Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Card: Who is eligible to apply and who is not?
- Oct 25
- 2 min read
Curated by Sneha Kulkarni, ET Online| Jun 04, 2025, 05:55:03 PM IST
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What is OCI?
The Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) scheme was introduced through an amendment to the Citizenship Act, 1955, in 2005. The scheme provides for the registration of Persons of Indian Origin as Overseas Citizens of India, provided they were citizens of India on or after 26th January 1950, or were eligible to become citizens on that date.
Who is eligible to apply for an OCI card?
According to the OCI portal:Any person of full age and capacity: -(i) who is a citizen of another country, but was a citizen of India at the time of, or at any time after the commencement of the Constitution, i.e. 26.01.1950; or(ii) who is a citizen of another country, but was eligible to become a citizen of India at the time of the commencement of the Constitution, i.e. on 26.01.1950; or(iii) who is a citizen of another country, but belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15.08.1947; or(iv) who is a child or a grandchild, or a great-grandchild of such a citizen; can register for an OCI card.
Who is not eligible for an OCI Card?
No person who or whose parents or grandparents or great grandparents 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, shall be eligible for registration as an Overseas Citizen of India cardholder.
How to apply for an OCI card?
Applications must be submitted online through the official OCI portal: https://ociservices.gov.in. Applicants need to upload necessary documents and pay the applicable fees.
Can minor children apply for registration as on OCI card?
Yes. however, if either of the child’s parents or grandparents or great grandparents 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, the child will not be eligible for registration as an Overseas Citizen of India cardholder.
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