Validity of India OCI Card 

An OCI card is a document that grants Overseas Citizenship of India status to eligible persons of Indian origin. It is not full citizenship, but a form of permanent residency that allows some rights and privileges in India, such as visa-free travel, work and study opportunities, and property ownership.¹

If you are a foreign national of Indian origin, you may want to consider applying for an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card. Visas for Future offers a convenient solution for acquiring your India OCI. We prioritize customer satisfaction and provide support throughout the application process to ensure accurate form completion. Our team addresses any questions or concerns you may have, offering the support you need. We commit to processing your application within two business days, and subsequently, you can expect to receive your OCI card within seven to eleven weeks. Opt for Visas for Future for a straightforward application process with our continuous support. Furthermore, for each purchase you make, we plant a tree in your name, contributing to environmental sustainability.

What We’re Offering

If you are a foreign national of Indian origin, you may want to consider applying for an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, our service will process your application within two business days, after which you will receive your OCI card within seven to eleven weeks.

• Grants unlimited stay in India.
• Multiple entries.
• $368 fee (Including Government fee).
• Form validation included.
• We plant a tree for every OCI sold.

To apply, you just need a passport.

Our visa forms are easy and simple.

We validate your application.

We answer your questions.

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Indian OCI Card Validity

OCI cardholders can stay in India for an indefinite period. They are granted a multiple entry, lifelong visa to visit India, which means they can enter and exit the country as many times as they like without having to obtain a separate visa. However, for OCI cards issued to minors under 18, the validity is a bit different. These cards are valid for 5 years from the date of issue, or until the minor turns 18, whichever comes first.²

Key Points About OCI Card Validity:

1. Unlimited Stay: The OCI card permits cardholders to stay in India indefinitely, providing them with the flexibility to reside in the country for as long as they desire.
2.  Lifelong Visa: Holders enjoy a lifelong, multiple-entry visa, facilitating seamless travel to and from India throughout their lifetime. This privilege allows unrestricted entry and exit from the country, streamlining travel arrangements for OCI cardholders.
3.  Validity for Minors: OCI cards issued to minors are valid for five years from the date of issue or until the minor reaches 18 years old, whichever occurs first. This specific validity period for minors ensures that the OCI card aligns with their age and evolving travel requirements as they transition into adulthood.
4. Renewal requirement: While the OCI card itself doesn’t expire, there’s a renewal requirement associated with it. You need to renew your OCI card every 10 years, but this doesn’t affect your visa privileges. It’s simply an update to confirm your continued eligibility and validity of the card.
5. Passport link: OCI card renewal is linked to your passport. When you get a new passport after turning 20, you need to re-issue your OCI card as well. This is a one-time process, unlike the regular 10-year renewals.

India OCI Card Eligibility

A foreign national is eligible for registration as an OCI cardholder if he/she:²

• Was a citizen of India at the time of, or at any time after 26th January 1950.
• Was eligible to become a citizen of India on 26th January 1950.
• Belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15th August 1947.
• A child or a grandchild or a great-grandchild of such a citizen.
• A minor child of such persons mentioned above.
• A minor child whose both parents are citizens of India or one of the parents is a citizen of India.
• A spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign origin of an Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder whose marriage has been registered and subsisted for a continuous period of not less than two years immediately preceding the presentation of the application.

Re-issuance of the India OCI Card

The Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card is a valuable document for individuals of Indian origin living abroad. If you are an existing OCI cardholder and need to apply for re-issuance, here are the key details:

1. Mandatory Re-Issuance: OCI cardholders are required to re-issue their OCI card once after reaching 50 years of age, regardless of whether they have obtained a new passport or not. This ensures that the card remains up-to-date with the cardholder’s information.
2. Passport Updates: If you’ve received a new passport after turning 20 years old, you should apply for re-issuance of your OCI card. Additionally, if there are changes in your particulars (such as name, father’s name, or nationality), re-issuance is necessary.
3. Lost or Damaged Cards: In case your OCI registration certificate is lost or damaged, you can also apply for re-issuance.

New rules for OCI renewal 

1. OCI cardholders will no longer need to get a new OCI card whenever they get a new passport. If your OCI card was issued before you turned 20, there’s no need for a new OCI card when you renew your passport before turning 20. After turning 20, you’ll need to get a new OCI card after renewing your passport for the first time.
2. If you’re an OCI cardholder and you’re over 50, there’s no requirement to get a new card each time you renew your passport. The Indian government is making things easier by introducing a new online portal. OCI cardholders can use this portal to upload copies of their passports every time they get a new one, up to the age of 20 and only once after turning 50.
3. For those with OCI cards based on marriage to an Indian citizen, you’ll need to upload a copy of your passport along with a declaration confirming that your marriage is still valid each time you get a new passport. This update aims to simplify the process for OCI cardholders and aligns with the government’s efforts to streamline documentation procedures.

Process of renewing the India OCI Card

For India OCI Card Renewal follow these steps

1. Visit the website of the Indian embassy or consulate in your country of residence.
2. Download and print the OCI card renewal application form.
3. Fill out the application form completely and accurately.
4. Gather the required supporting documentation, which typically includes:
   • A copy of your existing OCI card
   • A copy of your new passport (if applicable)
   • A copy of supporting documentation for change in personal details (if applicable)
   • Payment of the OCI card renewal fee
5. Submit the application form and supporting documentation to the Indian embassy or consulate in your country of residence.

Additional notes:

• Minor OCI renewal: For children below 18, a parent or guardian must submit their documents along with the child’s OCI card and application.
• Lost or damaged OCI card: If your card is lost or damaged, you’ll need to apply for a replacement, which involves a separate procedure and fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Embassy of India, Manila, Philippines. (2022, June 12). Www.eoimanila.gov.in. https://www.eoimanila.gov.in/eoi.php?id=oci/ [↩]
2. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). (n.d.). Retrieved December 5, 2023, from https://www.mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/2022-07/oci-faq.pdf [↩] [↩]

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Written by Wences Orcales

Wences has been working home-based for 7 years in the Visa industry. As a content writer in Visas for Future, she makes sure the information she provides is useful for her readers. Once a quarter she does visa fulfillment for Turkey and India visas. She makes sure that clients are satisfied with their orders through customer service. She loves learning new things and hates procrastination.

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Glen Vidania is the Content Manager at Visas for Future, a company that offers online visa services for eco-friendly travelers. He is a certified Content Marketer and an experienced academic writer. He writes and promotes content that is informative, engaging, and relevant to the readers. He had work experience and gained skills in writing articles, data entry, SEO email marketing, and guest posting. He is also an expert in applying for visas for Turkey and India.

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Orcales, Wences. "Validity of India OCI Card ." Visas For Future, https://www.visasforfuture.com/india-oci-card-expiration/. Accessed on 6 October 2023.

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Orcales, Wences. "Validity of India OCI Card ." Visas For Future. October 6, 2023. https://www.visasforfuture.com/india-oci-card-expiration/.