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Registration of Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI)

Constitution of India does not allow dual citizenship. Government of India (GOI) introduced OCI Scheme on December 2, 2005. GOI decided to register Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) of certain category as specified in Section 7A of the Citizenship Act, 1955 as Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) Cardholder.

OCI card is multiple entry and multi-purpose life-long visa for visiting India. The OCI card is primarily a visa document and not an identity document for a foreigner.

Link for online OCI Application Form: https://ociservices.gov.in/

ELIGIBILITY

1.     Any foreign national who was citizen of India or eligible to become citizen of India on 26th January 1950.

2.     Any foreigner, who, is a child, grandchild or great grandchild of such citizen of mentioned the above at S. No.1.

3.     Foreign origin Spouse of a citizen of India or foreign origin spouse of an OCI cardholder and whose marriage has been registered and subsisted for a continuous period of not less than 2 years.

4.     No person, who or either of whose parent or grandparent or great grandparent is or had been citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh.

5.     Foreign Military/Police personnel either serving or retired will not be registered as OCI card holder

OCI card holders are not entitled for the following:

1.     OCI cardholders are not entitled to vote in India.

2.     OCI cardholders need special permission to undertake Research Work, Mountaineering, Missionary Work, Tabligh Work, and Journalism.

3.     OCI cardholders need permission to visit Protected/Restricted Area Notified by Government of India.

4.     OCI cardholder cannot acquire agricultural and plantation properties in India.

 

 

 

PIO card holders can apply forOCI in lieu of valid PIO

The Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) Card Scheme has been withdrawn since January 9, 2015. Indian Immigration Check Post(s) will continue to consider all PIO cards valid to travel to India till 31st December, 2021.

 

PIO Card holders are advised to apply for issuance of OCI card (In Lieu of valid PIO cards) before 31st December, 2021.

Required documents for OCI in lieu of valid PIO:

  1. Duly filled online, printed and signed application:

https://ociservices.gov.in/welcome

  1. Valid original PIO card and copy.
  2. Original and copy of current Passport.
  3. 2 photographs 5x5 cms with white background
  4. Copy of Address proof of current place of stay (such as Utility Bill/ Rent Lease/ Driving License/ Bank Statement etc).
  5. For Fees click on link: http://www.eoicaracas.gov.in/page/fee-schedule-of-consular-services/

Required documents for OCI Card for Adult (former Indian National):

  1. Duly filled online, printed and signed application:

https://ociservices.gov.in/welcome

  1. SurrenderedIndian Passport copy.
  2. Surrender Certificate (Renunciation of Indian Citizenship Certificate)
  3. Original & copy of Certificate of Citizenship (apostle by local Foreign Office).
  4. Present Passport copy and original.
  5. 2 photographs.
  6. Copy of Address proof of current place of stay (such as Utility Bill/ Rent Lease/ Driving License/ Bank Statement etc.).
  7. For Fees click on link: http://www.eoicaracas.gov.in/page/fee-schedule-of-consular-services/

Required documents for OCI Card for Adult (who never held Indian Passport/ Foreign Nationals with Indian Ancestors):

  1. Duly filled online, printed and signed application:

https://ociservices.gov.in/welcome

  1. Indian Passport copy, Immigration Pass or any other proof of Person of Indian Origin of Parents/Grandparents/Great Grandparents with documentary proof of relationship with them such as Birth Certificate (all documents must be apostle by Foreign Office and if issued in India, must be attested by concerned State Home Department).
  2. Current Passport copy and Original.
  3. 2 photographs.
  4. Copy of Address proof of current place of stay (such as Utility Bill/ Rent Lease/ Driving License/ Bank Statement etc.).
  5. For Fees click on link: http://www.eoicaracas.gov.in/page/fee-schedule-of-consular-services/

Required documents for Minor (who never held Indian Passport/

Foreign Nationals with Indian Ancestors):

