OCI Scheme is operational from 02.12.2005.

The Constitution of India does not allow holding Indian citizenship and citizenship of a foreign country simultaneously. Based on the recommendation of the High Level Committee on Indian Diaspora, the Government of India decided to register Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) of certain category as has been specified in section 7A of the Citizenship Act, 1955 as Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Cardholders.

Note 1:- The OCI Cardholder (including a PIO cardholder) is a, foreign national holding passport of a foreign country and is not a citizen of India.

Note 2: Passport is the primary travel document. OCI is only a life-long visa. Stay of a foreigners in India without a valid passport is illegal even if he or she is an OCI cardholder. Therefore, it is necessary that OCI cardholders staying in India should have a valid passport at all times of their stay in the country.

Application for registration as OCI Cardholder can be made Online. For this purpose, please visit https://ociservices.gov.in. Before filling the application, instructions may be perused so that there is no mistake in submission of application. Further, the details regarding Fee and Offices where supporting documents have to be submitted for prior verification may also be perused.

For detailed information, kindly visit --> https://ociservices.gov.in/onlineOCI/