MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
FOREIGNERS DIVISION
F. No. - 26011/Misc./47/2019 - OCI
Date of publication 22.07.2021
OVERSEAS CITIZENSHIP OF INDIA (OCI) CARDHOLDER
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
Who is eligible to apply for registration as OCI cardholder?
As per section 7A of The Citizenship Act, 1955 (57 of 1955), following
categories of foreign nationals are eligible for registration as Overseas Citizen
of India (OCI) Cardholder:-
(a) Any person o f full age and capacity: -
(i) 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
i.e. 26.01.1950; or
(ii) 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
i.e. on 26.01.1950; or
(iii) who is a citizen of another country, but belonged to a territory that
became part of India after 15.08.1947; or
(iv) who is a child or a grandchild or a great grandchild of such a citizen;
or
(b) a person, who is a minor child of a person mentioned in (a) above; 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
of the Citizenship Act, 1955 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.
Such spouse shall be subjected to prior security clearance by a
competent authority in India. .
Note : 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.
Who was eligible to become Citizen of India on 26.01.1950?
Any person who, or either of whose parents or any of whose grandparents was born
in India as defined in the Government of India Act, 1935 (as originally enacted), and
who was ordinarily residing in any country outside India was eligible to become citizen
of India on 26.01.1950.
Which territories became part of India after 15.08.1947 and from what date?
The territories which became part of India after 15.08.1947 are:
(i)
Dadra & Nagar Haveli
- 11.08.1961
(ii)
Goa, Daman and Diu
- 20.12.1961
(iii)
Puducherry
- 16.08.1962
(iv) Sikkim
- 26.04.1975
Can the spouse of the eligible person apply for registration as OCI Cardholder?
A spouse of eligible person can apply if he/she is eligible in his/ her own capacity.
Further, 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 of The Citizenship
Act, 1955 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 can apply.
Can minor children apply for registration as OCI Cardholder?
Yes. However, if either of the child’s 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, the child will not be
eligible for registration as an Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder.
In what form should a person apply for registration as an OCI Cardholder and
where are the forms available? /
Applications for registration as OCI Cardholder is to be submitted only on the online
system. For this purpose, please log on to https://ociservices.qov.in.
What documents have to be submitted with the application?
List of supporting documents to be uploaded along with the application are
(1) Proof of present citizenship -
(a) Copy of present valid passport (applicable in all cases), with validity of
minimum 6 months at the time of submission of application.
(b) Copy of the certificate of registration of citizenship/naturalization (as the
case may be), for the present nationality of the applicant (applicable in
all cases).
(c) Cancelled/ Surrendered Indian passport with Surrender Certificate (for
those who have surrendered Indian passport in or after 2010).
(2) Evidence of address of the place of application -
(i) Copy of the Electricity Bill/ Telephone Bill in own/ parents/
grandparents/ spouse name.
(ii) If the above is in any other relative’s name, undertaking from the relative
stating that the foreigner is residing with him/ her.
(iii) Lease License in case of tenants.
(3) In case application is submitted in India -
Copy of any long duration Visa (other than Tourist Visa, Missionary Visa
and Mountaineering Visa) with 3 months validity as on the date of application
along with Residential Permit/ Registration Certificate issued by the
jurisdictional FRRO/ FRO, as the case may be (applicable in all cases where
application^ submitted in India).
[Foreign nationals holding Tourist Visa, Missionary visa and
Mountaineering visa cannot apply for registration as an OCI cardholder
in India]
(4)
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 Y J
(a) Being eligible to become a citizen of India at the time of commencement
of the Constitution i.e. 26.01.1950; or
(b) Belonging to a territory that became part of India after 15th August, 1947.
These could be:
(i) Copy of the Indian Passport; or
(ii) Copy of the Domicile Certificate issued by the Competent Authority; or
(iii) Copy of Nativity Certificate from the competent authority; or
(iv) PIO/ OCI card of parents/ spouse along with documents to prove Indian
(v) Any other proof substantiating the request. Usually applicants are able
to submit a certificate of residence or place of birth of self/ parents/
grandparents from First Class Magistrate/ District Magistrate (DM) of
the concerned place.
(5) Evidence of relationship as parent/ grandparent/ great grandparent, if their Indian
origin is claimed as basis for registration as OCI Cardholder -
(a) The document of relationship could be “Birth Certificate” issued from
competent authority mentioning both parents’ name. In case the birth
certificate is issued by a foreign authority, it is to be Apostled or
endorsed by the concerned Indian Mission abroad/ concerned foreign
Mission in India.
