Application for New Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) Registration Cards

A. OCI who is eligible

A foreign national, - (i) who was a citizen of India at the time of, or at any time after 26th January, 1950; or (ii) who was eligible to become a citizen of India on 26th January, 1950; or (iii) who belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15th August, 1947; or (iv) who is a child or a grandchild or a great grandchild of such a citizen; or (v) who is a minor child of such persons mentioned above; or (vi) who is a minor child and whose both parents are citizens of India or one of the parents is a citizen of India - is eligible for registration as OCI cardholder. Besides, spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign origin of an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Cardholder 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 is also eligible for registration as OCI cardholder. However, 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.

FOR FRESH/ RE-ISSUE AND CONVERISON OF PIO TO OCI cards, applicants have to fill an online application at the following link : https://www.ociservices.gov.in/

B. Important Information /Instructions for OCI card

OCI status confers the following benefits:

1. Multiple-entry, multi-purpose life-long visa to visit India

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 :-

• to undertake research

• to undertake any Missionary or Tabligh or Mountaineering or Journalistic activities

• 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;

• to visit any place which falls within the Protected or Restricted or prohibited areas as notified by the Central Government or competent authority.

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 ;-

• tariffs in air fares in domestic sectors in India; and

• 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 ;-

• inter-country adoption of Indian children subject to the compliance of the procedure as laid down by the competent authority for such adoption;

• 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;

• purchase or sale of immovable properties other than agricultural land or farm house or plantation property; and

• pursuing the following professions in India as per the provisions contained in the applicable relevant statutes or Acts as the case may be, namely :-

1. doctors, dentists, nurses and pharmacists;

2. advocates;

3. architects;

4. 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, the OCI Cardholder shall have the same rights and privileges as a foreigner.

• A person registered as OCI is eligible to apply for grant of Indian citizenship under section 5(1) (g) of the Citizenship Act, 1955 if he/she is registered as OCI for five years and has been residing in India for one year out of the five years before making the application.

• State Governments should ensure that the OCI registration booklets of OCIs are treated as their identification for any services rendered to them. In case proof of residence is required, Overseas Citizens of India may give an affidavit attested by a notary public stating that a particular/specific address may be treated as their place of residence in India and may also in their affidavit give their overseas residential address as well as e-mail address, if any.

C. Benefits to which OCI is not entitled to: The OCI holder is not entitled to vote, be a member of Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council or Parliament, cannot hold constitutional posts such as President, Vice President, Judge of Supreme Court or High Court etc. and he/she cannot normally hold employment in the Government.

2. OCI services are not available to :

• step-children and adopted children

• asylees.

• applicants with a single parent whose birth certificate mention about only one parent

• minors who are born out of live- in relationship

• Foreign national whose Indian spouse is deceased, subject to certain conditions.

D. Procedure to apply for new OCI registration Card :

Application for registration as OCI is to be made online through the website of the Ministry of Home Affairs at https://www.ociservices.gov.in/. Instructions therein may be perused carefully particularly with respect to supporting documents required so that there is no mistake in submission of application. Once application form has been filed online, copy of the printout of the same is required to be submitted at our Authorised Service Centres. Please note that submission for OCI registration is via appointment only. Please book appointment for submission at www.blsindia.sg .

E. Documents required for a new OCI registration:

The required documents listed below are general and indicative in nature and an attempt has been made to cover majority of the cases. However, the Consular Officer may ask for additional specific documents after examining the application. The documents required for a new OCI registration are :-

• One Photograph (51mmx51mm) or (50mm x 50mm) with light coloured background (square shape with 80% coverage by face). Photographs that do not conform to these standards will be rejected and may cause a delay in processing the application.

• Evidence of self, parents, grandparents or great-grandparents previous Indian Passport, Birth Certificate, valid foreign passport held and local residential proof. If applying based upon OCI Card/ PIO Card of parents/grandparents or great-grandparents/spouse, applicant should invariably submit copy of OCI Card/ PIO Card of parents/ grandparents or great grand-parents/spouse along with the base papers/documents upon which the OCI card/PIO Card was issued.

• All foreign documents are to be apostilled by the authorized authority as approved by the foreign ministry of the respective country. For Singapore nationals the documents needs to apostilled by Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) in prescribed format.

• If the applicant ever held an Indian Passport, then proof of renunciation of citizenship/surrender of passport should invariably be submitted, along with Naturalisation Certificate, if applicable.

