OCI Card Scheme OCI Card Scheme

OCI Card Scheme

OVERSEAS CITIZENSHIP OF INDIA

INTRODUCTION

              Government of India decided to grant Overseas Citizen of India card to persons of Indian origin who migrated from India to foreign countries and acquired citizenship of that country based on the recommendation of a high level committee on Indian Diaspora. The government decided to give this status to persons of Indian origin who migrated to foreign country, his children, grandchildren or great grandchildren according the eligibility criteria given below, provided further that no person, who 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 Overseas Citizen of India card holder.

ELIGIBILITY

1. (a) Any person of full age and capacity,—

  1. who is a citizen of another country, but Was a citizen of - India at the time of, or at any time after, the commencement of the Constitution; or
  2. who is a citizen of another country, but was eligible to become a citizen of India at the time of the commencement of the Constitution; or
  3. who is a citizen of another country, but belonged to a territory that became part of India after the 15th day of Aug,ust,1947; or
  4. who is a child or a grand-child or a great grandchild of such a citizen; or

(b) A person, who is a minor child of a person mentioned in clause(a); or

(c) A person, who is a minor child, and whose both parents are citizens of India or one of the parents is a citizen of India; or

(d) Spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign origin of an Overseas  Citizen of India cardholder registered under section 7A 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 under this section:

Provided that for the eligibility for registration as Overseas Citizen of India cardholder, such spouse shall be subjected to prior security clearance from a competent authority in India:

  1. Foreign military personal, whether serving or retired are not eligible for grant of OCI status.

HOW TO APPLY

  1. Application form can be filled on line (https://passport.gov.in/oci/)extlink
  2. A family consisting of spouses and up to two minor children can apply in the same Form.
  3. Take a print out of the application form and submit the same to Consular section of Assistant High Commission of India, Kandy along with the following documents. (Application submission time: 0900 hrs to 1230hrs from Monday to Friday).
  4. Copy of the all documents should be submitted along with original for verification.
  5. Two color photographs (2x 2 inches) with white background, showing frontal view of full face with extlinktwo ears visible of the applicant needs to be attached with the application form.
  6. The application will be accepted after scrutiny for correctness and eligibility. Incomplete and application with wrong information will be rejected.

Documents to be submitted along with the application form

  1. Proof of present citizenship (Passport & NIC  of the applicant )
  2. Evidence for self / parents / grandparents were originally born in India.  
    These could be:
  1. Copy of the Indian passport or 
  2. Copy of Indian birth certificate.
  3. Domicile certificate issued by the Competent Indian authority 

    iv. Any other relevant document that may be helpful in establishing Indian origin which   may include, inter alia, revenue records, domicile certificate/school or college leaving certificates in which nationality is written as Indian etc.
  4. Evidence of relationship of applicant to parent/grand parent should be proved through birth certificates of applicant, parent or grand- parent as the case may be.
  5. Above requirements are only indicative and attempt has been made to cover requirements for a major section of applicants. However, the Post may ask for additional documents after examining the application for issuance of OCI Card.

FEE FOR OCI CARD

OCI FEE    -    SLRs. 49,770/-

BENEFITS OF OCI CARD

Following benefits will accrue to an Overseas Citizen of India:

(i) A multiple entry, multipurpose lifelong visa for visiting India.

(ii) Exemption from registration with local police authorities for any length of stay in India

(iii) Parity with Non-resident Indians (NRIs) in respect of economic, financial and educational fields except in relation to agricultural or plantation properties.

(iv) 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.

Benefits to which OCI is not entitled to:

The OCI is not entitled to vote, be a member of Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council or Parliament, cannot hold constitutional posts such as President, Vice President, Judge of Supreme Court or High Court etc. and he/she cannot normally hold employment in the Government of India.

OCI card holders would require special permission to undertake research work in India in accordance with procedure laid down as in the issue of visas to regular applicants/foreign passport holders. OCI card does not automatically entitle the holder to undertake research work in India.

Cancellation of OCI Registration

Under the section  7D of The Citizenship (Amendment) Ordinance, 2015,the Central Government may, by order cancel the registration granted under sub- section (1) of section 7A, if it is satisfied that:-

(a) the registration as an Overseas Citizen of India cardholder was obtained by means of fraud, false representation or the concealment of any material fact; or

(b) the Overseas Citizen of India cardholder has shown disaffection towards the Constitution of India, as by law established; or

(c) the Overseas Citizen-of India cardholder has, during any war in which India may be engaged, unlawfully traded or communicated with an enemy or been engaged in, or 
associated with , any business or commercial activity that was to his knowledge carried on in such manner as to assist an enemy in that war; or

(d) the Overseas Citizen of India cardholder has, within five  years after registration under sub-section (1) of section 7A, been sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not less than 
two years; or

(e) it is necessary so to do in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of India, friendly relations of India with any foreign country, or in the interests of the general public; or

(f) the marriage of an Overseas Citizen of India cardholder, who has obtained such card under clause (d) of sub-section (1) of section 7A,

(i) has been dissolved by a' competent court of law or otherwise; or

(ii) has not been dissolved but, during the subsistence of such marriage, he has solemnized marriage with any other person.

RENUNCIATION OF OVERSEAS CITIZEN OF INDIA CARD

1) If any Overseas Citizen of India cardholder of full age and capacity makes in prescribed manner a declaration renouncing the card registering him as an Overseas Citizen of India cardholder, the declaration shall be registered by the Central Government, and upon such registration, that person shall cease to be an Overseas Citizen of India cardholder.

(2) Where a person ceases to be an Overseas Citizen of India cardholder under sub-section (1), the spouse of foreign origin of that person, who has obtained Overseas Citizen of India card under clause (d) of sub-section (1) of section 7A, and every minor child of that person registered as an Overseas Citizen of India cardholder shall thereupon cease to be an Overseas Citizen of India cardholder.

OCI MISCELLANEOUS SERVICE

OCI Miscellaneous Services are available in the event of:

  1. Issuance of new passport; 
  2. Change of personal particulars viz. nationality
  3. Loss/damage of OCI registration certificate/visa. 
  4. Erroneously entering wrong personal particulars while submitting online applications.
  5. Change of address and occupation.

Requirements:

  1. Online application form https://passport.gov.in/ociextlink

    2. Two colour photographs with white background (2 into 2 Inches)

    3. Copy of OCI card and OCI sticker

    4. Copy of previous and new passport on getting new passport

    5. Copy of police report on loss of OCI Card/passport

FEE FOR OCI MISCELANEOUS SERVICES

OCI Miscellaneous Services   -   SLRs. 5,020/-

OCI Miscellaneous Services   -   SLRs. 18,440/-
(Lost or Damaged)

 

OCI GUIDELINES

(for individuals applying for OCI Miscellaneous services and

for obtaining special permission to undertake activities in India)

The online OCI web portal has been suitably modified under “OCI Miscellaneous Services” to facilitate OCI cardholders to update details of new passport (each time a new passport is issued up to 20 yrs. of age and once after completing 50 yrs of age) and reissue of OCI card once a new passport is issued after completing 20 years of age.

(A detailed instruction to fill Online Application and requirements may be seen at https://ociservices.gov.in/welcome)

OCI cardholders are required to obtain Special Permission from concerned authorities to undertake certain activities in India. OCI cardholders are hereby informed that a separate sub-portal under the name “Apply for Special Permission (Only for OCI cardholders)” has been created in the Online OCI web portal at https://ociservices.gov.in/welcome. This link has detailed instructions as well as documents required to be submitted for getting the special permission.