  1. Duly filled online, printed and signed application:

https://ociservices.gov.in/welcome

  1. Indian Passport copy, Immigration Pass or any other proof of Person of Indian Origin of Parents/Grandparents/Great Grandparents with documentary proof of relationship with them such as Birth Certificate (all documents must be apostle by Foreign Office if issued out of India and if issued in India, must be attested by concerned State Home Department).
  2. Parents’ Marriage Certificate (must be apostle by Foreign Office if issued out of India and if issued in India, must be attested by concerned State Home Department).
  3. Birth Certificate apostle by Foreign Office.
  4. Current Passport copy and original of Minor.
  5. Copy of current Passport of both Parents.
  6. 2 photographs.
  7. Copy of Address proof of current place of stay (such as Utility Bill/ Rent Lease/ Driving License/ Bank Statement etc).
  8. For Fees click on link: http://www.eoicaracas.gov.in/page/fee-schedule-of-consular-services/

Required documents for Foreign Spouse of Person of Indian Origin

(Holder of Indian Passport of OCI Card):

  1. Copy of Indian Passport or OCI Card of Indian Spouse.
  2. Marriage Certificate, issued outside India, must be apostle by Foreign Office and if issued in India, must be attested by concerned State Home Department.
  3. Current Passport copy and Original.
  4. 2 photographs.
  5. Copy of Address proof of current place of stay (such as Utility Bill/ Rent Lease/ Driving License/ Bank Statement etc).
  6. For Fees click on link: http://www.eoicaracas.gov.in/page/fee-schedule-of-consular-services/

For sending applications by Courier please include a return DHL Air-way bill:

Consular Section

Embassy of India,

Quinta Tagore #12, Av San Carlos

La Floresta, Caracas, 1060

Venezuela.

Consular Section is open from Monday to Friday as follows:

Monday to Friday (8.00 am to 4.30 pm)

OCI Card to be re-issued in the following conditions:

  1. Change in personal particulars as name/nationality/appearance.
  2. In case of Lost/damaged OCI card.
  3. When a new Passport is issued after completing 20 years of age.

Required documents for re-issuance of OCI for Adults:

  1. Duly filled online, printed and signed application:

https://ociservices.gov.in/welcome

  1. Original and copy of OCI Card.
  2. Original and copy of Current Passport.
  3. 2 photographs.
  4. Copy of Address proof of current place of stay (such as Utility Bill/ Rent Lease/ Driving License/ Bank Statement etc).
  5. For Fees click on link: http://www.eoicaracas.gov.in/page/fee-schedule-of-consular-services.

 

 

Mandatory requirement of re-issuance of an OCI card each time a new passport is issued to a foreigner upto 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age is dispensed with.

An OCI cardholder is required to onlyupload on the OCI Portal online a copy of the new passport and most recent photograph each time when a new passport is issued up to 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age. 

In the case of Foreign Spouse, each time a new passport is issued, the following documents are required to be uploaded on the OCI portal:

  • Copyof new Passport.
  • Latestphotograph.
  • Notarized declaration that their marriage is still subsisting.
  • Copy of previous OCI card.
  • Copy of Indian Passport or OCI Card of Indian spouse.

Applicants need to apply online on https://ociservices.gov.in and opt for passport updation service under OCI Miscellaneous Services, uploading photograph and required documents. An auto email is sent to the applicant subsequent to successful upload of documents. After the information is processed by the Embassy (after 30 days of the uploading of documents by the applicant), an auto-email will be received by the Applicant informing that changes have been made in his/her records.

          For updating of OCI information/ OCI Miscellaneous Acknowledgmentthrough the online OCI Portal, the services will be provided on gratis basis.

The uploading of these documents may be done within three months of receipt of the new passport.

There will be no restriction on the OCI cardholder to travel to/from India during the period from the date of issue of new passport till the date of final acknowledgment of his/her documents in the online system.

For more details, you may write email at cons[dot]caracas[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]inor cons1[dot]caracas[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in