Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)

If you’re an immigrant who left India and got citizenship in a different country, you must find a method to benefit from the same rights as Indian citizens. Perhaps you have a family you want to visit in the country, or you may want to work in India. Well, if you qualify, you may be able to become an overseas citizen of India (OCI). But what exactly does it mean to be an OCI, who is eligible and how can you get it? Everything will be explained in this article.

Overseas Citizen of India Explained

An Overseas Citizenship of India status is offered to individuals who are Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) and who also happened to emigrate India and become citizens of another country. But this isn’t available for all people. So, only individuals who live in a country that has dual citizenship available will be able to get it.

The PIO card option is no longer available, so people should apply for OCI cards instead. The deadline for combining the PIO cards that were still in use was December 31, 2017, so people can get the new OCI cards instead. After that date, getting an OCI card was done only for a fee. Besides, anyone trying to travel with a PIO card after September 30, 2018, was unable to do so because the card was not valid anymore.

Who Is Eligible for OCI?

There are many people who are eligible for OCI, but not everyone will qualify. First of all, the individual must have renounced his/her Indian citizenship. Then, he/she must be a foreign citizen who meets the following requirements:

• The foreign national was an Indian citizen on or at any time past 26^th January 1950
• The foreign national qualified for Indian citizenship on 26^th January 1950 as long as his/her home country also had dual citizenship available in some way or under the local laws
• The foreign national was part of a territory that became part of India after the date of 15^th August 1947, like Nagar Haveli, Diu, Sikkim, Dadra, Pondicherry, Daman, and Goa.
• The foreign individual is either a child, grandchild, or great-grandchild of someone who meets the criteria listed above
• The person is the spouse of foreign origin of someone who is an Indian citizen or an OCI cardholder who has registered the marriage and subsided for a constant 2-year period immediately preceding the OCI card application
• The foreign national is the child of a citizen from Pakistan or Bangladesh and is married to someone eligible to register for an OCI card

Benefits of OCI

OCI cards come with a lot of benefits, which is why a lot of people want to obtain them. Here are some of the benefits that an OCI cardholder can get:

• You can be equal with an Indian resident when it comes to domestic affairs
• You’ll be able to enter India multiple times and for various purposes
• You’ll be equal to Indian nationals when it comes to entry fees for wildlife sanctuaries and national parks
• NRIs parity on inter-country adoption
• NRIs parity when it comes to pursuing different types of careers in India like pharmacists, dentists, doctors, nurses, architects, advocates, and chartered accountants
• You will not have to register with the local police authorities regarding the amount of time you spend in India
• In order to work in India, you will not need an employment visa as an OCI holder, and you can even work in the private sector. You will also have employment opportunities with the exception of areas that require restricted area permits or protected area permits

Limitations of OCI

Although an OCI card gives you a lot of rights and brings plenty of benefits to the table, there are also some limitations. After all, an OCI card means that the holder has renounced Indian Citizenship in the past. So, while an OCI card offers some benefits similar to those of actual citizens, it will not grant you all the rights and advantages that a citizen has. Here are some of the limitations you have with an OCI:

• You will not be able to get employed in the Government
• You cannot become a member of the Parliament, Legislative Council, or Legislative Assembly
• You cannot get an Indian passport
• You’ll be unable to buy any plantation or agricultural property in India
• You will not be allowed to hold constitutional posts like Judge of Supreme Court or High Court, Vice President or President
• You will not have the right to vote

How to Apply for OCI

If you wish to apply for an OCI, you can log on to https://passport.gov.in/oci and apply online.

You will need to bring six documents with your application. Here is what you should submit:

• Proof of a relationship as grandparent/parent/great grandparent when the Indian origin is claimed as the registration basis for the OCI card
• Proof of self or parents or grandparents or great grandparents being an Indian citizen
• Evidence of your current citizenship
• Proof as a foreign origin spouse of an Indian citizen or foreign origin spouse of an OCI cardholder
• The person’s thumb impression
• A passport-size photograph

OCI Processing Time

Usually, you have to wait for a Bureau acknowledgment, after which it takes about 30 days to receive your OCI card.

OCI Cost

OCI cards have an application fee of $275 or Rs. 15,000. It will be charged when submitted in India or when applied through Indian Missions abroad.

OCI for Minor

Usually, children will have the same criteria and eligibility for the OCI card and the same process. There are a few extra requirements, though:

• One of the child’s parents must have a foreign nationality and also qualify for an OCI before applying for the child’s OCI
• Both parents should offer a notarized signature on the application form. The application process may be rejected or delayed if the signatures are not notarized.
• The signatures of the parents are not accepted for minor children. Kids under 5 years old will be able to give a thumbprint, while children older than 5 should sign under their photographs
• A child will not be eligible for an OCI card if one of the parents is/has been a citizen of Bangladesh or Pakistan

How to Renounce OCI Status

Renouncing an OCI card is similar to the application process. You will have to fill out some extra forms, though, respectively Form XXII, Form XXIIA, and a Passport Withdrawal Order Form.

OCI vs. PIO Card

If both minor and adult PIO cardholders wish to apply for an OCI card, they will have to give up their PIO cards. To make this possible, they may have to submit an extra fee too.

Read More

• Complete Guide to OCI Renewal in the U.S.
• How to Track Your OCI Application
• The OCI Process: A Complete Overview
• Guide to the New OCI Rules

Conclusion

Getting an OCI card is possible as long as you meet the requirements. If you’ve read the eligibility criteria and you qualify, make sure to gather all the necessary documents and have the budget ready to pay the filing fee.

Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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