IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON OCI

Press release on Relaxation in OCI Guidelines till 30th June 2020

December 18, 2019

1.The following OCI guidelines have been in force since 2005:

(i).OCI card needs to be re-issued each time a new passport is acquired by the cardholder up to the age of 20 years.

(ii).OCI card is required to be re-issued once on acquiring a new passport after completing 50 years of age.

(iii).Re-issuance of OCI card is not required each time a passport is issued to a cardholder between 21 and 50 years of age.

2.This is to inform that Government of India has decided to grant temporary relaxation till 30th June 2020 in the following cases:

(i) In case an OCI card holder below the age of 20 years has not got OCI card re-issued on change of passport, he/she may travel on the strength of his/her existing OCI card bearing old passport number subject to the condition that along with the new passport, the OCI cardholder carries old passport mentioned in the OCI card.

(ii) In case an OCI card holder who has attained the age of 50 years and got his/her passport renewed subsequently but has not got his/her OCI card re-issued on renewal of passport, he/she may travel till June 30, 2020 on the strength of existing OCI card along-with the new and old passports.

3.It is, however, advised that OCI cardholders may take steps to comply with the existing OCI guidelines in Para 1 above and renew their OCI cards as required by the rules.

OVERSEAS CITIZENS OF INDIA SCHEME (OCI)

OVERSEAS CITIZENSHIP OF INDIA (OCI)

Every registered OCI will be issued a registration certificate which is printed like an Indian passport in different colour and will have the photograph of the individual and all necessary security features.

A.  Who is eligible to apply for Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Card?  

A foreign national, who:

was eligible to become a citizen of India on 26.01.1950, or

was a citizen of India on or at any time after 26.01.1950, or

belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15.08.1947
and his/her children and grandchildren, are eligible for registration as Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), provided he/she does not hold Indian and German citizenship simultaneously.

The minor children of such persons are also eligible for OCI.

B.    Who is not eligible?

Applicant, who has been a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh,

Minor PIO children whose one parent is an Indian national and the other is ineligible for OCI

Any person, who or either of whose parents or grandparents or great grandparents is or had been a citizen of Pakistan and Bangladesh.

C.    What are the benefits?

Registered OCIs shall be entitled to following benefits:

Multi-purpose, multi entry, lifelong visas for visiting India.

Exemption from registration with Foreigners Regional Registration officer/Foreigners Registration Officer for any length of stay in India.

Parity with Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in respect of all facilities to the latter in economic, financial and educational fields except in matters relating to the acquisition of agricultural/plantation properties.

Any other benefits to OCIs will be notified by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) under Section 7 B (1) of the Citizenship Act, 1955.

D.    What are the restrictions?

The OCI is not entitled to vote,

Be a member of Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council or Parliament.

He/she cannot hold constitutional posts such as President, Vice President, Judge of Supreme Court or High Court etc.

cannot hold employment in the Government.

E. What is the application procedure for an OCI card?

The applicants shall 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.

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/ Post concerned for prior verification. The Indian Missions / Posts will be responsible for verifying the supporting documents with the originals.

If there is any deficiency in the application/ uploaded documents/ photographs, the Indian Mission/ Post concerned shall inform the same to the applicant telephonically or by email.

IMPORTANT: It is mandatory for the applicants to upload the photo, signature and documents as part of the OCI application process. Incomplete OCI applications without uploading the same will not be accepted. Hence kindly verify whether all documents have been uploaded before submitting the application.

F. Where to make the online application?

https://passport.gov.in/oci/OnlineOCIRegistrationG.jsp

G. What are the documents required to be submitted with the OCI Application?

.........................................................................................................................................

NOTE: OCI APPLICANTS ARE REQUESTED TO SURRENDER THEIR INDIAN PASSPORTS TO PASSPORT SECTION AS PER INSTRUCTIONS ON THIS MATTER AND SUBMIT COPY OF SURRENDER CERTIFICATE ALONGWITH THEIR OCI APPLICATIONS. Those applicants who have ever held Indian Passports and are unable to produce the same for surrender for any reason (Loss/ Misplacement/ Submitted to home office long time back) are required to furnish a notarised affidavit (if the passport is already expired) and also police report (In cases where Indian Passport was still valid).

