Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Card

Instruction about re-issuance of OCI

As per the guidelines, OCI card holders are required to get OCI card reissued once a new passport is issued after completing 20 years of age. The time period for reissue of such OCI cards is now extended till 31.12.2022, and all such card holders will be allowed to travel on the strength of their existing OCI cards bearing old passport number subject to the condition that the OCI cardholder will have to travel along with new passport.

New instructions w.e.f. 16th April, 2021 for Miscellaneous Service for OCI

In case an existing OCI card holder wishes to update/upload the latest information about his latest passport, change in address/ occupation/ contact details, the OCI card holder can select the option/(s) and upload the latest photograph and requisite documents. These details shall be updated into the OCI system records and an acknowledgement shall be shared with OCI card holder on his/her registered email ID.

The Online uploading services under following categories are gratis in nature:

1. In case issuance of new Passport (each time a new passport is issued up to 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age)
2. In case change in address/occupation/contact details.

The re-issuance of new OCI card will be applicable for following categories. The services under these categories are Chargeable in nature:

1. In case of issuance of new passport (once a new passport is issued after completing 20 years of age.)

2. In case of change of personal particulars viz. name, father's name, nationality etc.

3. In case of loss/damage of OCI registration certificate.

Detailed information on the procedure can be seen at (When to update OCI card file.)

Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Scheme instructions w.e.f 23 November, 2015

Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India has issued new instructions relating to online submission and processing of applications for registration as OCI Cardholder and for OCI Miscellaneous services. The details are as follows:

1. The applicants shall henceforth submit the application form online and upload all the requisite documents (self-attested), photograph and signature (in the case of minors who cannot sign, left hand thumb impression) along with the application.

2. After the applicant submits the complete application online including documents, photograph and signature, the originals of the supporting documents have to be submitted to the Indian Mission for prior verification. In case of any deficiency in the application/uploaded documents/photograph, the applicant will be informed by email by the Indian Mission. The applicant should then re-submit the required documents to the Indian Mission.

3. If all the documents submitted are in order, an email will be sent to the applicant informing "Application received and is under process". Thereafter, the originals of the supporting documents will be returned to the applicant.

4. These changes in the OCI registration process are effective from 23 November, 2015 and thereafter no application for registration as OCI cardholder or for OCI miscellaneous service will be accepted or processed in the offline mode.

5. Rest of the procedure remains the same as already available on the website.

OVERSEAS CITIZENSHIP OF INDIA (OCI)

The Constitution of India does not allow holding Indian citizenship and citizenship of a foreign country simultaneously. However, the Government of India decided to grant Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) w.e.f. 02.12.2005. Now Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) card holders are also deemed to be OCI card holders w.e.f. 09.01.2015 and may apply for OCI cards in lieu of their PIO cards.

Benefits of OCI

Multipurpose, multi-entry, lifelong visa for visit to India
Exemption from registration with FRRO for any length of stay in India
Parity with Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in respect of all facilities in economics, financial and educational fields, except in matters relating to acquisition of agricultural properties etc.
 

Restrictions for OCI

Not entitled to vote
Not entitled to be a Member of Parliament, Legislative Assembly, and Legislative Council
Not entitled to hold Constitutional posts such as President, Vice President, Judge of the High Court, Supreme Court etc.
Not entitled to hold any employment in the government
 

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible:

A foreign national, who

Was a citizen of India on 26.1.1950, or
Was citizen of India any time after 26.1.1950, or
Belonged to a territory which became part of India after 15.08.1947
His/her children/grandchildren are eligible to be registered as OCI
Minor children of such persons are eligible to be registered as OCI
 

Not eligible:

Persons who have been citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh
Minor PIO children, whose both parents are either Indian nationals or one Indian national and the other of foreign origin (not eligible for OCI)
Indian nationals who has been granted asylum in a foreign country

Documentation required

Self-attested photocopies of the following documents, as applicable,should be submitted along with the application. Original documents should be produced for verification. Apostilled documents can be accepted only if the applicants are unable to produce original documents.

Adult applicants

OCI Registration Form (part A&B duly filled online and signed by the applicant)
Two recent photographs of the size of 51x51 mm without border and showing full frontal view of applicant's head/shoulder, white/light background. No glare if wearing glasses
Copy of the passport surrender/renunciation of the Indian citizenship which establishes the previous Indian citizenship of the applicant
Copy of the Meldezettle (Registration)
Copy of the Statsburgerschaftsnachweis (Naturalisation certificate)
Name change deed from solicitor/oath commissioner/local administration should be submitted in case of name/surname change, change of appearance
Marriage certificate needs to be submitted in case of change of name after marriage
Copy of the Austrian passport

Foreign spouse of Indian national/Overseas Citizen of India

OCI Registration Form (part A& B duly filled online and signed by the applicant)
Two recent photographs of the size of 51x51 mm without border and showing full frontal view of applicant's head/shoulder, white/light background. No glare if wearing glasses.
Marriage certificate(Apostille document), marriage should have subsisted at least two years at the time of submission of the application for OCI registration in respect of the foreign spouse
An affidavit to the effect that the Indian/OCI spouse is still alive and that the couple are not separated/divorced.
Proof of OCI status/Indian nationality of spouse
Copy of the Meldezettle (Registration)
Copy of the staatsburgerchaftsnachweis(Naturalisation certificate)
Name change deed from solicitor/oath commissioner/local administration should be submitted in case of name/surname change, change of appearance.
Marriage certificate needs to be submitted in case of change of name after marriage
Copy of the Austrian passport
Note: In case of foreign spouse, the application along with documents should be submitted in duplicate.

