(A)     The Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Card is a multiple entry life-long visa which enables the holder to have unlimited travel and stay in India. OCI card is a life-long visa for entry into and stay in India with a number of other major benefits attached to it which are not available to other foreigners.

Eligibility Conditions:  

A foreign national is eligible to apply for an OCI card if he/she:

• As per the webpage, please add following hyperlinks: Was a citizen of India on or at any time after the commencement of the Constitution; or

• Was eligible to become a citizen of India at the time of the commencement of the Constitution; or

• Belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15.08.1947; or

• Who is a child or a grandchild or a great grandchild of such a citizen mentioned above; or

• A person who is a minor child of a person mentioned above; or                  

• 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

• A 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 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:

Important Note:

• The applicant will not be eligible for OCI, if the applicant/their parents, grand/ great grand parents had ever been a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh.

• Foreign Defence/Military/Police personnel and the persons working with security agencies and the persons who have retired from these organisations are also not eligible for OCI card.

(B)    It has been decided to compulsorily capture the biometrics of overseas citizens of India (OCI) applicants during registration as OCI cardholders. All applicants are therefore advised to kindly give their biometrics at the time of submission of their applications at Embassy of India. However, if the applicant cannot come to Embassy for any specific reason acceptable to Embassy of India, capturing of biometrics can be waived & be submitted during immigration at the time of arrival in India.

(C)    All applicants who are applying for OCI card on spouse basis (a foreigner spouse of an Indian citizen or foreigner spouse of an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder) under section 7A(1)(d) of Citizenship Act, 1955 need to come to the Embassy for personal interview. Such applications will be accepted only after personal interviews and recommendation of the concerned Embassy official. 

(D)   To simplify the process for updation of OCI, now a person who is registered as an OCI cardholder prior to attaining the age of 20 years will have to get the OCI card re-issued only once i.e. immediately after being issued with new passport following his/her completing 20 years of age.  If a person has obtained registration as OCI cardholder after attaining the age of 20 years, there will be no requirement of re-issue of OCI card.

(E)    With a view to update the data regarding new passports obtained by the OCI cardholder, he/she shall upload a copy of the new passport containing his/her photo and also a latest photo on the online OCI portal (https://ociservices.gov.in/onlineOCI/), each time a new passport is issued up to 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age.  These documents may be uploaded by the OCI cardholder within 3 months of receipt of the new passport.

(F)    In the case of those who have been registered as OCI cardholder as spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or an OCI cardholder, the person concerned will be required to upload on the system, a copy of the new passport containing the photo of the passport holder and also a latest photo along with a duly notarized declaration that their marriage is still subsisting (Declaration of Subsistence of Marriage duly notarized by public notary). This is required to be done each time a new passport is issued. These documents may be uploaded within three months of receipt of his/ her new passport.

(G)    On updation of details on the system, an auto acknowledgement through e-mail will be sent to the OCI cardholder informing that the updated details have been taken on record. There will be no restriction on the OCI cardholder to travel to/ from India during the period from the date of issue of new passport till the date of final acknowledgement of his/ her documents in the web-based system. 

(H)    All the above services of uploading documents will be provided on gratis basis to the OCI cardholders. 

Re-Issue of OCI Card:

OCI Card Re-Issue is for applicants currently holding an OCI Card, which needs to be renewed for the following reasons:

• Change in the passport (Once at 20 yrs. and then at 50 yrs. of age)

• Change in personal particulars like Nationality, name, Father’s name, address etc.

• Loss or damage of OCI Card

Conversion of PIO into OCI Card:

Merger of PIO Card and OCI Card (clarifications for the PIO Card holders):

• Advantage of obtaining an OCI card in lieu of the PIO Card. OCI card is a smart card, which will facilitate quicker immigration and consular services.

• PIO card holders can now submit OCI card application at their place of normal residence. This is in modification of the earlier instructions that they should apply only at the location where the PIO card was issued.

• Foreign national spouse of an Indian national who is no more will be eligible for OCI card provided he/she has not married again.

• Foreign national children of an Indian national who is no more will also be eligible for OCI card.

• Foreign national spouse of a PIO/OCI cardholder whose parents/grandparents are/were of Indian origin will also be eligible for OCI card.

• Holders of handwritten PIO cards can travel to India till 31.12.2025. However, this is subject to ICAO not notifying handwritten travel documents (i.e. PIO cards) invalid for travel. Nonetheless all PIO card holders are requested to convert it to OCI as early as possible"

Annexures:

         1.     For application and detailed information, click here
         2.    For document checklist, click here
         3.    For photo specifications as per requirements please click here
         4.    Undertaking to be submitted by the applicant along with application click here