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Attention to PIO Card Holders
PIO card scheme has been withdrawn and is no more a valid travel document (w.e.f 01/01/2026). To travel to India, existing PIO Cardholders need to obtain an appropriate visa from the India Missions/Posts/ on e-Visa platform or they may apply for the Fresh OCI Cards.
Important Notice
Notice: OCI Application Update
Applicants with an Indian Ration Card and/or Indian Voter ID must surrender both documents in India before initiating the OCI process. Please make sure that this step is completed before you submit your application.
* Evidence of self, parents, grandparents or great-grandparents previous Indian Passport, Birth Certificate, valid foreign passport held and local residential proof. If applying based upon OCI Card/ PIO Card of parents/grandparents or great-grandparents/spouse, the applicant should invariably submit copy of OCI Card/ PIO Card of parents/ grandparents or great grand-parents/spouse along with the base papers/documents upon which the OCI card/PIO Card was issued.
* If the applicant is below 21 years a NOC letter in original signed by both Parents is required.
*if the current OCI has been issued based on the spouse, a NOC letter in original signed by the Spouse is required.
*In the case of minor applicants, parents' documents are required in original and copies along with the application.
*It is mandatory to produce the original and copy of the Naturalisation/Citizenship certificate.
* It is mandatory to upload all relevant documents during online form filling time.
* For verification purpose, the applicant must carry all the documents in original and clear copy while visiting the centre for submission of application.
* Please note that the physical presence of the applicant is mandatory at the centre while submitting the application.
Photograph - Please note that the uploaded photo in the online and physical photograph on the application should be the same. Click here for online OCI Form - https://ociservices.gov.in/
The applicant who has completed National service must provide his ORD certificate in Original and copy along with a self-declaration letter.
The applicant who completed the NS needs to attach a declaration letter mention the current occupation details, in case if the applicant current status is student needs to produce a copy of student ID.
If the applicant is exempted from National Service, he has to produce the exemption letter in original and copy.
Important notice for OCI card holder from High Commission of India
Click here for OCI Form
Instructions for OCI card- 1. Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) who have migrated from India and acquired citizenship of a foreign country, other than Pakistan and Bangladesh are eligible for grant of Overseas Citizenship of India.
- 2. OCI status confers the following benefits:
- Multiple-entry, multi-purpose life-long visa to visit India
- Exemption from reporting to Police authorities for any length of stay in India
- Parity with NRIs in financial, economic and educational fields except in the acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties, and
- A person registered as OCI is eligible to apply for grant of Indian citizenship under section 5(1) (g) of the Citizenship Act, 1955 if he/she is registered as OCI for five years and has been residing in India for one year out of the five years before making the application.
- Registered OCI shall be treated at par with Non-Resident-Indian in the matter of inter-country adoption of Indian children.
- Registered OCI shall be treated at par with resident Indian nationals in the matter of tariffs in air fares in domestic sectors in India.
- Registered OCI shall be charged the same entry fee as domestic Indian visitors to visit national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in 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 following professions in India, in pursuance of the provisions contained in the relevant Acts, namely:-doctors, dentists, nurses and pharmacists; advocates; architects; and chartered accountants.
- Parity with Non-Resident Indian to 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.
- State Governments should ensure that the OCI registration booklets of OCIs are treated as their identification for any services rendered to them. In case proof of residence is required, Overseas Citizens of India may give an affidavit attested by a notary public stating that a particular/specific address may be treated as their place of residence in India and may also in their affidavit give their overseas residential address as well as e-mail address, if any.
- 3. Benefits to which OCI is not entitled to:The OCI is not entitled to vote, be a member of Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council or Parliament, cannot hold constitutional posts such as President, Vice President, Judge of Supreme Court or High Court etc. and he/she cannot normally hold employment in the Government.
- 4. Procedure: Application for registration as OCI is to be made online through the website of the Ministry of Home Affairs https://mha1.nic.in/foreigDiv/OCI.html or https://passport.gov.in/oci. Instructions therein may be perused carefully particularly with respect to supporting documents required so that there is no mistake in submission of application. A family consisting of spouse and upto two minor children can apply online in the same form i.e. Form XIX. One of the parents can submit the application on behalf of the family. Part A and Part B of the application form have to be filed online and a copy of the printout of the same is required to be submitted to the High Commission while making an application.
- 5. Documents required: The required documents listed below are indicative in nature and an attempt has been made to cover majority of the cases. However, the Consular Officer may ask for additional documents after examining the application. After making an online application, please report to the High Commission with a hard copy of the application along with the following documents:
- Size 51mm x 51mm
- Light Coloured Background
- Matte Finish
- Full Face to be shown
- Evidence of self, parents, grandparents or great-grandparents previous Indian Passport, Birth Certificate, valid foreign passport held and local residential proof.
- Evidence of relationship as parent/grandparent/great-grandparents, if their Indian origin is claimed as basis for grant of OCI.
- In case the applicant does not have an old Indian Passport, he/she may provide copy of other documents issued from India such as birth certificates, nativity certificates etc. These will be sent to India for verification before acceptance of the application form. If the applicant ever held an Indian Passport, then proof of renunciation of citizenship/surrender of passport should also be submitted.
- All the above documents are to be produced in original for verification and photocopies of the same are to be attached with the application
Photograph Specification
For a more detailed explanation of photograph specs, please visit the following link on MHA Website- https://ociservices.gov.in/Photo-Spec-FINAL.pdf
Photographs that do not conform to the above standards will be rejected and may cause a delay in processing the application.
- 6. After grant of registration, a registration certificate in the form of a booklet will be issued and a multiple entry, multi-purpose life-long OCI 'U' visa sticker will be pasted on the foreign passport of the applicant. Carrying OCI card is must while U Visa sticker has been dispensed with.
