How to apply OCI from India?
Step 1: Fill in OCI Card Application Online
- Visit the OCI Website for OCI Registration Online. The official OCI website is where you can fill in your application, upload the documents and submit it.
- Fill in OCI Application Part A. One important field here is your connection to India. ...
- Upload Image and Signature. ...
- Complete OCI Part B. ...
- Upload the Required OCI Documents. ...
Is OCI considered dual citizenship?
Usually, the grant of OCI to a PIO whose local or domestic laws allow for some sort of double citizenship, is mistakenly referred to as double citizenship. However, the differences between the status of an OCI and a citizen are varied and significant.
How long does it take for OCI?
OCI application normally takes 8-10 weeks for processing. The complete processing of OCI card involves a number of steps. The processing can be further delayed because of incomplete applications. Following is the general processing time and steps involved in applying for an OCI card:
Can OCI work in India?
Can OCI Work in India? Yes, they can. As an OCI holder, you can easily work in the private sector, while there are some limitations to working in Government jobs and the Military. You can work as long as you want, in any capacity, hold multiple jobs- basically anything that applies to an Indian citizen. You wouldn’t need a work visa.
Can OCI travel to India without visa?
As per the latest guidelines, all OCI card holders (with valid reason) holding US Passport are permitted to enter India. You may also refer to https://www.cgisf.gov.in/news_detail/?newsid=81 OCI Card holders do not require Emergency visa to enter India.
Are OCI card holders allowed in India?
A: You will be allowed entry into India if you have a valid OCI Card and a valid foreign passport. You do not need to carry the old passport on which your "U” (OCI) Visa was stamped, if that happens to be different from your current passport.
Is Indian visa better than OCI?
The India Tourist eVisa is available for foreign travelers who want to visit India for tourism. On the other hand, the OCI Card allows you to live and work in India. In both cases, you must check eligibility and whether you meet the requirements.
Who can enter India without visa?
List of Countries where Visa is not Required for Indian CitizensBhutanNepalIndonesiaSeychelles (permit on arrival)JamaicaSenegalSerbiaTrinidad and TobagoHaiti (for up to 90 days)Micronesia6 more rows
How long OCI can stay in India?
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.
What are the disadvantages of OCI card?
For OCI CardholdersAdvantagesDisadvantagesLifelong multiple entries for visiting India.Not eligible for purchasing agricultural land.No requirement for registering with local police authorities after 180 days.Not eligible for a government job.2 more rows
Can OCI get Aadhar card?
Aadhaar Card enrollment is presently available to residents in India. OCI Cardholders who stay in India for a long time (over 182 days in twelve months immediately preceding the date of application for enrolment) and have an Indian address can also enroll for Aadhaar Card in India.
Can I apply for visa if I have OCI?
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.
What are the new rules for OCI card holders in India?
Most Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders do not need to have their OCI cards reissued every time they get a new passport. Those having OCI cards issued before the cardholder was 20 years old, on the other hand, only need to get a new OCI card once when they get a new passport after turning 20.
Is OCI same as NRI?
An NRI can invest in residential/commercial properties but is not allowed to invest in agricultural or plantation property or a farmhouse. An OCI can invest in various financial investment opportunities available in India.
Can OCI holder get Aadhaar?
Aadhaar Card enrollment is presently available to residents in India. OCI Cardholders who stay in India for a long time (over 182 days in twelve months immediately preceding the date of application for enrolment) and have an Indian address can also enroll for Aadhaar Card in India.
Is dual citizenship allowed in India?
The Constitution of India does not allow holding Indian citizenship and citizenship of a foreign country simultaneously.
What is an OCI card?
1. Grant of multiple entry lifelong visa for visiting India : The OCI card gives cardholders multiple entry lifelong visas to India for any purpose. However, OCI cardholders will need to seek prior permission of the Foreigner Regional Registration Officers (FRRO) to undertake the following activities:
What is the new rule for OCI cardholders?
It is believed that the new rule will place the OCI cardholders in the same category as foreign nationals concerning economic, educational and financial fields and is seen as a setback for cardholders when it comes to employment opportunities.
Can OCI cardholders travel to India?
While they give cardholders parity with Indian nationals in domestic airfare tariffs or entry fees for national parks, museums and monuments in India, overseas Indians will have to take permission to take up employment and visit the prohibited areas in India.
Is India changing its policies on NRIs?
In the last couple of months, the Government of India has made many changes in policies with respect to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI). Here is everything you need to know about new rules for OCI cardholders and how could they impact them.
When did the OCI rule come into effect?
On 4th March, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs notified new rules for Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) under Section 7B of the Citizenship Act 1955. The new rules supersede three previous notifications issued in April 2005, January 2007 and January 2009.
Do I need an OCI card to travel to India?
