What is an OCI

Despite all the news coverage and excitement over this issue, please understand that the Constitution of India DOES NOT allow dual citizenship, i.e., simultaneously holding Indian citizenship and citizenship of a foreign country.

The Government of India has decided to grant Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI), which most people mistakenly refer to as ‘dual citizenship.’ Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) of certain categories who migrated from India and acquired citizenship of a foreign country, other than Pakistan
and Bangladesh, are eligible to be granted an OCI as long as their home countries allow dual citizenship in some form or the other under their local laws.

If you get an OCI, it is NOT the same as being a regular Indian citizen:

• You do not get an Indian passport.
• There is no such thing as an OCI passport.
• You have no voting rights.
• You cannot be a candidate for Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha/Legislative Assembly/Council or a member of the House of the People or of the Council of States.
• You cannot hold constitutional posts such as President, Vice President, Judge of Supreme Court/High Court, etc.
• You cannot normally hold employment in the Government of India.

As an OCI, you will get the following benefits:

• Multiple entry, multi-purpose life long visa to visit India;Exemption from reporting to Police Authorities or any length of stay in India; and Parity with NRIs in financial, economic and educational fields, except in the acquisition of
• agricultural or plantation properties.
• Employment: Employment allowed in all areas except mountaineering, missionary and research work and other work requiring PAP/RAP (PAP = Protected Area Permit, RAP = Restricted Area Permit).
• Employment allowed in private sector.
• Professional practice (doctor, dentist, nurse, pharmacist, chartered accountant, architect, advocate etc.) is allowed only as per provision contained in relevant Acts. Currently, MCI and DCI
  Acts do not allow foreign nationals to practice in India. The other Acts prescribes reciprocal facility.OCI holders do not need to get an employment visa and are not required to register with FRRO for
  seeking employment.
• In case the OCI holder came to India to work for a certain employer and later decides to leave the job
  and/or decides to change the employer, he/she does not have to leave India.
• Parity with non-resident Indian in respect of:
  • Entry fees to be charged for visiting the national monuments, historical sites and museums in India;
  • Pursuing the professionals of doctors, dentists, nurses and pharmacists, advocates, architects and chartered accountants.
  • Appear for the All India Pre-Medical Test or such other tests to make them eligible for admission in pursuance
    of the provisions contained in the relevant acts.

Any future benefits extended to OCIs will be notified by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA)
under section 7B(1) of the Citizenship Act, 1955.

A person registered as an OCI is eligible to apply by the Ministry of Citizenship under section 5(1)(g)
of the Citizenship Act, 1955, if they are registered as an OCI for five years and have been residing
in India for one of the five years before making the application. However, such a person
would have to renounce their foreign citizenship.

It is anticipated that a large number of Indian Diaspora will benefit by this scheme for
hassle-free travel to their motherland. They will bring economic value and benefits to
the Indian economy and contribute to the development process.

Cancellation of OCI Registration