Overseas Citizen of India (OCI).

The Constitution of India does not allow Dual Citizenship. You cannot be a citizen of India and a citizen of another foreign country at the same time. Government of India decided to register a Person of Indian origin and issue Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card based on the registration mode.

An OCI card holder gets the following benefits:

• A multiple entry, multi-purpose life-long visa for visiting India.
• Exemption from registration with local police authority for any length of stay in India.
• Parity with Non-resident Indians (NRIs) in respect of economic, financial and educational fields, except in relation to acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties.
• OCI can be used as identity proof for application of PAN Card and driving   license as well as for opening a bank account if the OCI card holder is residing in India.

Eligibility Criteria

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 India Cardholder.

Application for registration as OCI can be made Online at https://ociservices.gov.in/ . 

Completed applications along with all the enclosures is required to be submitted in person at the Embassy of India in Amman and sign a declaration in the presence of Consular Officer in the Embassy.

FAQs on OCI card please visit https://www.mha.gov.in/PDF_Other/3OCIcardholder_FAQs_15112019.pdf

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