What is OCI?
The Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) gives permanent residency to people of Indian origin. It lets them enter India for life and offers specific economic, financial, and educational benefits. The Indian government introduced the OCI scheme by changing the Citizenship Act, 1955 in August 2005. The name might suggest dual citizenship, but India doesn't allow dual nationality under its laws.
The government launched the OCI scheme at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention in Hyderabad back in 2006. They created it because Indians living in North America and other developed countries just needed dual citizenship. The government merged the Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) and OCI categories in 2015 to make documentation and benefits simpler.
OCI cardholders get a lifelong visa that lets them visit India multiple times for any purpose. They don't have to register with the Foreign Regional Registration Officer or Foreign Registration Officer no matter how long they stay in India. By January 31, 2022, the government had issued about 40.68 lakh (4.068 million) OCI registration cards. Another source shows 4 million Indians abroad held OCI cards in 2022.
OCI cardholders enjoy these rights and benefits:
- Same treatment as Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in economic, financial, and educational matters
- Freedom to live and work in India without time limits
- Right to own real estate (except agricultural land or farm houses)
- No need for foreigners' registration
- Pay the same entry fees as Indians at monuments, historical sites, and museums
But OCI status has its limits. OCI cardholders can't:
- Vote in Indian elections
- Hold Indian constitutional posts like President, Vice President, Judge of the Supreme Court or High Court
- Become members of Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council, or Parliament of India
- Work in government jobs normally
- Do missionary work, mountaineering, or journalism without the government's permission
- Visit Protected Areas or Restricted Areas without special permits
The government can take away OCI status under Section 7D of the Citizenship Act, 1955. This happens in cases of fraud, anti-India activities, or breaking rules under the Citizenship Act.
OCI holders must get a Protected Area Permit (PAP) or Restricted Area Permit (RAP) to visit protected or restricted areas, just like other foreigners. The OCI card works only with a valid foreign passport.
Citizens of Pakistan, Bangladesh, or countries that the Central Government specifically names can't get OCI. The scheme works for foreign nationals who were Indian citizens on or after January 26, 1950, or could have become Indian citizens then, along with their children and grandchildren.
Who is eligible for an OCI card?
Several categories of foreign nationals can get OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cards under section 7A of The Citizenship Act, 1955. The eligibility extends across multiple generations of people with Indian heritage and specific family members.
These people can apply for OCI status:
- Citizens of another country who were Indian citizens at any time after January 26, 1950 (the commencement of the Constitution)
- Citizens of another country who were eligible to become Indian citizens on January 26, 1950
- Citizens of another country who belonged to a territory that became part of India after August 15, 1947
- Children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren of individuals in the above categories
- Minor children of eligible persons mentioned above
- Minor children whose both parents are Indian citizens or one parent is an Indian citizen
- Foreign-origin spouses of Indian citizens or OCI cardholders, provided the marriage has been registered and lasted at least two years before application
Anyone who once held Indian citizenship but later became a citizen of another country can apply for OCI status if they meet the above criteria. Foreign spouses need additional security clearance from India's competent authorities before approval.
Some groups cannot register for OCI status. People who are or whose parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents are or were citizens of Pakistan or Bangladesh cannot get OCI status. This rule also applies to citizens of other countries the Central Government specifically names through official notification.
Military service creates special rules. Foreign nationals who served in foreign military services, including their own country's armed forces, usually cannot register for OCI. All the same, some exceptions exist - Israeli citizens of Indian origin can still apply even after serving in the Israel Defense Forces.
Divorce automatically ends OCI status for spouses who got it through marriage. A widowed foreign spouse might keep their OCI status if they haven't remarried a foreigner. They can retain their status if they have children who are Indian citizens/OCI cardholders, own property alone or jointly with their late Indian spouse, or meet other similar conditions.
A foreign national's OCI registration ends right away if they marry another foreigner. However, they can submit a new application if they marry another Indian citizen or OCI cardholder.
