Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI)

  • Home ›   Consular ›   Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI)

OCI Card

OCI - General Information

The Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) Scheme allows all Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) [who were citizens of India on 26th January, 1950 or thereafter or were eligible to become citizens of India on 26th January, 1950 except who is or had been a citizen of Pakistan, Bangladesh or such other country as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify] to register as Overseas Citizen of India (OCI). Upon successful registration the applicant receives an e-OCI and physical booklet shall not be issued. Steps to apply/download e-OCI: CLICK HERE.

Main types of applicants who are eligible to apply for OCI:

  1. Adults - Who were previously Indian Citizens.
  2. Adults - Whose parents/Grand parents were Indian Citizens.
  3. Minors - With parents of Indian origin (or who qualify under category 1 & 2)
  4. Foreign Citizens who are married to person of Indian origin for a period longer than 2 years at the time of applying for OCI.

Validity of OCI

OCI once issued needs to be updated when a person has obtained a new passport (other than the one on which the original OCI was issued).

Important: OCI is not to be misconstrued as 'dual citizenship'. OCI does not confer political rights. The registered Overseas Citizens of India shall not be entitled to the rights conferred on a citizen of India under article 16 of the Constitution with regard to equality of opportunity in matters of public employment.

Detailed instructions and procedures on the OCI Scheme are available at https://ociservices.gov.in/onlineOCI/.

A registered Overseas Citizen of India is granted multiple entry, multi-purpose, life-long visa for visiting India, he/she is exempted from registration with Foreign Regional Registration Officer or Foreign Registration Officer for any length of stay in India, and is entitled to general parity with Non-Resident Indians in respect of all facilities available to them in economic, financial and educational fields except in matters relating to the acquisition of Agricultural land or Farm house or Plantation properties. Specific benefits/parity is notified by the Ministry from time to time.

The benefits of OCI are as under

  • Parity with Non-Resident Indians in the matter of inter-country adoption of Indian children.
  • Parity with resident Indian nationals in matters of tariffs in domestic air fares.
  • Parity with domestic Indian visitors in respect of entry fee for visiting national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in India.
  • Parity with non-resident Indians in respect of:
    1. Entry fees for visiting the national monuments, historical sites, and museums in India.
    2. Practicing the following professions in India, in pursuance of the provisions contained in the relevant Acts, namely-
      1. Doctors, dentists, nurses, and pharmacists
      2. Advocates
      3. Architects and
      4. Chartered Accountants

Activities needing special permission

Whenever OCI holder is planning to perform or undertake following activities in India, she/ he needs to mandatorily apply and obtain special permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Ensure that permission is obtained before travel to India for these activities.

Activities requiring special permission: Research Activity, Missionary Activity, Tabligh Activity, Mountaineering Activity, Journalist Activity, Internship/employment in Foreign Diplomatic Mission or Foreign Government Organisation in India. Documents to be provided will be mentioned in drop down while applying on this portal.

Before You Apply

Important information to observe before applying

  • All foreign documents (birth certificate, marriage certificate and similar) must be apostilled by the competent authorities — the relevant embassy or ministry.
  • If the supporting documents submitted are not satisfactory, the applicant will be asked to provide further documentary evidence.
  • It is an offence to knowingly furnish false information, or to suppress material information, when applying for OCI.
  • The grant of an OCI card does not entitle the holder to visit Restricted or Protected areas without prior specific permission.
  • An OCI card does not entitle the holder to undertake missionary, mountaineering or research work without prior permission.
  • The e-OCI card has been introduced and printing of physical OCI card booklets has been discontinued for all categories. Applicants should download their e-OCI card from the OCI Services Portal.

Biometrics

  • With effect from 23 January 2019 the Government of India has made biometrics mandatory for all OCI applicants.
  • Applicants may give biometrics at the application stage. Giving them at the document verification stage is strongly advised.
  • Where an applicant cannot give biometrics at the application stage, the Indian Mission must be informed in writing.
  • Biometrics remain valid for five years from the date of enrolment; re-enrolment within that period is not required.
  • Applicants above 70 years of age or below 12 years of age are exempt from biometric capture.

Required Documents

2.1 OCI Card for Adults (held Indian passport or citizenship)

Required documents

  1. Application form, duly filled in and signed wherever necessary
  2. One recent passport photograph measuring 5 × 5 cm
  3. Copy of Surrender Certificate
  4. Copy of previous Indian passport
  5. Copy of present passport
  6. Copy of Citizen Card
  7. Copy of birth certificate, translated into English and notarised
  8. Copy of marriage certificate, if applicable
  9. Affidavit regarding Voter ID and Aadhaar card — Specimen 1

Important: It is mandatory to upload all the supporting documents listed above through Online OCI Services. Applications submitted without the supporting documents uploaded to the system will be rejected.

