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OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) Card
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OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) Card

OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) Card

OCI - OVERVIEW

  • OCI Card is a multiple entry life-long multi- purpose visa which enables the holder to travel and stay in India, as and when he/she desires to do so.

 

Benefits of applying for an OCI card:

  • Multiple entries, with multi-purpose life-long Visa to visit India.
  • OCI Card holder is exempted from having to report to Police authorities for any length of stay in India.
  • Provides for equality with NRIs in all spheres of financial, economic and educational fields barring the purchase of agricultural or plantation properties
  • Note: Vide circular No. 26011/06/2015-OCI dated 29th January, 2015 of Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, all immigration authorities in India will not insist on production of the foreign passport containing the 'U' Visa Sticker in the case of OCI Cardholders while they enter / exit India and the immigration clearance will be granted based on production of the 'OCI CARD ONLY', when produced alongwith valid passport.

 

OCI Travel Advisory – Re-issue of OCI Card (On getting a New Passport)

  • 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 this age group.
  • For further details please visit the following link:
  • http://mha1.nic.in/pdfs/GuidelinesOCI.pdf External website that opens in a new window PDF file that opens in new window. To know how to open PDF file refer Help section located at bottom of the site.

 

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

  • Applicants are required to submit the originals along with a set of photocopies of the originals. Both sets of documents need to be submitted at the counter. Originals will be returned once the Embassy of India is satisfied with the documents provided. All photocopies need to be self-attested.

 

Mandatory documents for an OCI Application:

  • Printed Application form: All applicants need to fill the online application form on the website  https://passport.gov.in/oci/ External website that opens in a new window
  • Two photographs as per the photo specifications
  • Copy of Foreign Passport
  • Copy of Naturalisation Certificate, if applicable.
  • Applicants, who have obtained Foreign Nationality by Naturalisation, are required to submit Naturalisation Certificate (Original) along with the copy.
  • All applicants are required to submit the originals along with the copy of the Proof of Indian Origin documents as per the below list.

 

Documents required for Applicants born In India:

  • Applicants are required to submit Surrender Certificate of Indian Passport (original).
  • The Indian Citizenship Act, 1955, does not allow dual citizenship. Holding Indian Passport / acquiring Indian Passport / travelling on Indian passport after acquisition of foreign citizenship constitutes an offence under the Indian Passport Act, 1967, and attracts penalties. Under the Indian law, Persons of Indian Origin who have acquired foreign Nationality are required to renunciate their Citizenship and get Indian passports cancelled at the nearest Indian Mission/Post within 3 months after acquisition of foreign citizenship and to obtain Renunciation Certificate. Delay in renunciation of Indian citizenship may attract penalties.
  • Applicants who have obtained foreign nationality after May 2010 need to submit original Surrender Certificate compulsorily, however, If applicants are unable to provide surrender certificate due to loss of passport will be required to submit the Renunciation of Indian Citizenship Certificate.
  • Applicants who have held an Indian passport, and obtained foreign nationality before May 2010, but are unable to produce the same for Surrender of Indian passport for any reason (lost/misplaced) are required to furnish a notarized affidavit in original from local authorities stating the facts about their Indian passports along with other necessary documents as mentioned below
  • Applicants who were born in India and never held Indian passport, and travelled on parents Indian Passports, are required to submit a affidavit stating the fact and how they travelled abroad along with other necessary documents as mentioned below

 

Other necessary documents of Indian origin.

  • Domicile certificate (in original)
  • OR
  • Original Birth Certificate issued from Indian Municipality or Panchayat. Recently issued birth Certificate (Post-dated birth certificates) from Municipality/Panchayat etc. This should be duly certified by the District Magistrate/District Collector of the area, with name, stamp, seal and contact telephone numbers with area code for verification.
  • OR
  • School Leaving Certificate (in original). Post-dated School Certificate/School Leaving Certificate from India should be authenticated by Director of Education/District Magistrate/District Collector of the area with name, stamp, seal and contact telephone numbers with area code for verification
  • OR
  • Agriculture land documents.