Looking at historical eligibility, anyone who (or whose parents or grandparents) was born in India as defined in the Government of India Act, 1935 and lived in any country outside India could become an Indian citizen on January 26, 1950. Their descendants now qualify for OCI status.
Dutch nationals of Surinamese origin present a unique case. Those up to the sixth generation whose ancestors left India in the 19th century can still apply for OCI cards.
How to apply for an OCI card
The OCI application process consists of several steps that take you from submitting your application online to receiving your physical card. You must follow these steps carefully to process your application correctly.
Step 1: Fill the online application form
You can submit your OCI registration only through the official online portal at Online OCI service. Read all instructions carefully before you begin. The application has two parts:
- Part A needs your personal details and passport information completed online
- Part B becomes available after Part A completion and you can fill it electronically or write it by hand in BLOCK letters
A single Part B works for up to four family members in family applications, but additional members need separate applications. You must print and sign both parts after completion. Parents need to sign all documents for minors.
Step 2: Upload required documents
You need to upload these documents in the prescribed format:
- Current valid passport with at least six months validity
- Certificate of naturalization or citizenship from your current country
- Canceled/surrendered Indian passport with Surrender Certificate (if you surrendered Indian passports in or after 2010)
- Proof of Indian origin (for self/parents/grandparents)
- Birth certificate (for minors and to claim relationships)
- Marriage certificate (where applicable)
- Recent photograph meeting specifications (51mm x 51mm with 80% face coverage against a white background)
Make sure to self-attest all documents and upload them in PDF format. Your photographs and signatures must be in JPEG/JPG format (under 100KB). Documents in languages other than English or Hindi need authorized translations.
Step 3: Pay the application fee
Your OCI application fees depend on where you apply:
- Applications outside India: US $275 (approximately INR 23,204.62) or equivalent local currency via Demand Draft
- Applications within India: INR 15,000 via Demand Draft drawn in favor of "Pay and Accounts Officer (Secretariat), Ministry of Home Affairs" payable at New Delhi
PIO card holders pay reduced fees when converting to OCI status. Your country of application might have additional service charges or consular fees.
Step 4: Attend verification (if required)
Your next step after online submission is visiting the relevant Indian Mission/Post/FRRO with your original documents. Foreign nationals applying within India must have valid long-term visas (excluding tourist, missionary, and mountaineering visas) and must live in India continuously for at least six months.
Spouse-based applications require a mandatory personal interview either in person or through video conference. Most applicants need biometric capture (fingerprints and facial recognition), except:
- People above 70 years or below 12 years
- Those with no fingerprints or poor fingerprints
- Applicants who provided biometrics within the last 5 years
Step 5: Receive your OCI card
The OCI card comes as a booklet. New OCI cards are printed in India and usually take 5-6 weeks to process with complete documentation. Some jurisdictions might take 8-10 weeks depending on approval from authorities.
You must either collect the card personally from the concerned Indian Mission/FRRO or send someone with proper authorization. Remember that you need to be physically present in the country of issuance when an authorized representative collects your OCI card.
Check all information on your OCI card carefully after receiving it. This card gives you lifelong visa privileges for India.
Benefits of having an OCI card
The OCI card gives many practical benefits to holders in every aspect of life in India. This document proves valuable for people of Indian origin who want to stay connected to their ancestral homeland while they retain foreign citizenship.
Visa-free travel to India
OCI cardholders get a multiple entry lifelong visa to visit India for any purpose. This saves them from applying for Indian visas repeatedly. However, they must get special permission from authorities to do certain activities. These include research, missionary work, mountaineering, journalistic activities, internships in foreign diplomatic missions, or visits to protected/restricted areas.
No need for foreigner registration
The FRRO or FRO registration requirement doesn't apply to OCI cardholders whatever their stay duration in India. OCI cardholders who live in India must tell their local FRRO/FRO by email when they change their home address or job.
Parity with NRIs in education and finance
OCI cardholders get the same economic, financial, and educational benefits as Non-Resident Indians. Indian educational institutes and universities must reserve 15% extra seats for overseas Indians and foreigners, as per University Grants Commission guidelines. Students with OCI cards can take competitive entrance exams like JEE (Advanced and Mains) and NEET.