According to a government notification, Indian diaspora holding Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cards don’t need to carry their old, expired passports to travel to India. The OCI card is issued to people of Indian origin globally which enables them to enjoy almost all privileges as an Indian national, except for government services, right to vote and purchase of agricultural land. Benefits of having an OCI card include visa-free travel to India, multiple entry, lifelong visa to India, etc.
Does OCI have parity with Indian nationals?
2. Parity with Indian nationals: OCI cardholders will have parity with Indian nationals with respect to tariffs in airfares in domestic sectors in India and in entry fees charged for visiting national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, national monuments, historical sites and museums in India.
How to apply for OCI?
One can apply for an OCI by logging on to passport.gov.in/oci. The OCI requirements must be satisfied to obtain one’s OCI within 30 working days from the date of application. Every application is stringently scrutinized by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
What is the eligibility criteria to apply for an OCI card ?
One can apply for an OCI card if they satisfy any one the following criteria:
What is an OCI card?
OCI Card or the Overseas Citizenship in India is an immigration status that permits a foreign citizen (except Bangladesh and Pakistan) with an Indian origin to indefinitely live and work in India.
How long can a foreigner marry an Indian?
A foreign spouse of an Indian citizen or OCI card-holder is not eligible until having subsisted two years of marriage. Military personnel with a foreign passport are not eligible for an OCI if serving retired or otherwise. Entry/exit from the country is determined by the authenticity of the foreign passport.
Can I travel to India with an OCI?
That being said, we recommend you enter/travel India using your India visa. And, although, you may carry your old passport with your OCI, there are chances of your entry being denied into the country . Thus, we reckon OCI applicants and existing cardholders to apply for an India visa as it enables you to enter/travel the nation irrespective of the OCI discrepancies.
Can a non-ordinary passport be used for OCI?
Holders of non-ordinary passports are not eligible for an OCI. OCI not granted when either of the applicant’s parents, grandparents, great grandparents are or were citizens of Pakistan and Bangladesh. A foreign spouse of an Indian citizen or OCI card-holder is not eligible until having subsisted two years of marriage.
Is an Indian visa cheaper than an OCI?
And comparatively, the cost of acquiring an Indian online visa is far less than that of an OCI.
What changes are required for OCI cardholders in India in 2021?
An important modification introduced by the March 2021 circular changes the reporting obligations of OCI cardholders in India. They now have to report changes in their residential address and changes in occupation.
Who is eligible to become a citizen of India?
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
When did the PIO card merge with the OCI card?
It stated that all existing PIO card holders registered under the new PIO card scheme of 2002 are expected to apply for an OCI card.
What does "non resident" mean in India?
The Income Tax Act does defines the term non-resident as person who is not a resident and Section 6 of the statute contains detailed criteria of who is considered as Resident in India and provides that anyone who doesn’t meet these criteria is Non-Resident.
Is OCI for Pakistani?
The OCI program is not for individuals who are of Pakistani or Bangladeshi descent.
Is OCI card exempt from registration?
GPK Comments: Yes, covered in Notification issued by Ministry of Home Affairs dated 4th March, 2021.
Do OCI cards have to report changes in address?
An important modification introduced by the March 2021 circular changes the reporting obligations of OCI cardholders in India. They now have to report changes in their residential address and changes in occupation. OCI Card holders seeking an internship or employment with offices of foreign nations in India also need to procure a special permit.
How many OCI cards are there in India?
The Indian government has issued around 37.72 lakh OCI Cards so far.
What is OCI in India?
Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) is a permanent residency status that allows people of Indian heritage and their spouses to live and work in India permanently. OCI status is not citizenship and does not provide the right to vote in Indian elections or hold public office, despite its name. The Indian government has the authority to revoke OCI status in a variety of situations. As of 2020, there are 6 million holders of OCI cards among the Indian Overseas diaspora.
What is the new OCI circular for 2021?
The March 2021 circular makes a significant change to the reporting duties of OCI cardholders in India. They must now record any changes in their residence location or occupation.
How often do you have to reissue an OCI card?
Due to biological changes in the applicant's face, the OCI card is currently required to be re-issued each time a new passport is issued up to 20 years of age and once after 50 years of age. The Government of India has decided to waive this criterion in order to make things easier for OCI cards. A person who has been registered as an OCI cardholder before the age of 20 must have the OCI card reissued just once when a new passport is issued after he or she has reached adulthood, in order for his or her facial features to be captured. There will be no need to re-issue an OCI card if a person has received registration as an OCI cardholder after reaching the age of 20.
What is the government's eased OCI card re-issuance requirements?
The government's eased OCI card re-issuance requirements decrease the administrative burden of needing to apply for a new OCI card and show the government's flexible attitude in the wake of recent restrictions for OCI card holders.
What are the new restrictions for OCI cardholders?
For OCI cardholders, the new restrictions contain a combination of benefits and drawbacks. While cardholders will be treated equally to Indian nationals in terms of domestic airfare rates and entry costs to India's national parks, museums, and monuments, foreign Indians will need authorization to work and visit India's banned zones.