Minor children

OCI Registration Form (part A&B duly filled online and signed by the applicant). If minors are not capable of writing then it should have Left thumb impression in respect of girl child and Right Thumb Impression in respect of boy child. The From B in respect of minors is to be countersigned by both parents.
Two recent photographs of the size of 51x51 mm without border and showing full frontal view of applicant's head/shoulder, white/light background. No glare if wearing glasses.
Passport surrender certificate /renunciation of Indian citizenship certificate
Copy of the OCI card, Passport surrender certificate /renunciation of Indian citizenship certificate of the parents
Copy of the minor's birth certificate containing names of both parents(Apostille document).
Marriage certificate of the parents
Copy of the Meldezettle (Registration)
Copy of the staatsburgerchaftsnachweis(Naturalisation certificate)
Name change deed from solicitor/oath commissioner/local administration should be submitted in case of name/surname change, change of appearance
Copy of the Austrian passport

OCI Card in lieu of PIO

OCI Registration Form (part A& B duly filled online and signed by the applicant)
Two recent photographs of the size of 51x51 mm without border and showing full frontal view of applicant's head/shoulder, white/light background. No glare if wearing glasses.
Copy of the valid PIO card
Copy of the Meldezettel (Registration)
Copy of the staatsburgerchaftsnachweis(Naturalisation certificate)
Name change deed from solicitor/oath commissioner/local administration should be submitted in case of name/surname change, change of appearance
Copy of the Austrian passport
For obtaining OCI card in lieu of PIO in respect of foreign spouses, please refer to the para above for Foreign Spouses of Indian national/Overseas Citizen of India.

OCI Miscellaneous Services

Note: Only when new passport is issued after completing 20 years of age/ change of personal particulars viz. name, father's name, nationality and Loss/Damage of OCI card.

OCI Miscellaneous Registration Form (part A& B duly filled online and signed by the applicant) for change of Passport particulars, personal particulars, loss/ damage of OCI etc.
The applicants should fill up new passport number not old passport number while applying.
Two recent photographs of the size of 51x51 mm without border and showing full frontal view of applicant's head/shoulder, white/light background. No glare if wearing glasses.
Copy of the new Austrian passport
Copy of the previous OCI booklet (the first and the last page).
Name change deed from solicitor/oath commissioner/local administration should be submitted in case of name/surname change, change of appearance etc.

OCI Registration Process

Application from for OCI registration needs to be filled online on the website of the Embassy of India, Vienna, Austria at https://passport.gov.in/oci  External website that opens in a new window

There are three distinct options namely

OCI Registration Form for fresh applicants/ first timers,
OCI Registration Form for OCI in lieu of PIO
OCI Miscellaneous Registration Form for new passport is issued after completing 20 years of age/ change of personal particulars viz. name, father's name, nationality  and loss/ damage of OCI .
After filling the form, the applicant need to save and print the form. A reference number is generated on the printed form.
This printed form along with the documents as mentioned above should be submitted at the Consular Wing, Embassy of India, Vienna, Austria on working days between 0930 Hrs to 1130 hrs along with the relevant fee as mentioned below.

Note: A Consular Surcharge of Euro 3.00 on account of Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) is levied on all types of OCI applications.

Dispensation of the OCI services

OCI card/Misc. Services is issued normally after 5-6 weeks from the date of submission of application subject to its receipt from the Ministry.  Applicants are advised to check the status of their applications online  https://ociservices.gov.in/statusEnqury  .

Collection time of OCI is between 1600-1700 hr.

Home Consular OCI Services
PUBLIC NOTICE: FROM DECEMBER 18, 2018 ONWARDS, THE ENROLMENT OF BIOMETRICS DATA (CAPTURE OF FACIAL RECOGNITION AND FINGER-PRINTING DATA) HAS BEEN MADE COMPULSORY BY COMPETENT AUTHORITY FOR ALL THE OCI APPLICANTS (EXCEPT CHILDREN BELOW 12 YEARS AND PERSONS OVER 65 YEARS).

Note:-For more details about OCI, applicants may refer to the website of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India (http://mha1.nic.in/foreigDiv/OCI.html ).

 IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER

(a) THE EMBASSY OF INDIA, VIENNA RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ASK FOR ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS IF REQUIRED ON A CASE TO CASE BASIS.

 (b) PHOTO, SIGNATURE AND DOCUMENTS HAVE TO BE UPLOADED BY THE APPLICANT THEMSELVES WHEN FILLING IN THE ONLINE FORM. PHOTO SPECIFICATIONS CAN BE FOUND AT https://passport.gov.in/oci/Photo-Spec-FINAL.pdf  .

(c) THE EMBASSY WILL NOT PRINT OCI APPLICATIONS FOR APPLICANTS AND HAS NO PROVISION FOR FILLING UP THE OCI APPLICATION FORM.

(d) FOREIGN MILITARY PERSONNEL EITHER SERVING OR RETIRED AND PERSONS HOLDING DIPLOMATIC /SERVICE/OFFICIAL PASSPORTS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR GRANT OF OCI.

(e) CIVIL GOVT. SERVANTS WORKING IN MINISTRY OF DEFENCE AS I.T ENGINEERS/CIVIL CONTRACTORS ARE NOT ENTITLED FOR OCI