OCI Card Holders Traveling To India

The OCI card holders are exempt from registration with the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) for any length of stay in India.¹

Here are some essential things to keep in mind for OCI card holders traveling to India:

• Make sure your OCI card is valid. OCI cards are valid for ten years, but they must be renewed before the expiration date.
• Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your departure date from India.
• You do not need to carry your old passport with the “U” (OCI) Visa if it differs from your current one.

An OCI card is a document that grants you many benefits and privileges in India, such as:

• You can travel to India without requiring a visa multiple times without any limitations and stay there for as long as you want.
• You can live and work in India indefinitely and enjoy the same economic, financial, and educational rights as Non-resident Indians.
• You do not have to register with the local police authorities (FRRO/FRO) in India every time you stay there for more than 180 days.²

Dealing with immigration paperwork can be overwhelming and take up much of your time. Our stress-free service for processing OCI applications in India allows our experts to simplify the process. We will take care of everything from filling out the form to submission, ensuring accuracy and completion. By letting us handle your India OCI needs, you can avoid delays and legal problems. With our service, you can be certain that your India OCI application will be handled with care and accuracy.

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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.

• Unlimited stay.¹
• Multiple entries.¹
• It costs $368, including a Government fee.

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Do OCI card holders need a visa when traveling to India?

OCI card holders do not need a visa to travel to India.³ They are entitled to a multiple entry, lifelong visa for visiting the country. This means they can enter and exit India as often as they want, for any purpose, without having to apply for a visa each time.

Is an OCI card a visa to India?

No, an OCI card is not a visa to India. While it allows you to enter and stay in India for extended periods, it offers more benefits and flexibility than a regular tourist visa. The Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) Card is a document issued by the Indian government to foreign nationals of Indian origin.

OCI Card holder’s requirements when traveling to India

To travel to India with an OCI card, OCI card holders must present their OCI card and passport to immigration officials at the port of entry.⁴They may also be asked to show proof of their address in India, such as a hotel reservation or a letter from a friend or family member.

Benefits of an OCI Cardholder

Here are some of the benefits of traveling to India with an OCI card:

• Visa-free travel: OCI card holders do not need a visa to travel to India.
• Long-term stay: OCI card holders can stay in India unlimitedly.
• Work and study rights: OCI card holders have the right to work and study in India.
• Property ownership rights: OCI cardholders can own property in India.
• Other benefits: OCI card holders are also entitled to several other benefits, such as exemption from registering with the local police authorities and parity with Indian nationals in inter-counts in domestic sectors in India.
• Other benefits: OCI card holders are also entitled to several other benefits, such as exemption from registering with the local police authorities, parity with Indian nationals in the matter of inter-country adoption of Indian children, and parity with Non-Resident Indians in the matter of tariffs in air fares in domestic sectors in India.

Requirements for OCI Card Application

To be eligible for an OCI card, you must be⁵

• A citizen of a country other than India.
• An Indian-origin person was born in India, meaning you or one of your parents or grandparents.

The documents required for an India OCI are as follows

• Proof of present citizenship.
• Evidence of address of the place of application.
• A copy of any long-duration Visa is required if the application is submitted in India.
• Evidence of self or parents or grandparents or great-grandparents.
• Evidence of relationship as parent/ grandparent/great-grandparent, if their Indian origin is claimed as basis for registration as OCI Cardholder.
• In the case of a minor child with at least one parent who is an Indian citizen, the child may be eligible for Indian citizenship.
  • Please provide a copy of your child’s birth certificate.
  • Parents must provide their marriage certificate. In case it is unavailable, reasons must be given.
  • Please provide a copy of either the Indian passport of the parents or one of the parents or a copy of the Domicile Certificate or Nativity Certificate issued by the Competent Authority regarding the parents or one of the parents. Alternatively, you can submit any other proof that substantiates the status of the parents or one of the parents as an Indian citizen.
  • In the case of divorced parents, the court issues a marriage dissolution order that explicitly states which parent has legal custody of the child applying for the OCI Card. If the court order is in a foreign language, it must be accompanied by an authorized translator’s translation in English or Hindi.
• Evidence of a foreign spouse of an Indian citizen or a foreigner spouse.
• Origin of an OCI Cardholder.