Can work and start a business in India
Private sector jobs and business opportunities in India are open to OCI cardholders. They can set up Limited Liability Companies or Limited Liability Partnerships. Right now, they can take up any job except research, journalism, mountaineering, and missionary work - these need extra permits.
Equal entry fees at monuments and parks
India's national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, national monuments, historical sites, and museums charge OCI cardholders the same entry fees as Indian nationals. They also pay domestic rates for air travel within India.
Eligible for inter-country adoption
The rules treat registered OCI cardholders just like Non-Resident Indians for adopting Indian children. This works as long as they follow the adoption procedures set by authorities.
Can practice certain professions in India
Several professions welcome OCI cardholders according to Indian laws. These include:
- Doctors, dentists, nurses, and pharmacists
- Advocates (lawyers)
- Architects
- Chartered accountants
Chartered Accountants with OCI status can work in India under the 'Scheme for enrollment of Overseas Citizen of India Professional Accountants'. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs published these rules in the Gazette of India Extraordinary on July 22, 2014.
Restrictions and limitations of OCI
OCI (Overseas Citizenship of India) offers many benefits but comes with major restrictions. The name can be misleading since it doesn't grant full citizenship rights and privileges in India.
OCI holders cannot participate in politics at all. They can't vote in any Indian elections. The law bars them from holding constitutional positions like President, Vice President, or serving as Judges of the Supreme Court or High Court. They also can't become members of the Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council, or Parliament of India.
Job options remain limited too. The Indian government won't employ OCI cardholders except for specific posts approved by special order from the Central Government. Active or retired foreign military personnel can't even apply for OCI status.
Property rules place specific limits on OCI cardholders. While they can buy residential and commercial properties, they can't purchase agricultural land, farmhouses, or plantation properties in India. They can still inherit these properties though.
Several activities need advance permission from authorities:
- Research work
- Missionary activities
- Tabligh (religious preaching)
- Mountaineering expeditions
- Journalistic pursuits
- Internships in foreign diplomatic missions or foreign government organizations
OCI holders must get Protected Area Permits (PAP) or Restricted Area Permits (RAP) to visit restricted zones, just like other foreigners.
The government can cancel OCI status under certain conditions. These include getting the card through fraud, showing disrespect to India's Constitution, or working with enemy nations. The status goes away if the cardholder serves jail time for two years or more within five years of getting the card.
New rules allow OCI cancelation even before conviction if someone faces charges that could lead to seven or more years in prison. When canceled, the whole family loses their OCI status at once.
While in India, OCI cardholders must follow all civil and criminal laws. They can't access government subsidies or get repatriation help from the Indian Government.
People with Pakistani or Bangladeshi background can't apply for OCI. This rule affects anyone whose parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents were citizens of these countries.
OCI vs PIO: What’s the difference?
Before 2015, Indians living abroad had two different options - the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) and the Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card programs. The government launched PIO cards in 2002 mainly to help with short-term visits.
These programs had significant differences. PIO cards lasted only 15 years and cardholders needed to register with local authorities if they stayed beyond 180 days. OCI cards worked differently. They never expired and didn't need any registration. PIO cardholders also paid more to visit monuments and historical sites, while OCI holders paid the same rates as Indian citizens.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the programs' merger during his 2014 US visit. The Indian government made it official on January 9, 2015. This decision made things simpler and cleared up confusion between the two programs.
The merger automatically upgraded all PIO cardholders to OCI status. The government's original deadline for free PIO-to-OCI conversions was June 30, 2017. They ended up extending it to December 31, 2017.
The unified program now runs solely under the OCI name. It offers better benefits that PIO cardholders couldn't access before. These include lifetime visa privileges, no foreigner registration requirements, and more equal treatment with Non-Resident Indians in several areas.
Key Takeaway
The OCI card serves as a long-term bridge between India and people of Indian origin who have taken foreign citizenship. It offers the convenience of lifelong access to India along with economic, educational, and professional benefits, while clearly defining the boundaries where full citizenship rights do not apply.