2.2 OCI Card for Children Below 18 Years (held Indian passport)

Required documents

  1. Application form signed by both parents. Where a child cannot sign, a thumb impression may be provided.
  2. One recent passport photograph measuring 5 × 5 cm
  3. Copy of previous Indian passport
  4. Copy of Surrender Certificate
  5. Copy of present passport
  6. Copy of Citizen Card
  7. Copy of birth certificate
  8. Copy of the father's and mother's passport identification pages
  9. Copy of marriage certificate

Important: The signature of both parents is mandatory on the OCI application form. If one parent is not living in Eswatini and their signature is not available, an authority letter (NOC) attested by a notary in the parent's country of residence, together with ID proof, must be submitted.

Important: It is mandatory to upload all the supporting documents listed above through Online OCI Services. Applications submitted without the supporting documents uploaded to the system will be rejected.

2.3 OCI Card for Foreign Spouse of an Indian National or OCI Holder

Required documents

  1. Application form, duly filled in and signed wherever necessary
  2. One recent passport photograph measuring 5 × 5 cm
  3. Copy of the marriage certificate duly attested/apostilled by the competent authorities. The marriage must have subsisted for at least two years at the time the application is submitted.
  4. Proof of the spouse's OCI status or Indian nationality — passport copy or OCI card copy
  5. Copy of present passport
  6. Copy of Citizen Card
  7. Copy of birth certificate or naturalisation certificate, translated into English and notarised
  8. Apostilled birth certificate of the foreign spouse, and an identity document issued by a government authority for the spouse's parents, grandparents or great-grandparents
  9. Affidavit stating that the applicant has never held an Indian passport, and that the OCI card will be returned to the High Commission of India, Mbabane if the marriage is dissolved by divorce or by the death of the spouse — Specimen 2

Important: It is mandatory to upload all the supporting documents listed above through Online OCI Services. Applications submitted without the supporting documents uploaded to the system will be rejected.

2.4 OCI Card for Adults Born to Indian Parents (never held an Indian passport)

Required documents

  1. Application form, duly filled in and signed wherever necessary
  2. One recent passport photograph measuring 5 × 5 cm
  3. Copy of present passport
  4. Copy of Citizen Card
  5. Copy of birth certificate or naturalisation certificate duly notarised
  6. Evidence of Indian citizenship of the applicant, their parents or grandparents — see the list below
  7. Affidavit stating that the applicant has never held an Indian passport — Specimen 2
  8. Affidavit from the applicant explaining how they, their parents or grandparents left India, with full details and the passport on which they travelled to foreign country

Accepted evidence of Indian citizenship

  • Indian passport copy, if applicable
  • OCI card copy, if applicable
  • Birth certificate
  • Property documents
  • Domicile or nativity certificate

Important: At least two of the documents listed as evidence are compulsory. All documents issued by Indian authorities must be attested by the Home Department and apostilled by the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi.

Important: It is mandatory to upload all the supporting documents listed above through Online OCI Services. Applications submitted without the supporting documents uploaded to the system will be rejected.

2.5 OCI Card for Children Born to Indian Parents (never held an Indian passport)

Required documents

  1. Application form signed by both parents. Where a child cannot sign, a thumb impression may be provided.
  2. One recent passport photograph measuring 5 × 5 cm
  3. Copy of Portuguese birth certificate, translated into English and notarised
  4. Copy of present passport
  5. Copy of Citizen Card
  6. Copy of the father's and mother's passport identification pages
  7. Copy of the parents' marriage certificate
  8. Evidence of Indian citizenship of the applicant, one or both parents, or grandparents — for example a copy of the father's or mother's Indian passport or OCI card
  9. Affidavit stating that the applicant has never held an Indian passport — Specimen 2

Important: If one parent is not living in Eswatini and their signature is not available, an authority letter (NOC) attested by a notary/Embassy/High Commission in the parent's country of residence, together with ID proof, must be submitted.

Important: It is mandatory to upload all the supporting documents listed above through Online OCI Services. Applications submitted without the supporting documents uploaded to the system will be rejected.

Updation of OCI Card (Miscellaneous Services)

Type A Type B
Paid services Gratis services
  1. Updation of passport details after 3 months of issuance.
  2. Change of address, occupation, or contact details
  3. Email ID updation
  4. Subsistance of marriage for foreign spouse holding OCI of 5 years validity
  1. Passport details within 3 months of issuance (except Type A2)

STEPS & CHECKLIST

Note I: Application for Type 'A' i.e. paid service applications are to be submitted in person at High Commission. Application for Type 'B' i.e. gratis service can be submitted and obtained online without visiting any office.

