Organisation : Consulate General of India
Facility : Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) Card
Applicable For : All India
Website : https://www.cgiguangzhou.gov.in/
OCI Card
A) Who is eligible to apply for Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Card?
(i) Who was a citizen of India on or at any time after January 26, 1950; or
(ii) Who was eligible to become citizen of India on January 26, 1950; or
Related : CGI Apply for Persons of Indian Origin Card : www.statusin.in/24415.html
(iii) Who belonged to a territory that became part of India after August 15, 1947; and
(iv) Who is a child or a grand-child or a great grandchild of such a citizen mentioned above; and
(v) 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; and
(vi) Spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign origin of an Overseas Citizen of India 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.
However it is to be noted that such spouse shall be subjected to prior security clearance from a competent authority in India.
B) Who is not eligible?
Any foreign national who has earlier been a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh.
(C) Cancellation of OCI Registration – Registration as OCI may be cancelled if it is satisfied that :
(i) The registration as an Overseas Citizen of India cardholder was obtained by means of fraud, false representation or concealment of any material fact; or
(ii) The Overseas Citizen of India cardholder has shown disaffection towards the Constitution of India; or
(iii) The Overseas Citizen of India cardholder has, during any war in which India may be engaged, unlawfully traded or communicated with an enemy or been engaged in, or associated with, any business, or commercial activity that was to his knowledge carried on in such manner as to assist an enemy in that war; or
(iv) The Overseas Citizen of India cardholder has, within five years after registration been sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not less than two years; or
(v) It is necessary to do so in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of India, friendly relations of India with any foreign country, or in the interests of the general public; or
(vi) The marriage of an Overseas Citizen of India cardholder has been dissolved by a competent court of law or otherwise OR has not been dissolved but, during the subsistence of such marriage, he has solemnized marriage with any other person.
D) Privileges – Persons registered as OCI enjoy :
(i) A multiple entry, multi-purpose life-long visa for visiting India.
(ii) Exemption from registration with local police authority for any length of stay in India.
(iii) Parity with Non-resident Indians (NRIs) in respect of economic, financial and educational fields, except in relation to acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties.
(iv) Any other benefits to OCIs will be notified by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) under Section 7B(1) of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
Persons registered as overseas citizen of India under Section 7A of the Citizenship Act, 1955, shall be entitled to :
(a) Parity with non-resident Indian in respect of :
1. Entry fees to be charged for visiting the national monuments, historical sites and museums in India;
2. Pursuing the following professions in India, in pursuance of the provisions contained in the relevant Acts, namely : Doctors, dentists, nurses and pharmacists; Advocates; Architects; and Chartered Accountants.
(b) Appear for the All India Pre-Medical Test or such other tests to make them eligible for admission in pursuance of the provisions contained in the relevant Acts.
E) Restrictions – Persons registered as OCI :
(i) Do not enjoy equality of opportunity in matters of public employment;
(ii) Do not enjoy any voting rights;
(iii) Cannot contest selections to Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha/Legislative Assembly/Council;
(iv) Cannot hold Constitutional posts such as that of President, Vice President, Judge of Supreme Court/High Court and cannot be appointed to public services and posts in connection with affairs of the Union or of any State etc.
F) Renunciation of Overseas Citizen of India Card :
(i) A person shall cease to be an Overseas Citizen of India cardholder by making a declaration renouncing the Overseas Citizen of India card and same will be registered by Central Government.
(ii) The spouse of foreign origin and every minor child of that person, as above, holding the Overseas Citizen of India Card shall thereupon cease to be an Overseas Citizen of India cardholder.
G) Guidance for completing online application :
(a) You must register and complete the form (Part-A) ONLINE at the website
(b) When you have completed filling in Part A, click save. A Print Window would appear. Click “OK” to print out the application form consisting of Part-A and Part-B will be printed.
For each family application, Part-B is common to all applicants of the family up to a maximum of four. Separate applications are required for any other additional members.
(c) You must then complete Part-B, preferably TYPED. It may also be handwritten but in CAPITAL LETTERS with Blue or Black Ink.
(d) The completed application form (Part-A & Part- B) along with the following documents must be submitted in TWO SETS for each applicant to the Embassy. Each photocopy should be self-attested by the applicant.
For minors the parent must self-attest the photocopies. When signing on the photocopies of the documents, please mention as “Self Attested” and sign with name & date.