OCI-Overseas Citizen of India
Overseas Citizen of India card,a document that allows visa free entry in India for a variety of purposes. Government allows the card holder to enjoy this right lifelong, he can stay for unlimited time here with this card. Card holder in not required get registered with Foreign Regional Registration Officer to stay here for any length of time. This card is for those who are a citizen of another country, but were a citizen of India at the time of,or at any time after, the commencement of the constitution or, who are a citizen of another country, but were eligible for Indian citizenship at the time of the starting of the constitution; or who are a citizen of another country, but belonged to the area that became a part of India after the 15th day of August, 1947; or who are a child or a grand-child or a great grandchild of such a citizen.Such people who meet the said criteria or who have been migrated from India to acquire the citizenship of a foreign country, which should be other than Pakistan or Bangladesh,are eligible for this card.Oorlahelp is here to assist them.
The government of India put the “U” Visa sticker on the foreign passport of OCI card holders.It bars immigration authorities from producing a foreign passport containing the “U” Visa sticker during the entry/exit of India. If the OCI card holder attains the nationality of a different
country after getting this card, except for Pakistan and Bangladesh, he/she shall also be allowed to enter/exit India.No diplomatic shall be allowed to enter with an official passport. In case, they have a valid ordinary passport with a valid OCI card, the entry is allowed.
Documents Required
- SSC Marks sheet (Applicant)
- Passport copy (Applicant and/or parents)
- Aadhar card (Applicant and parents)
Timeline & Cost
- Depends based on our past experience in procuring the document, we will provide the quote.
- On an average it takes about 6-8 weeks to procure the certificate.
Disclaimer
Oorlahelp facilitates in getting OCI.We are not responsible for any delay from officers,delays due to insufficient or delayed information /documentation provided by the client.
We are not responsible for any errors/mistakes provided by clients.You are advised to provide complete information over the email so that the application procedure won’t be delayed.
The insufficient and incorrect details may lead to rejection of your application.This is where you need to consult with our Oorlahelp services providing consultants beforehand.They will disclose all challenges and thereby, you can get rid of any scope of discrepancies.The correction may further add days to application procedure. Therefore, do provide authentic and correct information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Whether you have a question or a doubt, we will be able to answer it hassle-free and trustworthy.
A foreign national, who was eligible to become a citizen of India on 26.01.1950 or was a
citizen of India on or at anytime 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 person 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.
Any person who, or whose parents or grand-parents were born in India as defined in the
Government of India Act, 1935 (as originally enacted), and who was ordinarily residing
in any country outside India was eligible to become citizen of India on 26.01.1950.
The territories which became part of India after 15.08.1947 are:
(i) Sikkim 26.04.1975
(ii) Pondicherry 16.08.1962
(iii) Dadra & Nagar Haveli 11.08.1961
(iv) Goa, Daman and Diu 20.12.1961
Yes, if he/she is eligible in his/her own capacity.
Yes, if either of the parents is eligible for OCI.
A family consisting of spouses and up to two minor children can apply in the same form
i.e. Form XIX, which can be filed online or downloaded from MHA website.
Yes. Part A of the application form can be filed online. Part B can be downloaded and
printed on computer or by hand in Block letters. Printed Part A and Part B of the
application form has to be submitted to the Indian Mission/Post/Office.
The following documents shall be enclosed for each applicant:
1. Proof of present citizenship.
2. Evidence of self or parents or grand parents,
(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 th August, 1947; or
(c) being a citizen of India on or after 26 th January, 1950
These could be:
(i) Copy of the passport: or
(ii) Copy of the domicile certificate issued by the Competent authority; or
(iii) Any other proof.
3. Evidence of relationship as parent/grand parent, if their Indian origin is claimed as
basis for grant of OCI.
4. Application fee by way of Demand Draft (US $ 275 for each applicant or equivalent in
local currency; US $ 25 or equivalent in local currency for each PIO card holder). In case
of application filled in India, fee Rs.15,000/- for general category and for PIO card
holders Rs.1,400/- to be paid by way of Demand Draft.
5. PIO card holders should submit a copy of his/her PIO card.
Any documentary evidence like a school certificate, land ownership certificate, birth
certificate etc. by which eligibility may be reasonably ascertained.
Application has to be submitted in duplicate for each applicant.
No. Application(s) can be sent by post either by Speed post or Registered post only and
not through Courier.
