mea.gov.in Overseas Citizenship of India Scheme : Ministry of External Affairs

Organisation : Ministry of External Affairs
Facility : Overseas Citizenship of India Scheme
Home Page : http://www.mea.gov.in/overseas-citizenship-of-india-scheme.htm

Overseas Citizenship of India Scheme :

In response to persistent demands for “dual citizenship” particularly from the Diaspora in North America and other developed countries and keeping in view the Government’s deep commitment towards fulfilling the aspirations and expectations of Overseas Indians, the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) Scheme was introduced by amending the Citizenship Act, 1955 in August 2005.

Related : Ministry of External Affairs Lodge Vigilance Complaint : www.statusin.in/10281.html

** The Scheme was launched during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention 2006 at Hyderabad.

The Scheme provides for registration as Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) of all Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) who were citizens of India on 26th January, 1950 or there after or were eligible to become citizens of India on 26th January, 1950 except who 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.

The Ministry has issued notifications granting registered OCIs further benefits as under :
** Parity with Non-Resident Indians in the matter of inter-country adoption of Indian children.
** Parity with resident Indian nationals in matters of tariffs in domestic air fares.
** Parity with domestic Indian visitors in respect of entry fee for visiting national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in India.

Parity with non-resident Indians in respect of :
** Entry fees for visiting the national monuments, historical sites and museums in India.

Practicing 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

** Entitlement to 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.

** An on-line OCI miscellaneous service is now available for re-issuance /issuance of duplicate OCI documents, in case of issuance of new passport, change of personal particulars, viz, nationality, name, change of address/occupation, etc. and loss/damage of OCI registration certificate/visa.
** As on 31st May, 2013 13.25 lakh OCI registration booklets and visa stickers have been issued.

Registration of overseas citizens of India :
The Central Government may, subject to such conditions and restrictions as may be prescribed, on an application made in this behalf, register as an overseas citizen of India
** any person of full age and capacity
** 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

** who is citizen of another country, but was eligible to become a citizen of India at the time of the commencement of the Constitution
** who is citizen of another country, but belonged to a territory that become part of India after the 15th day of August, 1947
** who is a child or a grand-child of such a citizen

** a person, who is a minor child of a person mentioned in clause (a): Provided that no person, who 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.

Renunciation of overseas citizenship :
** If any overseas citizen of India of full age and capacity makes in the prescribed manner a declaration renouncing his overseas citizenship of India, the declaration shall be registered by the Central Government, and; upon such registration, that person shall cease to be an overseas citizen of India.

** Where a person ceases to be an overseas citizen of India under subsection (1), every minor child of that person registered as an overseas citizen of India, shall thereupon cease to be an overseas citizen of India.

Cancellation of registration as overseas citizen of India :
The Central Government may, by order, cancel the registration granted under sub-section(1) of section 7A if it is satisfied that :
** the registration as an overseas citizen of India was obtained by means of fraud, false representation or the concealment of any material fact.
** the overseas citizen of India has shown disaffection towards the Constitution of India as by law established.

** the overseas citizen of India has, during any war in which India may bee 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.

** the overseas citizen of India has, within five years after registration under sub-section(1) of section 7A has been sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not less than two years.
** it is necessary so to do in the interest 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.