OCI stands for Overseas Citizenship of India, which is a form of permanent residency available to people of Indian origin and their spouses that allows them to live and work in India indefinitely. It was introduced by the Indian government in 2005 to meet the demands of Indians residing overseas who insisted on dual citizenship. However, despite its name, OCI is not recognized as citizenship by the Republic of India or by the majority of nations worldwide, and it does not grant the right to vote in Indian elections or hold public office.
To be eligible for OCI, one must be a foreign national who:
- Was a citizen of India at any time, or
- Belonged to a territory that became part of India after August 15, 1947, or
- Is a child or grandchild or great-grandchild of such a citizen, or
- Is a minor child of such persons mentioned above, or
- Is a minor child and whose both parents are citizens of India or one of the parents is a citizen of India, or
- Is a spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign origin of an OCI cardholder and whose marriage has been registered and subsisted for a continuous period of not less than two years immediately preceding the presentation of the application.
OCI cardholders are provided with multiple entry lifelong visas for visiting India for any purpose, and they are exempt from registration with Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) or Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) for any length of stay in India. OCI cardholders can also avail various consular services from Indian missions and can facilitate in availing various services in India.
The OCI card is a smart card that is issued to eligible foreign nationals who apply for it. It is only valid with a valid foreign passport, and the Indian government can revoke OCI status in a wide variety of circumstances. OCI cards issued on or after April 15, 2021, have a blue-grey cover with golden-colored printing, and the Emblem of India is emblazoned in the center of the front cover.