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 the OCI Card. If the court order is in any
foreign language, translation in English or Hindi by authorized translator
is to be enclosed.
(b) Birth Certificate from Birth Registrar to be supported by (i) Education
documents, if any and (ii) Documents of inherited landed property, if
any.
(c) Marriage Certificate of parents (If not available, easons for same).
(6) In case of minor child whose both parents are citizens of India or one of
parents is a citizen of India -
origin; or
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(i) - Copy of child’s Birth Certificate
(ii) Marriage Certificate of parents (if no marriage certificate is available,
reasons for same to be indicated)
(iii) Copy of 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).
(iv) 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 the OCI Card. If the court order is in any foreign
language, translation in English or Hindi by authorized translator is to
be enclosed.
(7) Evidence as spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign
origin of an OCI Cardholder -
(i) Registered Marriage Certificate; and
(ii) In the case of spouse of an Indian citizen - copy of the Indian Passport
of the spouse or 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.
(iii) In the case of spouse of an OCI Cardholder - Copy of the present valid
Passport of the spouse and copy of the OCI Card of the spouse and
copies of the documents upon which the OCI Card was issued to the
spouse.
(iv) Declaration from the Indian/ OCI Cardholder spouse stating that in case
of divorce/ separation/ death of foreign spouse, it is his/ her
responsibility to surrender the OCI Card to the Government of India.
Note: In all cases where the Marriage Certificate is to be submitted, the
following guidelines will be applicable:-
(i) If the marriage is solemnized in India, Marriage certificate issued
by Marriage Registrar is required.
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(ii) If the marriage is solemnized in foreign country, it should be
apostled/ certified by the concerned India*. Mission/ Post.
(iii) If the Marriage Certificate is in any foreign language other than
English, it should be translated in English by authorized
translator.
Note: Only one living spouse duly fulfilling the conditions laid down in clause
(d) of sub-section (1) of section 7 A of The Citizenship Act, 1955 shall be
registered as an Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder.
8. What is the application fee payable for registration as OCI cardholder?
(a) In case of application submitted in Indian Mission/ Post abroad - By way of
Demand Draft for US $275 for each applicant or equivalent in local currency.
(b) In case application is submitted in India - a fee of Rs.15,000/- by way of
Demand Draft drawn in favour of “Pay and Accounts Officer (Secretariat),
Ministry of Home Affairs” payable at New Delhi.
9. What are the specifications of the photograph to be uploaded with the
application?
Photograph to be uploaded on the application should be of square shape of size not
less than 51x 51 mm (with 80% coverage of face). It should have plain light color
background (not white) without the border with front view of person’s head and
shoulders showing the full face in middle of the photograph.
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 900 pixels
(width) x 900 pixels (height).
The images of the photograph and signature must be in JPEG/ JPG format with max
size 200 KB.
Note: Photographs that do not conform to the above standards will be rejected
and may cause delay in processing the applications.
10. Whetherapplicant(s) have to go to the Indian Mission/ Post/ FRRO concerned to
submit hard copy of the application (s)?
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After submission of the complete application online including documents, photograph
and signature, the applicants are required to bring only the originals of the supporting
documents to the Indian Mission/ Post/ FRRO concerned for prior verification. They
are not required to bring hard copies/ printouts of the application or the photocopies
of the uploaded documents.
11* Whether the applicant(s) have to take oath before the Counsel of the Indian
Mission/Post?
No. Earlier provision in this regard has been done away with.
12. Where the applicant has to bring the original documents for verification?
The originals of the documents are to be submitted to the Indian Mission/ Post having
jurisdiction over the country of which the applicant is a citizen or if he/she is not living
in the country of his/her citizenship, to the Indian Mission/Post having jurisdiction over
the country of which the applicant is ordinarily a resident.
In case the applicant is residing in India, the originals of the documents will have to
be submitted to the FRRO concerned. Details of FRROs along with their jurisdiction
are given below:-
S.No.
FRRO Office
States/ UTs (jurisdiction)
1
FRRO, Amritsar
Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir and Chandigarh
2
FRRO, Bengaluru Karnataka
3
FRRO, Chennai
Tamilnadu, Puducherry and Andaman &
Nicobar islands
4
FRRO, Delhi
Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh,
Uttarakhand and Gautam Budh Nagar &
Ghaziabad districts of Uttar Pradesh.
