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Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Card

What is an OCI Card?

Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) is a special status for people of Indian origin. It is not the same as full Indian citizenship, but it offers many lifelong benefits. To be eligible, you must be a former Indian citizen (or a child or grandchild of a former citizen) or the foreign spouse of an Indian citizen/OCI holder (married for at least two years). People whose parents or grandparents were citizens of Pakistan, Bangladesh, or other specified countries are generally ineligible. OCI gives you a multiple-entry, lifelong visa to India and grants you parity with Indian citizens in areas such as domestic travel and entry. OCI holders enjoy many of the same rights as resident Indians when it comes to education, purchase of property (except agricultural land), and other privileges. However, to apply for OCI, you must first formally renounce your Indian citizenship if you still hold it, because India does not allow dual nationality. We can explain the eligibility rules, assist with the application forms, and help you complete the renunciation process to secure OCI status.

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Frequently Asked Question

Get clear answers to the most common queries related to U.S. visas, immigration, documentation, timelines, and eligibility.

An OCI card does not make you a full citizen of India. The key differences are that OCI holders cannot vote, hold a government job, run for political office, or purchase agricultural land. However, it provides a lifelong, multiple-entry visa and grants most other rights similar to a citizen, such as the ability to live, work, and study in India indefinitely.

No. If you are currently an Indian citizen, you are not eligible for OCI. India does not allow dual citizenship. You must first formally renounce your Indian citizenship by surrendering your Indian passport. Only after you have received the Surrender Certificate can you then apply for OCI status.

Yes, you are very likely eligible. OCI eligibility extends to children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren of former Indian citizens. As long as you can provide the necessary documentation to prove this lineage (such as your parent's/grandparent's birth certificates, passports, or other legal documents), you can apply.

Yes, a foreign national who is married to a current Indian citizen or an existing OCI holder is eligible to apply. The key requirement is that the marriage must have been registered and sustained for at least two continuous years before the application is submitted.

The benefits are significant. Unlike a tourist visa that needs frequent renewal, the OCI card is valid for life. It allows you to live and work in India without any time restrictions, offers parity with Indian citizens in domestic airfares and entry fees to monuments, and simplifies processes for studying, opening bank accounts, and buying non-agricultural property.