Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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FAQs on OCI-Related Matters


Q. I have recently acquired a new passport; do I need to re-issue my OCI card? A. No. Re-issuance of the OCI Card is no longer required on issuance of a new passport. You are required to update your passport particulars online through the OCI Portal within 90 days of issuance of the new passport, after which your updated e-OCI Card can be generated and downloaded from the portal.

Q. I am a person of Indian origin as my parents were born in undivided India before partition. After partition, they briefly held Pakistani citizenship before moving to New Zealand. Am I eligible for an OCI card? A. No. If the applicant, or his/her parents or grand-parents had ever been a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh, he/she will not be eligible for an OCI card.

Q. Is a Surrender Certificate compulsory before I apply for an OCI Card? What is the procedure to apply for a Surrender Certificate? A. Yes, a Surrender Certificate is compulsory before applying for an OCI card if the person ever held Indian citizenship. One can apply for it through the Consulate’s website.

Q. Can I travel to India with just my OCI Card, or should I also carry the passport which contains the ‘U’ Visa (OCI Visa)? A. No need to carry the passport which contains the U visa. Vide circular No. 26011/06/2015-OCI dated 29th January, 2015 of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has decided that all immigration authorities in India will not insist on production of the foreign passport containing the ‘U’ Visa Sticker in the case of OCI Cardholders while they enter/exit India, and the immigration clearance will be granted based on production of just the valid OCI card, accompanied by a valid passport (which may not have the U visa sticker).

Q. My spouse is a foreign national of non-Indian origin. I hold an OCI Card. Is my spouse entitled to an OCI Card? What about my children? A. Yes, the 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 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, can apply for an OCI card. Minor children whose both parents are/were citizens of India or one of whose parents is/was a citizen of India are eligible to apply for an OCI Card.

Q. I want to add my spouse’s name on my OCI Card. How can I do so? A. Apply online under Personal Particulars Updation through OCI Miscellaneous Services on the OCI Portal. A fresh OCI Card is not issued; once the application is approved, the updated e-OCI Card can be generated and downloaded from the portal.

Q. Are foreign military personnel of Indian origin eligible for OCI cards? A. No, foreign military personnel either in service or retired are not entitled for grant of OCI. No person who has earlier served in a foreign military organization is eligible for an OCI card.

Q. What are the benefits available to an OCI Card holder? A. An OCI card holder gets the following benefits: a multiple entry, multi-purpose life-long visa for visiting India; exemption from registration with local police authority for any length of stay in India; parity with Non-resident Indians (NRIs) in respect of economic, financial and educational fields as per the relevant Acts, except in relation to acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties; and the OCI card can be used as identity proof for application of PAN Card and driving licence as well as for opening a bank account if the OCI card holder is residing in India.

Q. What are the benefits to which an OCI card holder is NOT entitled to? A. The OCI Card holder is not entitled: to vote; to be a member of a Legislative Assembly or of a Legislative Council or of the Parliament of India; to hold Indian constitutional posts such as that of the President, Vice President, Judge of the Supreme Court or High Court etc.; he/she cannot normally hold employment in the Government; to undertake any Missionary work, Mountaineering and Journalism without prior permission of the Govt. of India. An OCI cardholder shall also require a Protected Area Permit (PAP) / Restricted Area Permit (RAP) to visit any place which falls within the Protected/Restricted Area notified by the Government, as in the case of any other foreigner.

Q. Can foreign nationals, who are not otherwise eligible for OCI, get OCI if they are married to persons who are OCI cardholders? A. Yes, the 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 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.

Q. Are minor children eligible for an OCI Card? A. Yes, minor children whose both parents are/were citizens of India or one of the parents is/was a citizen of India are eligible for an OCI Card.

Q. Whether civil Govt. servants working in the Ministry of Defence as IT engineers / civil contractors are entitled to OCI? A. No.

Q. Who can avail the OCI Miscellaneous services? A. Only an existing Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder can avail the OCI Miscellaneous Services.

Q. Under what circumstances can the OCI Miscellaneous services be availed? A. OCI Miscellaneous services can be availed for updation of the OCI Card in the following category of cases: (i) in case of issuance of a new passport; (ii) in case of change of personal particulars viz. name, nationality etc.; (iii) in case of loss or damage of the OCI registration certificate; (iv) if wrong personal particulars were filled in the online application viz. name, father's name, date of birth etc.; (v) in case of change of address or occupation.

Q. What should be done in case of loss of the OCI Card? A. In case of loss of OCI documents, file a complaint with the Police authorities. Apply online under the lost category through the OCI Portal (https://ociservices.gov.in). The physical copy of the application, along with the required documents including the Police Report, is to be submitted at the Consulate by prior appointment booked at https://www.cgiauckland.gov.in/apt/

Q. Will I receive a new OCI Card after my application for updation is approved? A. A physical OCI card is not issued. Once your application is approved, the particulars are updated against your existing OCI record, and your updated e-OCI Card can be generated and downloaded free of cost from the dashboard on the OCI Portal.
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