Who are OCI Card Holders? Eligibility, Benefits, and Application Process

OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cardholders are foreign nationals of Indian origin who have been granted privileges to live, work, and travel in India without a visa. The OCI scheme, introduced in 2005 under the Citizenship Act, 1955, allows foreign nationals with ancestral ties to India to maintain a strong connection with the country while holding foreign citizenship. OCI cardholders can get many rights similar to Indian citizens, but they do not have full citizenship status. They cannot vote, contest elections, or hold government jobs in India. But they are allowed to study, invest, and work in India without needing a separate visa.

Who is Eligible For an OCI Card, And Who isn’t?

Who can apply?

• Foreign nationals who were Indian citizens before January 26, 1950
• Individuals whose parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents were Indian citizens
• Spouses of Indian citizens or OCI card holders, provided they have been married for at least two years

Who is not eligible?

• Citizens of Pakistan and Bangladesh
• Individuals who have served in foreign military or government agencies
• Anyone involved in activities against India's interests

How to Apply?

Applying for an OCI card is a completely online process but requires physical submission of documents at an Indian mission or consulate.

Step 1: Online registration

• Visit the OCI Services Portal: OCI Application Portal

• Click on “Click here to proceed” and check the eligibility and prerequisites of the documents and details required for the application. 
• Click on “Proceed”.

Step 2: Register

• There are two parts of the registration form, Part A and Part B
• The documents are to be uploaded at the end of Part B
• After uploading, a physical copy of the same documents needs to be submitted at the registrar’s office

Step 3: Fill the application

• Complete filling all sections in the application carefully.
• Make sure all the details match the prerequisites and the file size of the documents you upload isn’t large.

Instructions to fill out the form:

• Please fill the fields in BLOCK LETTERS.
• A person who has not attained the age of 18 years is considered a minor. In the case of a minor who cannot sign, his/her left thumb impression may be placed in the signature box. Parents should not sign on behalf of the children.
• The signature/thumb impression should be confined to the prescribed box. In the case of minor applicants, parents should NOT sign in the box.
• The photograph to be affixed on the application should be a square shape of size not less than 51*51mm (with 80% coverage of the face). It should have a plain, light-colored background (not white) without the border, with a front view of the person's head and shoulders showing the full face in the middle of the photograph. It should not be stapled and not have any signature.
• Photographs that do not conform to these standards will be rejected and may cause a delay in processing the applications. Please see standards of acceptable photographs as Photo Link.
• If there are any objections while processing the applications, the same will be displayed on the Online Status Enquiry. Please follow the instructions and send the requisite documents to the Indian Mission/Office where you have applied, quoting the file (or acknowledgement) number.
• After successful registration, a copy of Part A and Part B with an online registration number will be printed. Application forms on Parts A and B, complete in all respects, along with all relevant enclosures, may be submitted to the appropriate office.
• Enclosures to be attached with the application:
• In case of applications for registration as Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder in lieu of PIO card, only copies of the following documents to be attached:
• Valid passport of the applicant.
• Valid PIO card of the applicant.
• In case of fresh application for registration as OCI Cardholder, following documents are to be attached:
• Proof of present citizenship—copy of present valid passport (applicable in all cases), with validity of minimum 6 months at the time of submission of application.
• In case the application is submitted in India, a copy of any type of visa (other than a missionary visa, tourist visa, or mountaineering visa) or residential permit with 3 months' validity as of the date of application.
• Evidence of self or parents or grandparents or great-grandparents being a citizen of India at the time of, or at any time after, the commencement of the Constitution, i.e. 26.01.1950, or being eligible to become a citizen of India at the time of commencement of the Constitution, i.e. 26.01.1950, or belonging to a territory that became part of India after 15th August, 1947.
• These could be
• Copy of the Indian Passport; or
• Copy of the Domicile Certificate issued by the Competent Authority; or
• Copy of Nativity Certificate from the Competent Authority; or
• OCI Card/PIO card of parents/spouse along with the documents upon which the OCI/PIO card was issued; or
• Any other proof substantiating the request. Usually an applicant does submit a certificate of residence or place of birth of self/parents/grandparents from the First Class Magistrate/District Magistrate (DM) of the concerned place.
• Evidence of relationship as parent/grandparent/great-grandparent, if their Indian origin is claimed as the basis for registration as an OCI cardholder: The document of relationship could be a “birth certificate” issued by a competent authority mentioning both parents’ names. In case the birth certificate is issued by a foreign authority, it is to be apostilled or endorsed by the concerned Indian mission abroad.
• In the case of a minor child whose both parents are citizens of India or one of the parents is a citizen of India:
• Copy of child’s birth certificate
• Copy of the Indian passport of the parents/one of the parents or copy of the Domicile Certificate or Nativity Certificate issued by the Competent Authority in respect of the parents/ one of the parents or any other proof substantiating the status of the parents/ one of the parents as being Indian citizen(s).
• If the parents are divorced, the court order of dissolution of marriage specifically mentions that the legal custody of the child is with the parent who is applying for the OCI card.
• Evidence as spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign origin of an OCI cardholder:
• Registered marriage certificate indicating that the marriage has taken place before 2 years on the date of application.
• In the case of the spouse of an Indian citizen, Copy of the Indian passport of the spouse or a copy of the domicile certificate or nativity certificate issued by the competent authority in respect of the Indian spouse or any other proof substantiating the status of the spouse as being an Indian citizen.
• In the case of the spouse of an OCI cardholder, a copy of the present valid passport of the spouse, a copy of the OCI card of the spouse, and copies of the documents upon which the OCI card was issued to the spouse.
• In the case of applications submitted to the Indian Mission/Post abroad, OCI registration fee of US$ 275 (US$ 100 for conversion of PIO to OCI card) for each application or equivalent amount in local currency is to be paid by way of Demand Draft (till online payment facility is introduced).
• In case of applications submitted in India, a fee of Rs.15,000/- (Rs. 5500/- for conversion of PIO to OCI card) by way of Demand Draft drawn in favour of “Pay and Accounts Officer (Secretariat), Ministry of Home Affairs payable at New Delhi (till online payment facility is introduced).
• The documents enclosed with the application should be self attested.
• After submission of the complete application online including documents, photograph and signature, the applicants are required to visit their jurisdictional FRRO/ Mission/ Post with the originals of the supporting documents uploaded with online application for prior verification.
• In India to the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO), Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Amritsar, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Lucknow, Kochi, Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) , Ahmedabad and Goa.
• Outside India, to the Indian Mission/Post having jurisdiction over the country of which the applicant is a citizen or if he/she is not living the country of his/her citizenship, to the Indian Mission/Post having jurisdiction over the country of which the applicant is ordinarily resident.
• After receipt of application in concerned office, a File (or Acknowledgement) Number would be issued to the applicant by way of acknowledgement
• The applicant can verify the status of his/her application online by quoting the online Registration Number or File (or Acknowledgement) Number.
• Please contact Mission/Office where you have applied for OCI registration after 10 days from the date of dispatch of documents from Delhi or any day after receipt of documents at the Mission/Office whichever is earlier. Please produce your passports(s) and PIO card, if applicable, in person/through authorized person for affixing OCI visa sticker and issuance of registration certificate. In case of applications filled in India with FRRO, applicants should go to the FRRO office in person/through authorized person.
• For collection of OCI document, the applicant is required to be present at the concerned Indian Mission / FRRO Office in person or he/she can send a duly authorized person, along with his/her passport & PIO card (if any) and the original documents for which self-attested copies were attached at the time of submitting application, for verification purposes.
• Please check that all fields in the form are filled in and all necessary enclosures are attached before submission of the form to Indian Mission/Post abroad or FRRO in India.
• Concealment of any material fact or false representation etc. will lead to cancellation of registration as Overseas Citizen of India (Please refer to section 7D of the Citizenship Act, 1955).
• It is mandatory to upload Applicant's image and Applicant's signature image during OCI-Registration.
• Both the images must be in jpeg or jpg format, with max size 1MB.
• The height and width of the Applicant Photo must be equal.
• The minimum dimensions are 200 pixels (width) x 200 pixels (height).
• The maximum dimensions are 3500 pixels (width) x 3500 pixels (height).
• The height and width of the Signature Photo must have aspect ratio 1:3
• The minimum dimensions are 200 pixels (width) x 67 pixels (height).
• The maximum dimensions are 3500 pixels (width) x 2500 pixels (height).

