In view the Government's deep commitment towards fulfilling the aspirations and expectations of Overseas Indians, the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) Scheme was introduced by amending the Citizenship Act, 1955 in August 2005.
Eligibility: -
The Scheme provides for registration as Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) of all Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) who were citizens of India on 26th January, 1950 or thereafter or were eligible to become citizens of India on 26th January, 1950 except 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.
OCI is not to be misconstrued as 'dual citizenship'. OCI does not confer political rights. The registered Overseas Citizens of India shall not be entitled to the rights conferred on a citizen of India under Article 16 of the Constitution, with regard to equality of opportunity in matters of public employment. Detailed instructions and procedures on the OCI Scheme are available on the website:(www.mha.nic.in ) of the Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA).
Procedure for submission of application: -
Any eligible person can submit an application forregistration as OCI Cardholder on the online system. For thispurpose, they may log on to https://passport.gov.in/oci. Applicants are required to upload all the requisite documents(self attested), photograph and signature (in the case of minors whocannot sign, left hand thumb impression) along with the application.
Documents to be submitted with the application
Proof of present citizenship:-
Note: If the parents are divorced, court order of dissolution of marriage, which specifically mentions that the legal custody of the child is with the parent, who is applying for OCI Card. If the court order is in any foreign language, translation in English or Hindi by an authorized translator is to be enclosed.
Note: In all cases where the marriage certificate is to be submitted, the following guidelines will be applicable: -
Merger of PIO Scheme with (OCI) Scheme – 2015
Salient Features
OCI Miscellaneous Services
Re-issueance of the OCI cardholder registration is not mandatory each time a new passport is issued between 21 and 50 years of age.
Conversion of PIO cards to OCI cards
Last date of conversion of PIO cards to OCI cards without any fees was 31st December 2017. Such conversion can now be done with a fee of QR 365. For applying for conversion, please visit website: https://passport.gov.in/oci/welcome
Charges for OCI Services
The rates for the following services with effect from 27th September 2009 are as under: -
Ser |
Services |
Fees in QR |
1. |
Registration as a Citizen under Section 5(1) (c) |
QR 1165 |
2. |
Registration as a Citizen under Section 5(1) (d) and Section 5(4) |
QR 315 |
3. |
Witnessing the signing of citizenship applications or declarations mentioned in Rule 38, administering the oath of allegiance |
QR 80 |
4. |
Registration of a declaration of intention to resume/ renounce Indian citizenship |
QR 545 |
5. |
Registration as an Overseas Citizen of India * |
QR 1005 |
6. |
Renunciation of Overseas Citizenship of India * |
QR 95 |
7. |
Reissue of certificates to Overseas Citizen of India * |
QR 95 |
8. |
Issue of duplicate certificate to Overseas Citizen of India * |
QR 365 |
9. |
Registration as an Overseas Citizen of India holding Person of Indian Origin Card * |
QR 365 |
10. |
Conversion of PIO Card to OCI Card |
QR 365 |
* Out of the fee charged, a sum of QR 95 equivalent to US$ 25 is the processing fee and shall be non-refundable. The balance amount shall be refunded in case the application is not accepted.
* A surcharge of QR 11/- is to be paid towards the Indian Community Welfare Fund for each OCI service per person w.e.f 01 September, 2017.
*With effect from 27/02/2018 for registration of a person as an Overseas Citizen of India who holds Person of Indian Origin Card, revised fees of QR 365 will be charged.
NOTE:- (i) Please refer to FAQs on OCI Services in http://mha1.nic.in/pdfs/FAQ-%20OCI_25042017.pdf or https://passport.gov.in/oci/welcome
.
(ii) Please refer to FAQs on OCI Miscellaneous Services in http://mha1.nic.in/pdfs/FAQOCIMiscservices_25042017.pdf
Validity of PIO card & discontinuation of handwritten travel document by ICAO from October 2018
All PIO cardholders with valid PIO cards as on 09.01.2015 are deemed to be OCI cardholders. Hence the PIO card, which is a deemed OCI card continues to be legally valid as per law.
2. However, all PIO cardholders with valid PIO cards as on 09.01.2015 are advised to apply for conversion of their PIO card to OCI card, in view of the reasons explained below.
3. Bureau of Immigration (BOI), Government of India, will accept PIO cards as a valid document till 31 March, 2020 along with valid foreign passport. In the meantime, if any deadline is notified by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), thereby making hand written PIO invalid, then PIO cardholders may have to obtain an appropriate visa from our Missions, if they have not converted their PIO card to OCI card. However, Indian immigration check posts will continue to consider all PIO cards valid for exit /entry into India till 31 March 2020. Conversion of PIO Cards to OCI Cards should be completed before this time.
4. Machine-readable electronic travel documents are mandated by ICAO guidelines. It is not a precondition prescribed by MHA/BOI for entry into India. For smooth travel, it is important to ensure that your travel documents are converted to a machine-readable format.