Why did the OCI scheme start?
The OCI scheme was introduced by The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2005 in response to demands for dual citizenship by the Indian diaspora. It gives Overseas citizens many of the same privileges as local citizens.
How long do you have to be a resident of India to apply for OCI?
A person registered as an OCI is eligible to apply by the Ministry of Citizenship under section 5 (1) (g) of the Citizenship Act, 1955, if they are registered as an OCI for five years and have been residing in India for one of the five years before making the application.
What is an OCI card?
OCI card can be used as ID proof for application of PAN Card and driving license and for opening a bank account if the OCI cardholder lives in India. Any future benefits extended to OCIs will be notified by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) under section 7B (1) of the Citizenship Act, 1955. A person registered as an OCI is eligible ...
Can foreigners practice in India?
Currently, MCI and DCI Acts do not allow foreign nationals to practice in India.
Do OCI holders have to leave India?
In case the OCI holder came to India to work for a certain employer and later decides to leave the job and/or decides to change the employer, he/she does not have to leave India. Parity with Indian nationals in the matter of. Tariffs in air fares in domestic sectors.
How long can I stay in India with an OCI card?
Previously, OCI card holders had to report to the local Police station if they intended to stay in India beyond 179 days in a 365-day period;
What is OCI in India?
In a missive released by the Home Ministry of India, Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) will have new rules to follow pertaining to certain activities. Special permissions will have to be sought for certain specific activities related to journalistic and religious gatherings and/or research.
What activities need special permits?
A special permit for these activities can be acquired from the Indian Mission abroad as well. Research activities; Missionary activities or Tabligh; Mountaineering expeditions; Internship with foreign missions;
Can I travel to India with an OCI card?
Currently, the Home Ministry allows for OCI card holders to get multi-entry visits to India for any other activity besides the one outlined above. This acts as a lifelong visa for Indians with an OCI card.
Can an NRI adopt an Indian child?
Share the same privileges as that of an NRI when it comes to adopting of Indian children. They will however, still be subject to comply with all adoption procedures laid out for inter-country adoptions;
Can India be blacklisted?
Any violations or non-adherence to the new policies put in place will result in being blacklisted from India and not being allowed to enter in the future.
Can I continue to work with OCI card?
OCI card holders can continue pursuing professions like doctors, dentists, nurses and pharmacists in India
What is OCI card?
The OCI card is issued to people of Indian origin globally which gives them almost all the privileges of an Indian national except for the right to vote, government service and buying agricultural land. The OCI card gives them visa-free travel to India.
How long does an OCI visa last?
Under the provisions of the OCI card, which gives the cardholder lifelong visa to India, those below 20 years and above 50 years need to renew their OCI card every time they have their passport renewed.
Why did Bhandari say that he had seen first-hand the inconvenience caused to members of the Indian dia?
Bhandari said that he had seen first-hand the inconvenience caused to members of the Indian diaspora due to certain OCI card rules as they undertook travel to India during the pandemic. He said some of the passengers were not allowed to board flights to India and were sent back from airports as they were not carrying their old foreign passports, ...
When will the OCI card be renewed?
Last year, Bhandari had also requested extension of the date of renewal of OCI cards till December 31, 2020 such that the Non-Resident Indian/PIO community had enough time to understand the new requirement and renew their OCI cards. Bhandari expressed hope that the issue of tourist visas will also be resolved soon.
What does C stand for in OCI?
Also read: The C in OCI May Stand for ‘Citizen’ but Overseas Indians Should Read the Fine Print
Who is the activist who is extending the OCI card?
New York-based social activist Prem Bhandari, who has been taking up the cause of OCI card holders for the past several years, welcomed the announcement. He expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs and the government of India for not only extending the renewal up to December 31, ...
Do I need an OCI card to travel to India?
In a move welcomed by the Indian diaspora, the government has said Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) card holders are no longer required to carry their old, expired passports for travel to India.
How old do you have to be to get an OCI card?
The OCI card holders within the age bracket of 20 years are required to get their OCI cards reissued each time when their passport is reissued, according to the Consulate General of India. Those above 20 years of age are exempted from ensuring this criterion of validity.
Can I invest in NPS in India?
The government of India has also decided to allow the OCI card holders’ investment in the tax-saving national pension scheme (NPS), adding value to the OCI card beyond its primary use as a lifelong visa to India for multiple entries.
Do I need to carry my passport if I am over 50?
They do also have to carry the current passport. Those above 50 years of age are required to get their OCI cards reissued only once when their passport is renewed after they turn 50. It is also recommended in the Consulate General of India’s press release that the Overseas Citizen of India card holders must always carry ...
Do I need to reissue my OCI card?
Reissue of the OCI card is not compulsory along with reissue of the passport for those within the age bracket of 21 to 50 years. But they have to carry their old passport which their OCI card was issued on, in order to prove the card validity. They do also have to carry the current passport. Those above 50 years of age are required ...