• Evidence of relationship as parent/grandparent/great-grandparents, if their Indian origin is claimed as basis for grant of OCI.

• In case the applicant does not have an old Indian Passport, he/she may provide copy of other documents issued from India such as birth certificates, nativity certificates etc. These will be sent to India for verification by the concerned Registrar or District Collector before acceptance of the application form. A fee of SGD 38 will be applicable for document verification.

• A Copy of Singapore NRIC, EP, DP, LTSVP, S Pass or WP is to be attached with the application.

2. All the above documents are to be produced in original for verification and photocopies of the same are to be attached with the application.

3. After grant of registration, a registration certificate in the form of a booklet will be issued. Carrying the OCI card (booklet) is must while travelling to India along with your passport.

Please note that:

• A person who has not attained the age of 18 years is considered as minor. In case of minor who cannot sign, his/her left thumb impression may be placed in the signature box. Parents should not sign on behalf of minors.

• If there are any objections while processing the application, the same will be displayed on the online status enquiry. Please follow the instructions and send requisite documents to the Mission quoting the File (or acknowledgement) number.

• Granting OCI card to spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign origin of an Overseas Citizen of India cardholder may take some time pending clearances from MHA. The marriage should have been registered and subsisted for a continuous period of not less than two years immediately preceding the presentation of the application. It is advised to include/add spouse name in the passports/ OCI Card, if applicable, for smooth processing of the application. A sponsor letter by the Spouse of Indian Origin is to be furnished along with the OCI application.

• Applicants who are of Indian origin are advised to apply for the OCI Card on their own merit and not on Spouse basis.

• In the event of dissolution of marriage or marriage to another foreigner or death of Indian spouse, the OCI Cardholder will be required to surrender his/her OCI to the issuing authority or Mission.

• Applicants whose Indian spouse is deceased may submit an application for OCI and decision taken on case-to-case basis subject to the condition that the foreigner has not remarried another foreigner. Each case will be assessed and decision will be taken after examination of each and every aspect of the case. In such cases, applicants are advised to approach HCI directly.

• Foreign passport holders who are resident in Singapore are required to produce residence proof like PR, EP, WP, LTSVP, S-Pass, Student Pass.

• Entries made in the foreign passports or foreign origin documents are not repeat not accepted as proof of Indian origin.

F. Special Permission :-

OCI card does NOT entitle the cardholder to undertake any missionary, mountaineering and research work in India, without the prior permission of the Government of India. Prior permission of the competent authority is also required for visiting restricted/protected area (for details, visit http://www.mea.gov.in/Images/pdf/ForeigD-FAQs-onPAPandRAP.pdf  ).

2. OCI Cardholders are required to obtain Special Permission from concerned authorities to undertake certain activities in India. In order to make it convenient to such OCI Cardholders, a separate sub-portal under the name “Apply for Special Permission (Only for OCI Cardholders)” has been created in the Online OCI webportal at – https://ociservices.gov.in/welcome. The link has detailed instructions as well as documents required to be submitted. The link would facilitate such OCI cardholders to apply for Special Permission.

3. OCI/PIO Card holders intending to visit India for commissioning surrogacy would not require a separate Medical Visa. However, on arrival in India and before commissioning surrogacy, they will have to obtain a special permission from FRRO/FRO concerned.

G. Kindly note that the High Commission of India will accept an application for grant of OCI status only after satisfying itself on the adequacy and authenticity of supporting documentation provided. In certain cases this is likely to take time as the documents may require verification from the issuing authorities in India. In these cases, the High Commission cannot prescribe the timeframe within which the OCI card will be issued. In these cases, at the stage of initial application, an acknowledgement will be provided to you. Applicants are advised to keep in touch with the High Commission or Authorized Service Centres to follow up.

H. Collection of OCI documents: On preparation of OCI document, applicant is required to be present in person with original receipts (provided by BLS and received through courier both) along with his/her foreign passport, PIO card/ OCI Card (if any) for collection of the OCI documents. Applicants are advised to check status of their OCI applications at the OCI website – https://www.ociservices.gov.in/. If status shows that OCI Card has been received in Singapore, applicants are advised to give 2 more working days, before proceeding to HCI for collection. No OCI document will be sent by Dak/ Post or Mail. OCI Cards will not be issued to applicants who are out of Singapore at the time of collection.

Regarding Fees, processing time and application centre: click here