Understanding these benefits and limitations upfront helps avoid confusion and ensures better planning for life, work, or investments in India.
Before applying, it’s important to carefully review eligibility criteria, documentation requirements, and compliance rules to ensure a smooth application process. With the right preparation, the OCI card can be a valuable status for maintaining lasting ties with India without compromising foreign nationality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I live in India permanently with OCI?
Yes, an OCI card allows you to live in India for an unlimited duration. It grants a lifelong, multiple-entry visa, meaning you can enter, exit, and stay in India without applying for separate visas or registering with local immigration authorities, even for long-term or permanent stays.
That said, OCI is not Indian citizenship. While you can reside in India indefinitely, you do not receive political or constitutional rights such as voting, contesting elections, or holding government office.
How long is an OCI card valid?
An OCI card is valid for life once it is issued. Unlike visas that need periodic renewal, the OCI status does not expire and remains valid as long as it is properly linked to a valid foreign passport.
However, OCI holders must update their passport details in the OCI system when they receive a new passport, especially after certain age milestones, to ensure smooth travel and compliance.
Can I buy property in India with an OCI card?
Yes, OCI holders are permitted to buy, own, and sell residential and commercial property in India, similar to NRIs. This makes it possible to invest in apartments, houses, or commercial real estate without special approval.
However, OCI holders are not allowed to purchase agricultural land, plantation property, or farmhouses in India, except in very limited inheritance-based situations governed by Indian law.
How much does an OCI card cost?
The cost of an OCI card depends on where you apply. Applications submitted through Indian missions abroad typically have a fee in foreign currency, while applications filed within India are charged in Indian rupees.
In addition to the government fee, applicants may need to pay service or processing charges to visa facilitation centers. Since fees can change, it’s important to check the latest charges at the time of application.
Can OCI open a bank account in India?
Yes, OCI holders can open bank accounts in India. Depending on how long you stay in India and your tax residency status, banks may offer resident savings accounts or non-resident accounts such as NRE or NRO.
Banks will require standard KYC documents like a valid passport, OCI card, PAN, and address proof. The type of account allowed may vary from bank to bank based on compliance rules.
Who cannot apply for OCI?
Not everyone of Indian origin is eligible for OCI. Individuals whose parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents were citizens of Pakistan or Bangladesh are generally not eligible, except in rare cases permitted by the Indian government.
Additionally, foreign diplomatic or official passport holders and certain categories of visa holders may not qualify for OCI unless specific eligibility conditions are met.
Do OCI holders need to pay tax in India?
Yes, OCI holders are required to pay Indian taxes on income earned or arising in India, such as rental income, capital gains, or business income. OCI status itself does not provide any tax exemption.
Your tax residency status depends on the number of days you stay in India during a financial year. If you meet the resident criteria, your global income may also become taxable in India, subject to applicable tax rules and treaties.
What happens to OCI when a passport expires?
The OCI card remains valid for life, but it must be used along with a valid passport. When your passport expires and you receive a new one, your OCI details need to be updated to reflect the new passport number.
Failure to update passport information can cause issues during travel or immigration checks, even though your OCI status itself does not lapse.
Can I work in India with OCI?
Yes, OCI holders are allowed to work in India without a separate employment visa. You can take up jobs in the private sector, start a business, or engage in professional activities, subject to local laws and licensing requirements.
However, OCI holders are not eligible for government jobs or constitutional positions, and some regulated professions may require additional approvals or Indian qualifications.
About the Author
By Prakash
CEO & Founder of InvestMates
Prakash is the CEO & Founder of InvestMates, a digital wealth management platform built for the global Indian community. With leadership experience at Microsoft, HCL, and Accenture across multiple countries, he witnessed firsthand challenges of managing cross-border wealth. Drawing from his expertise in engineering, product management, and business leadership, Prakash founded InvestMates to democratize financial planning and make professional wealth management accessible, affordable, and transparent for every global Indian.
