On May 19, 2025, Union Home Minister Amit Shah unveiled the revamped Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Portal in New Delhi, marking a significant stride in enhancing digital services for the Indian diaspora. This upgraded platform aims to provide a more user-friendly experience for the existing five million OCI cardholders and new applicants, streamlining access to various services and facilitating their stay in India.
What is the OCI Scheme?
The Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) Scheme, introduced in August 2005 by amending the Citizenship Act, 1955, offers a form of permanent residency to individuals of Indian origin. While it does not grant dual citizenship, it provides several benefits to eligible foreign nationals, including:
- Multiple entry, multi-purpose lifelong visa for visiting India.
- Exemption from registration with local authorities for any length of stay in India.
- Parity with Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in financial, economic, and educational fields, except in the acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties.
- Equality with Indian nationals for entry fees to national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
- Opportunity to pursue professions such as doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, advocates, architects, and chartered accountants, subject to relevant regulations.
Eligibility Criteria for OCI
- Individuals eligible to apply for OCI include:
- Former Indian citizens who held Indian citizenship on or after January 26, 1950.
- Persons eligible to become Indian citizens on January 26, 1950.
- Individuals whose parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents were Indian citizens.
Minor children of such individuals.
Spouses of Indian citizens or OCI cardholders, provided the marriage has been registered and subsisted for at least two years immediately preceding the application.
Note: Individuals who have ever been citizens of Pakistan or Bangladesh, or whose parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents were citizens of these countries, are not eligible for OCI registration.
Limitations of OCI
- While OCI cardholders enjoy several benefits, certain restrictions apply:
- No political rights, including the right to vote or hold public office.
- Ineligibility for government employment.
- Prohibition from acquiring agricultural or plantation properties.
- Requirement to obtain special permits for activities like missionary work, mountaineering, and journalism.
- Need for Protected Area Permit (PAP)/Restricted Area Permit (RAP) to visit certain areas in India.
OCI Card Reissuance Guidelines
Recent updates have simplified the reissuance process for OCI cards:
OCI cardholders are no longer required to reissue their OCI cards each time a new passport is obtained up to 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age.
Instead, they must upload a copy of the new passport and a recent photograph online within three months of receiving the new passport.
Significance of the Revamped OCI Portal
The launch of the updated OCI portal aligns with the Indian government's commitment to enhancing digital governance and providing efficient services to its global diaspora. With improved functionality and user experience, the portal is expected to facilitate smoother interactions for OCI cardholders and applicants, reinforcing India's connection with its overseas community.
.png)