5
FRRO, Hyderabad
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha and
Chhattisgarh
6
FRRO, Kochi Kerala (excluding jurisdiction
of other FRROs in Kerala)
7
FRRO, Kolkata
West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal
Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur,
Meghalaya and Tripura
8
FRRO, Kozhikode
(Calicut)
Kerala (excluding jurisdiction of other FRROs in
Kerala)
9 FRRO, Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh(except Gautam Budh Nagar &
Ghaziabad districts), Bihar and Jharkhand
7
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Daman &
Diu.
10
FRRO, Mumbai
Till further orders, cases pertaining to Goa and
Dadra & Nagar Haveli will also be handled by
the FRRO, Mumbai r.:
11
FRRO,
Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala (excluding jurisdiction of other FRROs in
Kerala) and Lakshadweep
12
FRRO, Ahmedabad
Gujarat
For addresses and contact details of FRROs, please log on to
https://boi.qov.in/content/frro-contact-list
Note: For the above purpose, ‘ordinarily resident’ will mean a person staying
in a particular country or in India for a continuous period of 6 months.
If there is any deficiency in the application/ uploaded document?/ photograph, the
Indian Mission/Post/FRRO concerned shall inform the same to the applicant by email.
The applicant may then submit the required documents to the Indian Mission/ Post/
FRRO concerned, who will take necessary action to upload the same on the online
system.
After verification of the documents with the originals and confirming that the
application along with all the documents submitted are in order, the Indian
Mission/Post/FRRO concerned shall acknowledge the receipt of the application on
the online system and simultaneously an auto email will be sent to the applicant
informing “Application received and is under process ”. Thereafter, the originals
of the supporting documents will be returned to the applicant.
13. Will there be a personal interview at the Indian Mission/ FRRO concerned?
There will be a mandatory verification step of personal interview (either physical or
through video conference) of all OCI applicants who apply for registration as an OCI
Cardholder under section 7A(1)(d) of The Citizenship Act, 1955 (i.e. spouse basis).
This personal interview shall be conducted by the Indian Mission/ Post/ FRRO
concerned at the time of document verification stage itself and the OCI application on
spouse basis shall be acknowledged on the online system only after the personal
interview has been held. In other cases, there will be no personal interview.
14. Will the biometrics be captured at the time of submission of the application?
Capturing of biometrics of fingerprints & face (if technically feasible) in case of
applicants for registration as OCI Cardholders is mandatory. In case of applications /
w.
8
for registration as OCI cardholders submitted to Indian Missions/ Posts abroad, the
applicants will have the option of giving biometrics at the application stage or at the
Immigration Check Posts on arrival in India. Applicants are, however, advised to give
biometrics at the Indian Mission/ Post concerned at the application stage itself i.e. at
the document verification stage. If for any reason the applicant is not able to give the
biometrics at the application stage (which shall be informed to the Indian Mission/
Post concerned in writing), his/ her biometrics shall be captured at the Immigration
Check Posts (ICPs) on arrival in India.
In respect of applications submitted to FRROs in India, biometrics shall be captured
at the application stage itself i.e. at the document verification stage.
Biometrics captured would be valid for next 5 years from the date of enrolment and
applicants would not be required to be enrolled again within 5 years, if they have
already enrolled their biometrics. Applicants with no fingerprints or poor fingerprints
will be exempted and only facial traits would be captured for them. Further, applicants
with less number of fingers shall give fingerprints of existing fingers only. Applicants
above 70 years of age or below 12 years of age would be exempted from biometric
capturing.
15. What is the procedure for collecting the OCI cardholder registration booklet?
After grant of registration, a registration certificate in the form of a booklet will be
issued. For collection of the OCI Cardholder registration booklet, the applicant is
required to be present at the concerned Indian Mission/FRRO in person or he/she
can send a duly authorized person, along with his/her passport for this purpose.
However, the condition is that the applicant should be physically present in the
country of issuance of OCI Cardholder registration booklet when it is collected through
an authorized person. If a person is not in a position to travel to the country of
issuance of the OCI Cardholder registration booklet, he/she could procure it through
the concerned Indian Mission/ FRRO of their present place of stay by making a formal
request to the office issuing the OCI Cardholder registration booklet.
16. Will the ‘IT Visa sticker be pasted on the foreign passport?
‘IT (Universal) visa sticker on the foreign passport of OCI Card holders has been
dispensed with from 29th January, 2015. Immigration authorities in ICPs in India
have been advised not to insist on production of foreign passport containing the ‘U’
visa sticker in the case of OCI Cardholders while they enter/ exit India.