 

Documents required for Applicants born in India/Abroad and applying on the basis of Parents/Grand Parents/Spouse:

  • Applicant who are born in India/abroad and wish to apply on the basis of their parents/grand parents’/spouse Indian origin) must furnish the below documents
  • A photocopy and the original of their full version birth certificate and marriage certificate along with the Indian origin proof of their parents/grandparents/spouse must be furnished by the applicants to prove their link with them. For any other foreign-born applicant Birth Certificate must be in full version and it has to be translated in English by a reputed and registered translation authority.
  • Applicants applying on the basis of parents needs to submit his/her full version Birth certificate with both the parent’s details on it, along with parent’s proof of Indian Origin.

 

Applicants applying on the basis of Grandparents are required to furnish:

  • Applicant’s full version Birth Certificate
  • Applicant’s Parent’s full version Birth Certificate
  • And Grandparent’s proof of Indian Origin 
  • Applicants applying on the bases of Spouse needs to submit their registered marriage and Birth certificate with along with spouse’s proof of Indian Origin.
  • Copy of Indian Passport or copy of Indian Empire passport (stating the status of holder “Indian by birth” or “British protected person native of Indian state”...). Please note that the Indian empire passport stating the status ‘British Subject’ is not accepted for OCI.
  • OR
  • Indian Birth Certificate/Education Certificate (If post-dated, the signature of the issuing authority should be verified by District Magistrate/Deputy Collector of the same district - (in original).
  • OR
  • Domicile Certificate of the applicant or of his/her parents/grandparents issued from concerned Competent Authority in India i.e. District Magistrate/Collectors/Sub Divisional Magistrate may also be accepted as a proof of Indian Origin (in original).
  • Applicants applying on the basis of spouse need to submit registered marriage certificate.  Marriage should have been registered and subsisted for a continuous period of not less than 2 years immediately preceding the presentation of the application.

 

Applications for minor children

  • In addition to the above documents - For minors both the parents needs to self-attest all the photocopies along with parent’s passport photocopies. In case if the parents are holding Indian passport then photocopies of the Bio Page (photo page), last page with the address should also be provided.
  • Minor children holding foreign nationality and whose both parents are citizens of India or one of the parents is a citizen of India or both or one parents are OCI card holder, are eligible for OCI Card.
  • If one of the parents of the minor children is/has been a Pakistani/Bangladeshi citizen, these children will not be eligible for OCI.

 

Important Information for all OCI Applicants

  • Signatures should be in the box provided. In case of minor applicant, his/her thumb impression (left hand thumb) or signature (if minor can sign, signature is mandatory) of the minor applicant should be provided in BOX.
  • In case of minor children, both the parents need to be signed in part ‘B’ or parent’s consent letter is mandatory (if divorced) or court order having custody of children.
  • Applicant whose birth certificate mentions about only one parent and nationality and other parent is not known, is not eligible for OCI Card.
  • Asylees or Stateless applicants are not eligible for OCI.
  • Foreign Defence/Military/Civil Servants/Police/ex-Defence personnel/ persons working with security agencies and their family members are not eligible to apply for OCI. The above implies that the personnel of Home Office as well as of MoD. In addition, foreign diplomats are also not eligible.
  • For applicants applying on the basis of spouse, now deceased, are required to furnish the death certificate, marriage certificate and self-declaration to confirm the same or if re-married again. If re-married, then provide the new marriage certificate along with the above.
  • If one of the parent/grandparent is of Pakistani or Bangladeshi origin, applicant will not be eligible for OCI.

 

OCI APPLICATION FORM

 

How to fill the application form?

  • Applicants are required to fill the online application form on the website https://passport.gov.in/oci/ External website that opens in a new window and submit the printed application form with Supporting Documents.
  • Applicants are required to Submit TWO sets of Application Form.
  • The applicants need to fill Part-A and Part-B of the application online. Once you fill up the application, the registration number will be generated by the system and a print out of the application should be taken by the applicants for submission to Embassy of India, Kinshasa.  For each family application Part-B is common to all applicants of the family of up to a maximum of four. Separate applications are required for any other additional members.

