OCI Card
Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) Cardholder OCI Scheme is operational from 02.12.2005. The Constitution of India does not allow holding Indian citizenship and Citizenship of a foreign country simultaneously.
2. Eligibility : A foreign national, - (i) who was a citizen of India at the time of, or at any time after 26th January, 1950; or (ii) who was eligible to become a citizen of India on 26th January, 1950; or (iii) who belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15th August, 1947; or (iv) who is a child or a grandchild or a great grandchild of such a citizen; or (v) who is a minor child of such persons mentioned above; or (vi) who is a minor child and whose both parents are citizens of India or one of the parents is a citizen of India – is eligible for registration as OCI cardholder.
Besides, spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign origin of an Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder 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 is also eligible for registration as OCI cardholder. However, no person, who or either of whose parents or grandparents or great grandparents is or had been a citizen of Pakistan, Bangladesh or such other country as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify shall be eligible for registration as an Overseas Citizen of Indian Cardholder.
3. Application for registration as OCI Cardholder can be made Online. Before filling the application, Instructions may be perused so that there is no mistake in submission of application.
4. Fee: US $ 278 for each applicant
5. Registered OCI Cardholders shall be entitled to the following benefits:
6. Persons registered as OCI Cardholder have not been given:
7. Validity of PIO Card : A PIO Card shall be valid for the lifetime of the holder from the date of issue, subject to the validity of the foreign passport of the applicant.
8. A person registered as an OCI Cardholder is eligible to apply for grant of Indian citizenship under section 5(1) (g) of the Citizenship Act, 1955 if he/she is registered as OCI Cardholder for five years and is ordinarily resident in India for twelve months before making an application for registration.
OCI Travel Advisory – Re-issue of OCI Card (On getting a New Passport)
Please view the full requirements for OCI Re-issue for more information at the following link. http://mha1.nic.in/pdfs/GuidelinesOCI.pdf