17. What are the requirements to be fulfilled by erstwhile PIO cardholders for
registration as OCI Cardholder?
9
All PIO Cardholders with valid PIO Cards as on 09.01.2015 are deemed to be OCI
cardholders in terms of the notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on 9th
January, 2015 in exercise of the powers conferred by section 7A(2) of The Citizenship
Act, 1955. However, all persons having valid PIO Cards as on 9th January, 2015 are
advised to apply for registration as OCI Cardholder in view of the following
advantages in possessing an OCI Card:-
(a) OCI Card is a smart card.
(b) Possession of an OCI Card will facilitate quicker immigration clearance at the
Immigration Check Posts.
(c) It will help in obtaining various Consular Services from the Indian Missions.
(d) For those who are resident in India, it will facilitate in availing various services
in India.
A separate online application form for submission of application for registration as an
OCI Cardholder in lieu of PIO Card is available in the website
https://ociservices.qov.in. Applications can be submitted online from anywhere. An
erstwhile PIO Cardholder with a valid PIO Card as on 09.01.2015 will have to upload
only the following documents with his/ her application:-
(a) Copy of the valid passport
(b) Copy of the PIO Card
Applicants are to make payment of the following fee:-
(a) In case of application submitted in Indian Missions/Post abroad- By way of
Demand Draft for US $100 for each applicant or equivalent in local currency.
(b) In case of application submitted in India, a fee of IN ?5,500/- by way of Demand
draft drawn in favour of “Pay and Accounts Officer (Secretariat), Ministry of
Home Affairs” payable at New Delhi”.
The OCI card shall be issued by the Indian Mission/ Post/ FRRO concerned within
the jurisdiction of the applicant’s place of residence. The applicant will have to
approach the Indian Mission/ Post/ FRRO concerned for collecting the OCI Card by
surrendering the PIO card.
18. What are the consequences of furnishing wrong information or suppressing
material information?
If the registration as an OCI Cardholder was obtained by means of fraud, false
representation or the concealment of any material fact, the registration as OCI
Cardholder shall be cancelled under section 7D of The Citizenship Act, 1955. The
person will also be blacklisted thereby banning his/her future entry into India. .
10 J 'A
19. What is the time taken for registration as OCI?
Normally, the time taken for issue of OCI registration booklet is about 30 days from
the date of acknowledgement of the application on the online system.
20. If the registration as an OCI Cardholder is not granted, what amount will be
refunded?
If registration is refused, an amount of US $250 or equivalent in local currency shall
be refunded. US $25 is the processing fees, which is non-refundable. In case of
application submitted in India, the processing fee is Rs.1400/-, which is non-
refundable.
21. Will a duplicate certificate of registration as an OCI Cardholder will be issued in
the event of loss of the original certificate?
Yes. For this purpose, an application has to be made to the Indian Mission/Post/
FRRO with evidence for loss of certificate of registration under OCI Miscellaneous
Services. For details please see Brochure on OCI and Guidelines & FAQs on OCI
Miscellaneous Services on this website.
22. Will the applicant lose his citizenship after registering as an OCI Cardholder?
23. Would the Indian civil/criminal laws be applicable to persons registered as
OCI Cardholder?
Yes, for the period the OCI Cardholder is living in India.
24. Can a person registered as an OCI Cardholder be granted Indian citizenship?
A person registered as an OCI Cardholder is eligible to apply for grant of Indian
citizenship under section 5(1) (g) of The Citizenship Act, 1955 if he/she has
attained full age (18 year) and if he/she is registered as OCI Cardholder for five
years and is ordinarily resident in India for twelve months before making an
application for registration. Central Government, if it is satisfied that special
circumstances exist, may after recording the circumstances in writing, relax the
period of twelve months, up to a maximum of thirty days which may be in different
breaks.
25. Will any category of persons be registered as an OCI Cardholder on gratis
basis?
No.
No.
li
26. What are the benefits to an OCI Cardholder?
(1) multiple entry lifelong visa for visiting India for any purpose:
Provided that for undertaking the following activities, the OCI Cardholder shall be
required to obtain a special permission or a Special Permit, as the case may be,
from the competent authority or the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer or the
Indian Mission concerned, namely:-
(i) to undertake research;
(ii) to undertake any Missionary or Tabligh or Mountaineering or Journalistic
(iii) to undertake internship in any foreign Diplomatic Missions or foreign
Government organisations in India or to take up employment in any foreign
Diplomatic Missions in India;
(iv) to visit any place which falls within the Protected or Restricted or prohibited
areas as notified by the Central Government or competent authority;
Note: For requisite special permission, OCI Cardholder may visit
https: / /ociservices.gov.in .