- 7. Regarding Fees, processing time and application centre: click here
- 8. Please note that: A person who has not attained the age of 18 years is considered as minor. In case of minor who cannot sign, his/her left thumb impression may be placed in the signature box. Parents should not sign on behalf of minors.
- If there are any objections while processing the application, the same will be displayed on the online status enquiry. Please follow the instructions and send requisite documents to the Mission quoting the File (or acknowledgement) number.
- Granting OCI card to spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse offoreign origin of an Overseas Citizen of India cardholder may take some time pending clearances. The marriage should have been registered and subsisted for a continuous period of not less than two years immediately preceding the presentation of the application.
- Entries made in the foreign passports or foreign origin documents are not accepted as proof of Indian origin.
- Foreign passport holders who are resident in Singapore are required to produce residence proof like PR, EP and a fee of S $ 20 is to be paid in addition for verification.
- While self-attested certificates may be accepted initially at the time of submission of the application, documents are required to be verified with reference to the originals at the time of actual issuance of OCI card.
- 9. OCI services are not available to step-children and adopted children to asylees. applicants with a single parent whose birth certificate mention about only one parent minors who are born out of live- in relationship foreign national whose Indian spouse in no more.
- 10. OCI Miscellaneous Services have been made available on the Ministry's website https://mha1.nic.in/foreigDiv/OCI.htmland can be availed for re-issuance/issuance of duplicate OCI Registration Certificate and Visa in the following category of cases:
- In case of issuance of new passport
- In case of change of personal particulars viz. name, father's name, date of birth, nationality etc.
- In case of loss/damage of OCI registration certificate/visa
- In case of change of address/occupation
Procedure: These services can be availed by applying online and submitting hard copy of the application along with the requisite fee and enclosures as mentioned in the application to the High Commission. However, in case of change of address/occupation, hard copy of the application need not be submitted. Documents to be enclosed along with the application:
- (a) Copy of OCI registration certificate and visa
- (b) In case of issuance of a new passport, copy of U-visa pasted on the old passport along with copy of registration certificate has to be enclosed. If the old passport is not returned by the concerned authorities while issuing new passport and copy of the U-visa had not been taken prior to the surrender of old passport, they may not be enclosed. Please also enclose copy of the new passport.
- (c) In case of loss of OCI Registration Certificate and/or Visa, copy of the complaint lodged with Police authorities and copy of visa and registration certificate to be enclosed.
- (d) In case of change of personal particulars e.g. wrong filling of particulars by the applicant, copy of the document (s) relevant for affecting the requisite changes viz. Nationality Certificate in case of change of nationality etc. to be enclosed.
- OCI Registration Certificate shall be issued in respect of any/ all service(s). The status of the application can be verified from the Online Status Enquiry.
- OCI registration certificate have got to be re-issued each time a new passport is issued up to the completion of 20 years of age and once after completion of 50 years of age.
- Re-issuance of OCI registration certificate is not mandatory each time a new passport is issued between 21-50 years of age. The applicant can continue to travel carrying the old passport along with new passport and the OCI card for visiting India. However, if the applicant wishes to obtain new OCI card, he/she can apply for the same.
- The grant or otherwise of the service(s) sought shall be ordinarily decided in one month from the receipt of hard copy of the application.
- 11. If existing PIO card holders have lost or damaged PIO card, the applicant is required to apply for OCI services. A fee of SGD 129 is to be paid as OCI replacement fee.
- 12. With Ministry's Notification dated 9.01.2015, with effect from 9.1.2015, all the existing PIO card holders are deemed to be OCI cardholders. No separate authentication of the existing PIO card as OCI card is therefore necessary. However, if you wish, a separate online application for issuing of OCI card in lieu of the PIO card without payment of any registration fee has been devised and has been uploaded in MHA's website https://mha1.nic.in/foreigDiv/OCI.html or https://passport.gov.in/oci. Place of submission for OCI application (in lieu of PIO cards) should be the same as the place of issuance of PIO card.
- 13. Collection of OCI documents: On preparation of OCI document, applicant is required to be present in person or he/she can send a duly authorized person, along with his/her foreign passport & PIO card (if any) for collection of the OCI documents. No passport and OCI documents will be sent by Dak/Post or Mail.
- 14. OCI card does NOT entitle the cardholder to undertake any missionary, mountaineering and research work in India, without the prior permission of the Government of India. Prior permission of the competent authority is also required for visiting restricted/protected area (for details, visit https://www.mea.gov.in/Images/pdf/ForeigD-FAQs-onPAPandRAP.pdf).
- 15. OCI/PIO Card holders intending to visit India for commissioning surrogacy would not require a separate Medical Visa. However, on arrival in India and before commissioning surrogacy, they will have to obtain a special permission from FRRO/FRO concerned.
- 16. Kindly note that the High Commission will accept an application for grant of OCI status after satisfying itself on the adequacy and authenticity of supporting documentation provided. In certain cases this is likely to take time as the documents may require verification from the issuing authorities in India. In these cases the High Commission cannot prescribe the timeframe within which the OCI card will be issued. In these cases, at the stage of initial application, an acknowledgement will be provided to you. Applicants are advised to keep in touch with the High Commission to follow up.
- 17. For further information, please visit https://mha1.nic.in/pdfs/oci-brochure.pdf.
| OCI Service | Fees | BLS service charge |
| Loss or Damage of OCI /PIO | 137 | 10.80 |
| OCI Document Verification | 35 | 10.80 |
| OCI Fresh Application - Non-Singapore Passport | 370 | 10.80 |
| OCI Fresh Application - Singapore Passport | 370 | 10.80 |
| OCI Misc Services | 38 | 10.80 |
| PIO to OCI Conversion | 137 | 10.80 |