OCI Card Consular & Visa Services

OCI Card

OVERSEAS CITIZENSHIP OF INDIA (OCI)

The Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) scheme is operational from December 2, 2005.

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

» Who was eligible to become citizen of India on January 26, 1950; or

» Who was a citizen of India on or at any time after January 26, 1950; or

» Who belonged to a territory that became part of India after August 15, 1947; and

» His/her children and grand children including minors, provided foreign national or his/her children and grand children’s country concerned allows dual citizenship in some form or other under the local laws. For minor applicants, one of the parents should be a foreign passport holder.

B. Who is not eligible?

» Any foreign national who has earlier been a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh.

» Any foreign national who has an adverse track record.

C. Cancellation of OCI Registration

» Based on the assessment of the competent authorities of the Government of India, OCI may be cancelled/denied at any point of time.

D. Privileges

Persons registered as OCI enjoy:

» A multiple entry, multi-purpose lifelong visa for visiting India.

» Exemption from registration with local police authority for any length of stay in India.

» Parity with Non-resident Indians (NRIs) in respect of economic, financial and educational fields, except in relation to acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties.

Persons registered as overseas citizen of India under Section 7A of the Citizenship Act, 1955, shall be entitled to:

(a) Parity with non-resident Indian in respect of:

1. Entry fees to be charged for visiting the national monuments, historical sites and museums in India;

2. Pursuing the following professions in India, in pursuance of the provisions contained in the relevant Acts, namely: Doctors, dentists, nurses and pharmacists; Advocates; Architects; and Chartered Accountants.

(b) Appear for the All India Pre-Medical Test or such other tests to make them eligible for admission in pursuance of the provisions contained in the relevant Acts.

E. Restrictions

Persons registered as OCI:

» Cannot acquire agricultural or plantation properties in India;

» Do not enjoy any voting rights;

» Cannot contest elections to Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha/ Legislative Assembly/Council;

» Cannot hold Constitutional posts.

F. Guidance for completing online application:

You must register and complete the form (Part-A) ONLINE at the website: https://ociservices.gov.in/ .The completed application form (Part-A & Part- B) along with the following documents must be submitted for each applicant to the Consulate General of India, Shanghai.

Note: Each photocopy should be self-attested by the applicant. For minors the parent must self-attest the photocopies. When signing on the photocopies of the documents, please mention as "Self Attested" and sign with name & date. 

1. Photographs: You must paste 2 photos in colour for each applicant (2 inches x 2 inches) on the space provided. DO NOT STAPLE the photographs. Attach third photograph in an envelope with name written on the back of photograph. (Recent 5cm*5cm, front pose, full face photograph where the ears are visible in white backdrop).

2. Photocopy of the photo page of the foreign passport & all observation pages of the foreign passport.

Photocopy of the first page, photo page, last page and other pages having any observations of valid/cancelled Indian passport of self/parents/grandparents or copy of Surrender Certificate of Indian passport of self/parents or grandparents.

Note: OCI applicants are requested to surrender their Indian Passports and submit copy of surrender certificate along with their OCI applications. In case the applicant has previously held an Indian passport and now is not able to surrender it for any reason (loss/misplacement/submission to some Office), a duly notarized affidavit should be provided to that effect along with the application for OCI.  This would not, however, constitute a document supporting the claim of Indian origin status; independent documents indicated herein are required for this. 

Photocopy of one or more of the following documents: 

i. Indian Educational certificate issued by educational boards/universities.

ii. Indian Property documents attested by a revenue officer not below the rank of Tahsildar.

iii. Indian Photo Voter ID

iv. Indian Ration card with photo

v. Indian driving license with photo

vi. Any Indian photo ID issued by Central /State Government

vii. All documents (like birth/marriage certificate) issued by Chinese authorities need to be translated in English and duly notarized/authenticated by MFA, China before submission.

viii. Indian Pan Card  

5. Photocopy of the birth certificate for foreign-born children as a proof of relationship with the child. 

6. PIO card in Original and self- attested copy of PIO card, if applicable.  

7. Photocopy of Chinese residence visa.

8. Naturalization/Registration Certificate

9. Documentary evidence of relationship as parents/grandparents, if Indian origin is claimed on that basis. 

10. Marriage certificate where required

11. Change of name/appearance affidavit if required. 

Note:

i. If the supporting documents are not satisfactory applicant will be asked to provide more documentary evidence.

ii. All documents should be submitted in two individual sets for all the applicants. Each set should comprise of Part A, Part B and supporting documents. 

