Overseas Citizen of India

Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI):

-OCI Scheme is operational from 02.12.2005 specified in the Section 7A of the Citizenship Act, 1955

-Following are the ways by which, Persons of Indian are eligible for registration as OCI.

(i) who is citizen of another country, but was a citizen of India at the time of, or at any time after, the commencement of the Constitution; or
(ii) who is citizen of another country, but was eligible to become a citizen of India at the time of the commencement of the Constitution; or
(iii) who is citizen of another country, but belonged to a territory that become part of India after the 15th day of August, 1947; or
(iv) who is a child or a grand-child of such a citizen; or
-To become OCI, Person should not be a citizen of Pakistan and Bangladesh.

-The home country of OCI should allow dual citizenship.

-Persons registered as OCI have not been given any voting rights

-OCI can not hold Constitutional posts such as President, Vice President, Judge of Supreme Court/High Court etc.

-Registered OCIs shall be entitled to following benefits:

(i) Multiple entry, multi-purpose life long visa to visit India;

(ii) Exemption from reporting to Police authorities for any length of stay in India; and

(iii) Parity with NRIs in financial, economic and educational fields except in the acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties.

OCI can take part in all activities except mountaineering, missionary research work and visiting protected areas which require specific permit.

-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.

To know about the NRI/PIO/PIO CARD HOLDERS, visit the following website:

http://mha.nic.in/pdfs/oci-chart.pdf