How do you apply for an OCI Card online?

If you plan to apply for an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, then you should know that the process involves several steps. To initiate the process, you need to follow these steps precisely:

1. Visit Visas for Future, choose ”India OCI”, click the button ”Get India OCI Now”
2. Fill out the form with your name and email address.
3. Click ”Complete Purchase”
4. Pay for the India OCI via credit card or debit card.
5. Fill out the intake form.
6. Review your answer, make sure it is correct and complete, then submit it.
7. Wait for your India OCI in your inbox.

Fees and Processing Time of OCI Card

The processing time for a new Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card is two business days. However, receiving the card takes seven (7) to eleven (11) weeks. The cost of the card is $368, which includes the government fee. The OCI card is for multiple entries.

Disadvantages of OCI card

While the OCI card offers various benefits to individuals of Indian origin, there are also some disadvantages associated with it:

1. Dual Citizenship Not Allowed: The Indian government does not recognize dual citizenship. Obtaining an OCI card requires you to surrender your Indian passport, effectively giving up your Indian citizenship.

2. Potential Loss of OCI Status: Your OCI status can be revoked under certain circumstances, such as criminal activity, involvement in anti-India activities, or making false statements in your application.

3. Restrictions on Certain Activities: You cannot vote in Indian elections or hold public office. Additionally, there may be restrictions on your ability to purchase agricultural land or participate in sensitive industries.

4. Lack of Repatriation Rights: OCI cardholders are not eligible for repatriation assistance from the Indian government.

New rules for OCI cardholders

No significant new regulations are applicable to OCI cardholders by the Indian government. However, a few recent updates and developments have been noteworthy.

1. Registration with FRRO for stays exceeding 180 days: OCI cardholders wishing to stay in India for more than 180 days in a calendar year must register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO). This requirement exists but was recently emphasized by the authorities.

2. Mandatory reporting of change in passport details: OCI cardholders must report any change in their passport details, including renewal, to the Indian authorities within one year.

3. Proposed changes to OCI rules: There are some discussions and proposals regarding potential changes to the OCI scheme, including introducing a validity period and revising eligibility criteria. However, no concrete decisions have been taken yet.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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1. Ministry of Home Affairs Government of India. (n.d). Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Retrieved December 5, 2023,<https://www.mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/2022-07/oci-faq.pdf> [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩]
2. Ministry of Home Affairs Government of India. (n.d). Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Retrieved December 5, 2023,<https://www.mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/2022-07/oci-faq.pdf> [↩]
3. Embassy of India, Manila, Philippines. (2022, June 12). www.eoimanila.gov.in.Retrieved December 5, 2023,<https://www.eoimanila.gov.in/eoi.php?id=oci/> [↩]
4. Embassy of India, Manila, Philippines. (2021, April 22). www.eoimanila.gov.in.Retrieved December 5, 2023,<https://www.eoimanila.gov.in/eoi.php?id=oci/> [↩]
5. Embassy of India, Manila, Philippines. (2021, April 22). Www.eoimanila.gov.in.Retrieved December 5, 2023,<https://www.eoimanila.gov.in/eoi.php?id=oci/> [↩]

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Cite this article

MLA Style

Miguel, Charlyn. "OCI Card Holders Traveling To India." Visas For Future, https://www.visasforfuture.com/india-visa-for-oci-card-holder/. Accessed on 8 October 2023.

Chicago Style

Miguel, Charlyn. "OCI Card Holders Traveling To India." Visas For Future. October 8, 2023. https://www.visasforfuture.com/india-visa-for-oci-card-holder/.