Signature:  The signature of the applicant should be within and in the center of the Signature box of Part A of the OCI Application form. Place thumb impression in signature box in BLUE INK ONLY (right thumb for female and left thumb for male), if the applicant (including minor children) can sign. Please make sure the thumb impression is not faint. Parents should not sign for children in the signature box.

G. Submission

The completed application along with enclosures [please bring along originals for verification and return] should be submitted at CGI Shanghai. For security reasons, OCI applications are accepted only from the applicants and not through third party. Either of the parents can submit the OCI application on behalf of the minor children. Appearance of minor children is not mandatory.

Time: Between 0930 and 1200 hrs on any working day (Monday-Friday).

H. Fee

Fees should be paid only in cash.

Sl. No.

Particulars of Fees

Service

Fee to be charged in RMB

1

New OCI registration

Fresh Application

1807

2

OCI registration

In lieu of Lost PIO card

670

3

In lieu of valid PIO card

670

4

Misc. services on OCI including re-issue

In case of issuance of new passport

183

5

In case of change of personal particulars

183

6

Issuance of Duplicate OCI booklet

In case of mutilated/damaged OCI card

670

 

In case of loss of OCI card

670

I. Instructions regarding online status checking and collection of OCI cards

1. OCI Cards

OCI cards are printed in Delhi. Please check the status at: https://ociservices.gov.in/. Enquiries and status calls will be attended to only after 30 days of acceptance of the application.

2. Incomplete applications

If any application/information is incomplete, your application will be sent back or you will be contacted by email provided on the application.

3. Delivery

You are requested to submit your and your family member’s foreign passport and PIO card/s, if any at the CGI Shanghai, when you see the online status of OCI card as "Documents printed and received in Shanghai".

J. OCI Miscellaneous Services

(i) OCI Miscellaneous Services are available in the event of:

» Issuance of new passport;
» Change of personal particulars viz. nationality.

» Loss/damage of OCI registration certificate/visa.

» Erroneously entering wrong personal particulars while submitting online applications.

» Change of address and occupation.

(ii) Process

1. Registered OCI shall make the application online selecting the requisite service(s).

2. Copy of application along with copy of old OCI card, old and new foreign passport to be submitted to the Consulate General of India, Shanghai.

3. Application can be submitted in Consulate General of India, Shanghai in whose jurisdiction the applicant is ordinarily residing. (Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang)

OCI Miscellaneous Form:

OCI Miscellaneous form is available on the following link https://ociservices.gov.in/

(iii) Enclosures

» Application form
» One 2’ x 2’ inch photograph.

» Self-attested copy of valid foreign passport

» Old/expired foreign passport

» Old OCI card

» Photocopy of Valid foreign passport and OCI card.

» Requisite Fee in cash

IMPORTANT NOTE:

  1. THERE IS NO EMERGENCY SERVICE FOR OCI. Online Status Enquiry: You can check the status of OCI application online at https://ociservices.gov.in/. When the status of an OCI document in the online status enquiry is GRANTED and NOT PRINTED EVEN AFTER A WEEK, please note that the photograph uploaded could not be printed in Delhi. To rectify this, please take a copy of the status report and paste a FRESH PHOTOGRAPH (2 inch x 2 inch [51 mm x 51 mm] with 80% coverage of face) on the left hand below the status report copy & sign (thumb impression in case of infants) on the right hand side opposite to the photo and submit it at the CGI Shanghai. This will be scanned and uploaded again. This process is likely to take a further period of up to two weeks and the progress can be watched through status enquiry.
  2. Indian Passport: If your Indian passport is already cancelled, you need to submit only self-attested copy of the relevant pages. Otherwise, send original Indian Passport with the OCI application. If holding PIO card, it should also be enclosed in original with OCI application.
  3. Travel to India: While travelling to India, it is important for OCI holders to carry the OCI booklet.
  4. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) Scheme: http://mha.nic.in/pdfs/oci-faq.pdf