(2) exemption from registration with the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer or
Foreigners Registration Officer for any length of stay in India:
Provided that the OCI Cardholders who are normally resident in India shall intimate the
jurisdictional Foreigners Regional Registration Officer or the Foreigners Registration
Officer by email whenever there is a change in permanent residential address and in their
occupation;
(3) parity with Indian nationals in the matter of,-
(i) tariffs in airfares in domestic sectors in India; and
(ii) entry fees to be charged for visiting national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, the
national monuments, historical sites and museums in India;
(4) parity with Non-Resident Indians in the matter of,-
(i) inter-country adoption of Indian children subject to the compliance of the
procedure as laid down by the competent authority for such adoptior
activities;
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(ii) appearing for the all India entrance tests such as National Eligibility cum
Entrance Test, Joint Entrance Examination (Mains), Joint Entrance Examination
(Advanced) or such other tests to make them eligible for admission only against
any Non-Resident Indian seat or any supernumerary seat:
Provided that the OCI Cardholder shall not be eligible for admission against any
seat reserved exclusively for Indian citizens;
(iii) purchase or sale of immovable properties other than agricultural land or farm
house or plantation property; and
(iv) pursuing the following professions in India as per the provisions contained in the
applicable relevant statutes or Acts as the case may be, namely:-
(a) doctors, dentists, nurses and pharmacists;
(b) advocates;
(c) architects;
(d) chartered accountants;
(5) in respect of all other economic, financial and educational fields not specified in this
notification or the rights and privileges not covered by the notifications made by the
Reserve Bank of India under The Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of
1999), the OCI cardholder shall have the same rights and privileges as a foreigner.
(6) Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Cardholders are eligible for appointment as teaching
faculty in NTs, NITs, IIMs, SISERs, lISc, Central Universities and in the new AIIMS set up
under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY).
Explanation —
(1) The OCI Cardholder (including a PIO Cardholder) is a foreign national holding
passport of a foreign country and is not a citizen of India.
(2) “Non-Resident Indian” shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in The
Foreign Exchange Management (Acquisition and Transfer of Immovable Property
in India) Regulations, 2018 made by the Reserve Bank of India under The Foreign
Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999) and who fulfils the “Non-Resident
Indian” status as per The Income Tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961).
Any other benefits to an OCI Cardholder may be notified by the Central Government under
section 7B(1) of The Citizenship Act, 1955.
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an OCI Cardholder to the Indian Mission/Post/ FRRO from where the registration as
OCI Cardholder was granted. After receipt of the declaration, the Indian
Mission/Post/FRRO shall issue an acknowledgement in the prescribed form. Upon
such registration of the declaration, the person shall cease to be an OCI Cardholder.
Where a person ceases to be an OCI Cardholder, the spouse of foreign origin of that
person who has obtained OCI Card under clause (d) of sub-section (1) of section 7A
of The Citizenship Act, 1955 and every minor child of that person registered as an
OCI Cardholder shall thereupon cease to be an OCI.
32. What are the activities for which OCI cardholder would require separate
permission?
OCI Cardholders would require prior permission of the competent authority to
undertake Research, Missionary, Mountaineering, Journalism, Tabligh activities &
internship in any foreign Diplomatic Missions or foreign Government organizations in
India, to take up employment in any foreign Diplomatic Missions in India and to visit
any place which falls within the Protected/Restricted/Prohibited Areas notified by the
Government. To seek prior permission/special permit for such activity, OCI
Cardholder may submit online application at
https://ociservices.qov.in .
33. Whether foreign military/ Police personnel are eligible for grant of OCI?
1. Foreign Military/ Police Personnel either serving or retired will not be registered
as OCI Cardholder.
2. However, Israeli citizens who are otherwise eligible for registration as OCI
cardholder in terms of the provisions of section 7A of the Citizenship Act, 1955
and do no more than that of compulsory years of conscription can be granted
OCI Card. However, if an individual does even the shortest of the terms with
Israeli armed forces beyond compulsory training period prescribed by the rules
in that country, then such a person would not be eligible for an OCI card.