Note II: For all types of applications (i.e. fresh/updation) a digital version of OCI (electronic OCI i.e. e-OCI) shall be issued without physical card. The e-OCI can be downloaded from the portal and can be used for travel.

Type A: Paid Online updation of Passport Details after 3 months

In case of Updation of passport details after 3 months of issuance:

  1. Email acknowledgement* received from link (https://ociservices.gov.in/) [*The rejected email acknowledgement cannot be used for this service]
  2. Additional Form (CLICK HERE)
  3. Latest Passport Copy

Type B: Every time new passport is issued (Gratis)

Type B1 - Online updation of Details

Application link: https://ociservices.gov.in/

  1. Upload new passport

Type B2 (Gratis) Online updation of address/occupation/contact details

  1. Upload Proof of Changed address/occupation details

Type B3 (Gratis) Email Id updation

  1. Register on the online OCI Services portal with the valid email ID using "User Register" functionality (https://ociservices.gov.in)
  2. Login to the OCI portal using "User Login" functionality.
  3. Choose "OCI Miscellaneous Services" present on the dashboard
  4. Enter the valid details (OCI number, passport number and date of birth) of the OCI card for which the email id updation is required.
  5. Select Email ID Updation service under Gratis service
  6. Enter OCI card details and reason for availing the service
  7. Upload the scanned copy of the OCI card.
  8. Verify the information displayed through the application liked with the entered OCI number and newly filled information and click on final submit
  9. Once approved by competent authority, the new email id will be updated in OCI records which can be used to download the e-OCI.

Type B4 (Gratis) Subsistence of marriage for foreign spouse holding OCI of 5 years validity

  1. Upload new passport
  2. Declaration for subsistence of marriage (LINK)
  3. Valid Indian passport or OCI card
  4. Valid foreign passport of the Indian-origin spouse.

Photo Specifications

  1. One color photo as per below specification is required to be submitted along with the application:
  2. Size – 2 inch x 2 inch (51 mm x 51 mm)
  3. Background – Background should be plain white colored without borders.
  4. Clothes – Dark colour
  5. Eyes – Open

NOTE:

  1. After online submission of application form, no changes can be made manually / handwriting. In case of any error / changes, please fill a new online application form and use that for further submission to BLS.
  2. Consulate cannot edit or make any changes to the applicant's online application form.
  3. Consulate reserves the right to call for additional documents, as considered necessary.

2.8 Conversion of PIO Card to OCI Card

Under Ministry guidelines, conversion of a PIO card to an OCI card was possible only for applications received up to the deadline of 31 December 2025.

PIO cardholders should now apply for a fresh OCI card, following the instructions above.

Fee Structure

OCI fees, with effect from 1 April 2026

Fees Fresh OCI Card OCI Miscellaneous Services
Service Fee Fee SZL 4680 Fee SZL 430
ICWF SZL 55 SZL 55

ICWF is payable in addition to the service fee shown.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the documents submitted?

Once the complete application has been submitted online, including documents, photograph and signature, Original documents of the supporting documents must be presented to the High Commission for verification and payment. The Mission is responsible for verifying the supporting documents.

If there is any deficiency in the application, uploaded documents or photographs, the Mission will inform the applicant by telephone or email.

Where can I check the status of an application already submitted?

Application status can be checked on Online OCI Services.

Where do I apply for OCI Miscellaneous Services?

Applications are made through Online OCI Services.

Do I have to fill in every column of the online application?

Yes. It is mandatory that no column is left unanswered.

Are 'Empire of India' passports accepted as proof of Indian origin?

No, where they state the national status of the holder as a British subject by birth.

Yes, where they state the national status of the holder as a person of British Protectorate, originally a citizen of a place in India.

Is there an emergency service for OCI?

No. If you are travelling in the near future and have an emergency, please apply for a visa or e-visa.

What is the processing time for an application?

Around 5 to 6 weeks. Applicants are required to check the status on the MHA website; no separate intimation is sent about the status of an application.

How long will it take for my OCI card to be ready?

No enquiry will be entertained before 5 to 6 weeks from the date the application was submitted. After that, the OCI card is dispatched to the applicant's address.

I am having problems with the online registration portal. What should I do?

Please read all the instructions on the Ministry of Home Affairs website, ociservices.gov.in, paying particular attention to the Brochure, FAQ and FAQ (OCI Miscellaneous) sections.

Can OCI applications be made in India?

Yes. Applicants wishing to apply in India should see item 6 on the Ministry of Home Affairs website, Online OCI Services.

Where can I find more FAQs?

Further questions are answered at Online OCI Services — FAQ.

Back to top