- OCI is open to foreign citizens of Indian origin and to foreign spouses of Indian citizens or OCI holders married for at least two years.
- Apply online first, then submit documents through the service provider for your consular jurisdiction.
- Children need both parents' consent and proof of Indian origin through a parent.
- An OCI card is reissued once when a new passport is issued after age 20, not with every renewal.
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Who is eligible for an OCI application?
- A foreign citizen who was, or was eligible to be, an Indian citizen on or after 26 January 1950, or whose parent or grandparent was.
- A minor child of such a person, or of an Indian citizen.
- The foreign spouse of an Indian citizen or OCI cardholder, if the marriage is registered and has lasted at least two continuous years.
A person, or whose parent or grandparent, has been a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh is not eligible.
How to apply for an OCI card in the USA, step by step
- Fill the online application on the Government of India's OCI services portal and upload the photo and signature.
- Gather documents: current US passport, proof of Indian origin such as an old Indian passport or a parent's Indian passport, renunciation or surrender certificate if you held an Indian passport, and address proof in your consular jurisdiction.
- Submit the printed application and documents through the service provider for the consulate covering your state.
- Pay the fee shown on the official site at the time.
- Track the application and collect the OCI card and visa sticker or record.
OCI card requirements for a newborn
A child born in the US to Indian-origin parents applies with the child's US passport and birth certificate, the parents' passports and OCI or Indian documents, and both parents' consent. If one parent cannot sign, the consulate's rules for single-parent consent apply.
When must an OCI card be reissued?
Under the simplified rules, an OCI card needs reissue only once, when a new passport is issued after the holder turns 20. For other passport renewals, the new passport details are uploaded online. Check the current rules before travel.
What can OCI cardholders do in India?
Visit without a visa, live and work, and buy residential and commercial property, but not agricultural land, plantations or farmhouses. See can OCI buy property in India.
Founder and Managing Partner, VIVS Legal. BLS, LL.B, LL.M, PGDBM, JAIIB.