No. Earlier provision in this regard has been done away with.
To the Indian Mission/ Post of the country of citizenship of the applicant. If the applicant
is not in the country of citizenship, to the Indian Mission/Post of the country where he is
ordinarily residing. If the applicant is in India, to the FRRO Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata or Amritsar or to FRRO, Chennai or to the Under Secretary, OCI Cell, Citizenship section, Foreigners Division, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), NDCC-II Building, Jai Singh Road, New Delhi-110001.
All the applications will be subject to pre or post enquiry depending on whether any
adverse information is voluntarily reported in the application or not. If the Government
comes to the know that any false information was furnished or material information was
suppressed, the registration as OCI already granted shall be cancelled by an order under
section 7D of the Citizenship Act, 1955. The persons will also be blacklisted thereby
banning his/her entry into India.
US $ 275 or equivalent in local currency for each applicant.
In case of PIO card holder, US $ 25 or equivalent in local currency for each applicant.
In case of application filled in India, fee Rs.15,000/- for general category and for PIO
card holders Rs.1,400/- to be paid by way of Demand Draft.
Within 30 days of the application, if there is no adverse information available against the
applicant. If any adverse information is available against the applicant, the decision to
grant or otherwise is taken within 120 days.
An amount of US $ 250 or equivalent in local currency shall be refunded, if registration
is refused. US $ 25 is the processing fees, which is non-refundable. In case application
filled in India, Rs.1,400/- will be non-refundable being processing fees.
Yes, provided he/she is otherwise eligible for grant of OCI like any other applicant.
No. He/she has to make a payment of US $ 25 or equivalent in local currency along with
the application & Rs.1,400/- in case of application is filled in India.
No. PIO card will have to be surrendered to the Indian Mission/Post/MHA for grant of
OCI registration certificate and an OCI ‘U’ visa sticker.
A registration certificate in the form of a booklet will be issued and a multiple entry,
multi-purpose OCI ‘U’ visa sticker will be pasted on the foreign passport of the applicant.
For this purpose, the applicant has to send the original passport to the Indian Mission/Post after receipt of the acceptance letter/ verifying the status of the application
online.
Yes. For this purpose, an application has to be made to the Indian Mission/Post with
evidence for loss of certificate. In the case of mutilated/damaged certificate an application has to be made enclosing the same. The applications in both the cases have to be made to the same Indian Mission/ Post which issued the certificate along with payment of a fee of US $ 25 or equivalent in local currency & Rs. 1,400/- in case of application is filled in India.
Yes. On payment of requisite fee, a new OCI ‘U’ visa sticker will be issued. However, the applicant can continue to carry the old passport wherein the OCI ‘U’ visa sticker was pasted along with new passport for visiting India without seeking a new visa, as the visa is lifelong.
No. He/she will be required to seek PAP/RAP for such visits.
Yes, for the period OCI is living in India.
Yes. As per the provisions of section 5(1) (g) of the Citizenship Act, 1955, a person who is registered as an OCI for 5 years and is residing in India for 1 year out of the above 5 years, is eligible to apply for Indian Citizenship.
Yes, provided one of the parents is eligible to become an OCI.
Following benefits will be allowed to an OCI:
(a) Multi-purpose, multiple entry, lifelong visa for visiting India.
(b) Exemption from registration with local police authority for any length of stay in India.
(c) Parity with NRI's in respect of economic, financial and education fields except in matters relating to the acquisition of agricultural/plantation properties.
Any other benefits to an OCI will be notified by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs
(MOIA) under Section 7B (1) of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
No, except for the posts specified by an order by the Central Government.
(i) An OCI is entitled to life long visa with free travel to India whereas for a PIO card
holder, it is only valid for 15 years.
(ii) A PIO cardholder is required to register with local Police authority for any stay exceeding 180 days in India on any single visit whereas an OCI is exempted from
registration with Police authority for any length of stay in India.
(iii) An OCI gets a specific right to become an Indian Citizen as in whereas the PIO card
holder does not have this.
No. Indian Passports are given only to Indian citizen.
Yes, if they fulfill the eligibility criteria.
Yes. He/she has to declare intention of renunciation in Form XXII to the Indian
Mission/Post where OCI registration was granted. After receipt of the declaration, the
Indian Mission/Post shall issue an acknowledgement in Form XXII A.
No. All such applications will be considered for registration as an OCI without seeking
fresh applications and fees.