3. Other foreign nationals of Indian origin, who have undergone only compulsory
years/ period of military/ police conscription in their country for a period not
more than 2 years and have not opted to join the military/ police force of the
country even for the shortest period of time beyond compulsory military/ police
conscription may also be considered for registration as OCI Cardholders
subject to the following conditions:-
(i) Such registration as OCI Cardholder will be subject to the satisfaction
of the Mission/ Post/ FRRO concerned and the applicant fulfilling the
15
eligibility criteria as provided in section 7A(1)(a), (b) & (c) of The
Citizenship Act, 1955. They would be registered as OCI Cardholders
only after a personal interview (either physical or through video
conference) by the Mission/ Post/ FRRO concerned.
(ii) OCI Cards issued to such persons shall carry the following instructions,
which shall be stamped on the OCI Card:-
“OCI Cardholder shall immediately surrender this OCI Card to the
Indian Mission/Post/FRRO concerned in the event of the OCI
Cardholder joining the military or police service. If it comes to the notice
of the authorities that the OCI Cardholder has joined the military or
police service and has not surrendered the OCI Card, the OCI card shall
be deemed to have been cancelled and action
a r appropriate under the
law including blacklisting of the OCI Cardholder shall oe taken.”
(iii) If the OCI Cardholder opts to join the military or police service for any
term beyond the number of years/period prescribed for compulsory
military/police conscription, he/ she shall immediately surrender the OCI
Card to the Mission/Post/FRRO concerned.
(iv) Foreign nationals of Indian origin who are undergoing compulsory
military/police conscription at the time of application will not be eligible
to be registered as OCI Cardholder during the period of such
conscription.
(v) Foreign nationals, who are applying for OCI Card on spouse basis
under section 7A (1) (d) of The Citizenship Act, 1955 shall not be eligible
if they have under gone any military/police conscription or they are
undergoing such military/police conscription at the time of application.
4. Children and spouse of foreign military/police personnel either in service or
retired and foreign nationals working in Private Security Agencies, Flome
Offices, Prisons, National Probation Service and companies or organisations
associated with the Flome Office or military institutions, i.e. those who are not
directly employed in military or police, may be considered for registration as
OCI Cardholders subject to fulfilling the eligibility criteria as provided in section
7 A of The Citizenship Act, 1955.
34. Whether application for registration as OCI cardholder of a foreigner spouse
whose Indian spouse is not alive will be accepted? /
16
Application for registration as OCI Cardholder of a foreigner whose Indian spouse is
not alive may be accepted by the Indian Missions/ Posts/ FRROs and decision taken
on case to case basis subject to the condition that the foreigner has not remarried
another foreigner. Each case may be assessed afresh and decision may be taken
after examination of each and every aspect of the case. In cases fulfilling the condition
mentioned above, the OCI status of the foreign spouse will remain intact i f -
(i) the foreign spouse has children born from marriage with the deceased Indian
spouse who are Indian citizens / OCI Cardholders; or
(ii) the foreign spouse has acquired property individually or jointly with the Indian
spouse; or
(iii) if any other such ground prevails.
While issuing the registration as OCI Cardholder, it will be made clear that if the
foreign national gets remarried to another foreigner/lndian, the existing OCI
registration will be immediately cancelled. In case of re-marriage to another citizen
of India or an OCI Cardholder, the foreign national will have to submit fresh application
for registration as OCI Cardholder. In such cases, fresh OCI Card shall be granted
on surrender of the earlier OCI Card.
35. Whether foreign national children of such Indian national who is not alive will
be registered as OCI Cardholder?
The foreign national children of such Indian national who is not alive will be entitled to
registration as OCI Cardholder as per section 7A of The Citizenship Act, 1955 on the
basis of their Indian origin. Such children holding PIO card will also be eligible to
apply for registration as OCI Cardholder in lieu of PIO Card.
36. Whether a foreign national holding Diplomatic Passport will be registered as
OCI cardholder?
A foreign national holding Diplomatic Passport will not be registered as OCI
Cardholder. However, foreign diplomatic and official passport holders not assigned
in India can travel on the strength of their OCI CardsA
37. Whether OCI Cardholders living in India should have a valid passport?
Yes. Passport is the primary travel document. OCI is only a life-long visa. Stay of a
foreigners in India without a valid passport is illegal even if he or she is an OCI
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Cardholder. Therefore, it is necessary that OCI Cardholders staving in India should
have a valid passport at all times of his/her stay in the country.
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