Does OCI Card provide dual citizenship?
The Constitution of India does not allow Dual Citizenship. You cannot be a citizen of India and a citizen of another foreign country at the same time. Government of India decided to register a Person of Indian originand issue Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card based on the registration made.
Is there any condition to be met to apply under 'New OCI Card for Foreign Spouse of Person of Indian Origin'? 
If you are of Indian Heritage or held an Indian Nationality, then you are eligible to apply under Adult and NOT through your Spouse.
If you are a Foreign Spouse of a Person of Indian Origin, you must provide the following documents:
Copy of Marriage Certificate
Marriage should be registered and subsisted for a continuous period of not less than 2 years preceding the OCI application.
Self Attested Joint Statement signed by the couple stating:
That in case of dissolution of marriage or deceased spouse, you must notify and return your OCI Card to the Embassy / Consulate.
My son is going to be 21. Can he travel on the same OCI?
Yes he can travel as long as his OCI and Passport are valid.
Vide circular No. 26011/06/2015-OCI dated 29th January, 2015 of Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, all immigration authorities in India will not insist on production of the foreign passport containing the 'U' Visa Sticker in the case of OCI Cardholders while they enter/exit India and the immigration clearance will be granted based on production of the 'OCI CARD ONLY'.
However, applicants must note the new OCI travel advisory – Re-issue of OCI Card (On getting a New Passport)
Below 20 years of age:
Applicants are not required to apply for re-issuance of OCI card each time they get a new passport. Below the age of 20 years, applicants are required to update their passport details online on OCI Services portal each time they get a new passport.
Upon Attaining the age of 20 years:
Re-issuance of OCI card is mandatory upon attaining the age of 20 years after attaining a new passport.
50 years of age or older:
For applicants whose OCI cards were issued after the age of 20 years, they are not required to apply for re-issue of OCI card when they get to 50 years or each time they get a new passport. Upon attaining a new passport, applicants are required to update their passport details online on OCI Services portal.
Who is Eligible to apply for an OCI Card?
Following list of applicants are ELIGIBLE
A foreign national can apply for an OCI Card:
Who was a citizen of India at the time of, or at any time after 26th January, 1950; OR
Who was eligible to become a citizen of India on 26th January, 1950; OR
Who belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15th August, 1947; OR
Who is a child or a grandchild or a great grandchild of such a citizen; OR
Who is a minor child of such persons mentioned above; OR
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; OR
Who is a spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign origin of an Overseas Citizen of India Card holder.
Please Note: A couple needs to be married for 2 years prior to the submission of the OCI application. In case of dissolution of marriage or deceased spouse, he/she must notify and return the OCI Card to the Embassy/Consulate.
Who is not eligible to apply for an OCI Card?
If you or either of your parents or grandparents or great grandparents is/has been a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh, you are not eligible to apply for an OCI Card.
The following table enlists the exceptions for OCI Eligibility:
|
Sr No.
|
Applicant Demographic
|
Eligibility
|
|
1
|
Former Bangladesh / Pakistan Nationals
|
Not Eligible
|
|
2
|
Children of Parents / Grandparents / Great grandparents who are of Bangladesh / Pakistan Origin (one or both, mother or father, of any descent)
|
Not Eligible
|
|
3
|
Step Children or adopted children
|
|
|
|
- Foreign born step or adopted children with one parent Indian and the other one foreign
|
Not Eligible
|
|
|
- Foreign born step or adopted children with both parents Indian Nationals
|
Not Eligible
|
|
|
- Foreign born step or adopted children with both parents as former Indian Nationals
|
Not Eligible
|
|
4
|
Minor foreigners who are born out of live-in relationships and their parents subsequently either got married or continued with live-in relationship
|
|
|
|
- Foreign born children born out of live-in relationships with one parent Indian and the other one foreign
|
Not Eligible
|
|
|
- Foreign born children born out of live-in relationships with both parents Indian Nationals
|
Not Eligible
|
|
|
- Foreign born children born out of live-in relationships with both parents as former Indian Nationals
|
Not Eligible
|
|
5
|
Foreign born children
|
|
|
|
- Foreign born children with one parent Indian and the other one foreign
|
Eligible
|
|
|
- Foreign born children with both or single parent Indian National
|
Eligible
|
|
|
- Foreign born children with both or single parents as former Indian National
|
Eligible
|
|
|
- Foreign born children whose one parent is Indian, one is foreign and parents are divorced
|
Not Eligible
|
|
6
|
Foreign Spouse
|
|
|
|
- Foreign Spouse whose, Indian origin spouse has deceased
|
Not Eligible
|
|
|
- Foreign Spouse who have separated from their Indian origin spouse
|
Not Eligible
|
|
7
|
Applying on basis of Spouse
- Naturalized Indian Spouse is not an OCI cardholder
- Indian Spouse does not hold an Indian Passport presently
|
Not Eligible
|
|
8
|
Applying on basis of Spouse and if marriage has not been registered and / or subsisted for a continuous period of two years immediately preceding the presentation of the OCI application
|
Not Eligible
|
What are the various services available under OCI Card? OR What are the different OCI categories?
Following are the OCI categories/services that one can apply for depending on age and nationality are listed as follows:
New OCI Card
New OCI Card for Foreign Spouse of Person of Indian Origin
OCI Re-Issue with New Passport
OCI Re-Issue for Lost OCI Card
OCI Re-Issue for Damaged OCI Card
Cancellation of OCI Card
OCI in lieu of PIO card
OCI in lieu of PIO card for Lost PIO card
OCI in lieu of PIO card for Damaged PIO card
In addition to the above services, following are the Miscellaneous services which can be applied for:
Change your address?
Correction in Date of birth?
Correction in Place of birth?
Change your Name?
Split your Name?
Change your Appearance?
Change your Signature?
Correction of Spelling in Father’s name?
Correction of Spelling in Mother’s name?
Correction of Spelling Legal Guardian’s name?
Change of Occupation?
Can a person registered as an OCI be granted Indian citizenship?
Yes. As per the provisions of section 5(1) (g) of the Citizenship Act, 1955, a person who is registered as an OCI for 5 years and is residing in India for 1 year out of the 5 years, is eligible to apply for Indian Citizenship.
What is an OCI Cardholder not entitled to?
An OCI cardholder is not entitled:
To vote
To be a member of a Legislative Assembly or of a Legislative Council or of the Parliament of India
To hold Indian constitutional posts such as that of the President, Vice President, Judge of the Supreme Court or High Court etc.
He/she cannot normally hold employment in the Government.
What are the benefits of an OCI?
The following benefits will be allowed to an OCI card holder:
Multiple entry, multi-purpose lifelong visa to visit India
Exemption from reporting to Police authorities for any length of stay in India
Parity with NRIs in financial, economic and educational fields except in the acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties.
OCI application is in process on my passport, meanwhile, can I travel on the same passport?
Yes, you can travel on the same passport provided you already have a valid visa for the respective country you are traveling to. If not, you are required to apply for a VISA.
I am over 50 years of age can I travel on the same OCI card?
Yes, you can travel on the same OCI card, however, you have to update your new passport and latest photograph on the OCI web portal. The online OCI webportal has been suitably modified under “OCI Miscellaneous Services” to facilitate OCI card holders to update details of new Passport (each time a new passport is issued up to 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age) and reissue of OCI card once a new passport is issued after completing 20 years of age. A detailed instruction in order to fill Online Application form and requirement may be accessed at https://ociservices.gov.in/welcome.