 

OCI MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES

 

Transfer of OCI from expired Passport to new Passport or change in Nationality

  • Applicants are required to fill miscellaneous application form online for transfer of OCI ‘U’ Visa from old passport to new passport and have to submit the printed application along with copy of old and new passport and copy of OCI booklet. 
  • New Passport Number is to be given in the application form for transfer of OCI Visa to new Passport. 
  • Applicants who wish to change their OCI booklet on change of nationality should get the previous OCI ‘U’  visa and OCI booklet cancelled at the time of submission of their new application for Miscellaneous OCI Services 
  • Applicants should enclose two colour photographs of 2X2 inch size along with the application. 
  • Signature/thumb impression should be confined in the prescribed box. In case of minor applicants, parents should NOT sign the box. 

 

Transfer of OCI Visa and issuance of OCI booklet in case of lost or damage of passport/OCI booklet

  • Applicants are required to fill miscellaneous application form online for lost or damage passport or OCI booklet and have to submit the printed application along with copy of old and new passport and copy of OCI booklet. 
  • New Passport Number is to be given in the application form (if applicable). 
  • Copy of police report/crime reference number is required along with the application. 
  • Applicants should enclose two colour photographs (2 by 2 inch size) along with the application. 
  • Please visit https://passport.gov.in/oci/ External website that opens in a new window  for the application form for Miscellaneous Services.

 

Issue of new OCI ‘U’ Visa and OCI booklet due to change of personal particulars (change of name, address, wrong date of birth in OCI booklet etc.)

  • Applicants are required to fill miscellaneous application form online for new OCI booklet due to change in personal particular and have to submit the printed application form along with copy of OCI booklet and copy of old and new passport (if applicable).
  • New Passport Number is to be given in the application form in case of new passport.
  • Applicants should enclose two colour photographs (2 X 2 inch size) along with the application. 
  • Signature/thumb impression should be confined in the prescribed box. In case of minor applicants, parents should NOT sign the box. 
  • Name change deed from solicitor/oath commissioner/notary should be submitted in case of name change. Marriage certificate is required to be submitted for name change after marriage. 

 

PIO TO OCI

  • All applicants need to fill the online application form on the website and also upload copy of Foreign Passport and PIO Card. The following documents are  required to be produced at the time of submission of application at the Embassy’s counter:
  • 2 photographs as per the photo specifications
  • Foreign Passport
  • Photocopy of the foreign passport
  • PIO card(in original)
  • Copy of PIO card.
  • The Government of India has announced vide Gazette Notification No.26011/01/2014IC.I dated 09 January 2015 that all PIO cards issued till 09 January 2015 are deemed to be OCI card. As such the PIO Card scheme has been withdrawn, henceforth, applicants may apply for OCI card ONLY, as PIO card scheme is no longer in existence. The date for application for conversion of valid PIO card to OCI card has been extended till 31st December 2017. The valid PIO card holders are advised to submit the applications by 31st December 2017. One can apply for OCI card in lieu of valid PIO card free of any charges till 31.12.2017. 

 

PHOTO SPECIFICATION

  • Photographs should be in colour and strictly as per the specifications below.
  • Two photographs of  2 inch x 2 inch size .
  • Face should cover about 70 to 80% of the photo area.
  • Frame Subject with Full Face, Front view, Eyes open
  • Latest photo to reflect your current appearance.
  • The photographs must be clear, well defined and taken against a light background.
  • Appropriate brightness and contrast showing your skin tones naturally
  • Face must be square to the camera with a neutral expression, neither frowning nor smiling and with your mouth closed.
  • If you must wear a head covering for religious reasons, make sure your full facial features are not obscured.
  • Non-tinted prescription glasses are allowed as long as your eyes are clearly visible. Make sure that the frame does not cover any part of your eyes. Sunglasses are not acceptable.
  • Headphones, wireless hands-free devices, or similar items are not acceptable in your photo.
  • Photograph for Child/babies - The photograph should show the baby or child awake, looking straight at the camera with mouth closed and nothing covering the mouth. It should also show both edges of the face clearly (no toys, blankets, chair backs or other people visible) and no hair across the eyes.
 
 
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