Step 4: Make payment for your application

Step 5: Submit application physically

• Print the application and visit the Indian Embassy, Consulate, or Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO)
• Biometric data and signatures will be collected

Step 6: Processing and approval

• The Indian government verifies the documents
• Processing time is 6-8 weeks
• Once approved, the OCI card is sent to the applicant’s address

Basic Documents Required

• Valid foreign passport (minimum validity of 6 months)
• Proof of Indian origin – birth certificate, old Indian passport, or parent’s Indian passport
• Marriage certificate (if applying as a spouse)
• Recent passport-sized photograph (as per Indian visa guidelines)
• Address proof (utility bill, rental agreement, or driver’s license)
• Self-attested declaration form

Benefits and limitations

Benefits of OCI card holders

• Lifelong visa-free entry to India
• No need for separate work or study permits
• Can buy residential and commercial properties in India
• Eligible for admission to Indian universities under NRI quotas
• Can open bank accounts and invest in India
• Fast-track immigration counters at Indian airports

Limitations of OCI card holders

• Cannot vote or contest elections
• Cannot apply for government jobs in India
• Cannot own agricultural or plantation land
• Need special permission for restricted areas such as military zones

Fees and Processing Time

• OCI card fees (2025)
• New OCI card: $275 (approx. ₹22,000)
• OCI card renewal (after age 20 or passport update): $25 (approx. ₹2,000)
• Duplicate OCI card (if lost or damaged): $100 (approx. ₹8,000)

Processing time

• New OCI applications: 6-8 weeks
• Renewals and updates: 2-4 weeks

OCI Card Renewal and Validity

OCI cards are valid for life, but renewal is needed in the following cases:

• If the passport is renewed after age 20 or 50
• If the OCI card is lost, stolen, or damaged

Renewal is done online via the OCI Services Portal.

Restrictions and Legal Considerations

Restrictions on OCI card holders

• OCI card holders cannot vote in Indian elections
• OCI card holders cannot hold constitutional or government positions
• OCI card holders cannot own farmland or agricultural property
• OCI card holders require special permission for travel to protected areas

Legal considerations

• OCI holders must comply with Indian laws while in India
• OCI status can be revoked if the individual engages in criminal activities