NOTE: All applicants for OCI are required to attach a copy of "Meldebescheinigung" from the concerned local authorities.

NOTE: Where the documents to be submitted are in a language other than English, translation in English language of the same is required.

.........................................................................................................................................

1.  OCI Card for Adults:

Application form -Part A duly filled in and signed wherever necessary.

Application form -Part B duly filled in and signed wherever necessary.

2 recent passport photographs measuring 51x51 mm without border and showing full frontal view of the person's head and shoulders having a white or light colored background. No glare if wearing glasses.

Evidence of Indian citizenship of self or parents or grandparents or great grandparents. [ Pl see http://1.nic.in/foreigDiv/OCI.html - Brochure - Point 3 ]

Evidence of relationship as parent/grandparent/great grandparent, if their Indian origin is claimed as basis for registration as OCI cardholder.

[ Pl see http://1.nic.in/foreigDiv/OCI.html - Brochure - Point 4 ]

Copy of present German passport.

Copy of nationality certificate.
.........................................................................................................................................

2.  OCI Card for children below 18 years (who held an Indian Passport).

Application form -Part A duly filled in and signed by the applicant.Signature and thumb impressions should be confined in the prescribed box in Part A. In case a child cannot sign, his/her thumb impression may be provided.

Application form -Part B duly filled in and signed wherever necessary by either of the parent.

2 recent passport photographs measuring 51x51 mm without border and showing full frontal view of the person's head and shoulders having a white or light colored background. No glare if wearing glasses.

Copy of previous Indian passport.

Copy of present German passport.

Copy of father's/mother's German passport who are eligible for an OCI Card.

Copy of nationality certificate.

.........................................................................................................................................

3.  OCI Card for Foreign spouse of Indian national/Overseas Citizen of India

OCI Registration Form (part A& B duly filled online and signed by the applicant).

2 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, 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 Meldebescheinigung (Registration).

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 German passport.

Note: In case of foreign spouse, the application along with documents should be submitted in duplicate.

.........................................................................................................................................

4.  OCI Card for Adults born to Indian parents and never held an Indian Passport

Application form -Part A duly filled in and signed wherever necessary.

Application form -Part B duly filled in and signed wherever necessary.

2 recent passport photographs measuring 51x51 mm without border and showing full frontal view of the person's head and shoulders having a white or light colored background. No glare if wearing glasses.

Evidence of Indian citizenship of self or parents or grandparents or great grandparents

Evidence of relationship as parent/grandparent/great grandparent, if their Indian origin is claimed as basis for registration as OCI cardholder.

Copy of Birth Certificate.

Copy of present German passport.

Copy of marriage certificate of the parents.

Copy of nationality certificate.
.........................................................................................................................................

5.  OCI Card for Children below 18 yrs born to Indian parents and never held an Indian Passport.

Application form -Part A duly filled in and signed by the applicant. Please note that, in the box on Part A, minor can sign only if he/she can, otherwise only thumb impression (signature /thumb impression should be within the box).

Application form -Part B duly filled in and signed wherever necessary by either of the parent.

2 recent passport photographs measuring 51x51 mm without border and showing full frontal view of the person's head and shoulders having a white or light colored background. No glare if wearing glasses.

Copy of father's/mother's German passport who are eligible for an OCI Card.

Evidence of Indian citizenship of self or parents/one of the parents or grandparents or great grandparents.

Evidence of relationship as parent/grandparent/great grandparent, if their Indian origin is claimed as basis for registration as OCI cardholder.

Copy of Birth Certificate.

Copy of present German passport.

Copy of nationality certificate.
.........................................................................................................................................

H. Submission of documents. Where?

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/ Post concerned for prior verification. The Indian Missions / Posts will be responsible for verifying the supporting documents with the originals.

If there is any deficiency in the application/ uploaded documents/ photographs, the Indian Mission/ Post concerned shall inform the same to the applicant telephonically or by email.

I. Where to check the status of the online application already applied?

https://passport.gov.in/oci/OnlineOCIenquiry.jsp

J. Where to apply for OCI Miscellaneous services?

https://passport.gov.in/oci/OnlineOCIMiscMain.jsp

K.  Fee structure

**In case the application is rejected € 22 will be deducted as processing charges.

***(For PIO card holders) - Should submit a copy of PIO card along with other documents.