Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) CARD
India introduced the OCI program under the aegis of The Citizenship (Amendment) Act of 2005, responding to requests and calls for dual citizenship by the Indian diaspora.
An OCI card provides overseas citizens with many rights available to resident citizens. Based on the endorsements of a High-Level Committee on the Indian Diaspora, the Government of India registered the “Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs)” of a specific category, as specified in Section 7A of the Citizenship Act, 1955, as Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cardholders, by the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2003.
Individuals of Indian origin residing outside India can apply for an OCI card. A valid OCI cardholder can buy/ sell property in India, excluding Agricultural land. However, despite such a status, OCI card holder doesn't enjoy voting rights in India.
OCI status is not available to anyone who has been a Pakistani or Bangladeshi citizen or a child, grandchild, or great-grandchild of such a person.
Eligibility Criteria
An OCI card can be applied by an individual who
- is a citizen of another country but was a citizen of India on 26 January 1950 or at any time after that; or
- is a citizen of another country but belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15 August 1947; or
- is a citizen of another country but was eligible to become a citizen of India on 26 January 1950; or
- is a child or a grandchild or a great-grandchild of such a citizen; or
- is a minor child of such persons mentioned above; or
- is a minor child whose both parents are citizens of India, or one of the parents is a citizen of India; or
- is a spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign origin of an Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder registered under section 7A of the Citizenship Act, 1955, and whose marriage has been registered and subsisted for a continuous period of not less than two years immediately preceding the presentation of the application.
OTHER BENEFITS OF OCI CARD!
Having an OCI status can benefit an Indian living in another nation for a certain period. Some of them have been depicted down below!
- As an OCI Cardholder, you will enjoy multiple entries in India throughout the validity of OCI.
- The OCI Card will also work as a lifelong, multi-purpose visa for the owner, or holder, of the same.
- As an OCI cardholder, you will not have to report to Indian Police or Government authorities for a prolonged stay, unlike a regular visa holder.
- As an OCI cardholder, you can indulge in India's economic, financial, and educational fields.
- An OCI Card owner can apply for employment in the private sector and various other segments except missionary, mountaineering, RAP, and research-based work.
- He/she can also perform professional practice, such as dentist, doctor, pharmacist, nurse, etc., only if the relevant regulation allows them to.