OVERSEAS CITIZEN OF INDIA

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About:

The concept of OCI was introduced in response to demands for dual citizenship by the Indian diaspora, particularly in developed countries.

The Ministry of Home Affairs defines an OCI as a person who:

• was acitizen of India on or after 26^th January 1950; or
• was eligible to become a citizen of India on 26^thJanuary 1950; or
• is achild or grandchild of such a person, among other eligibility criteria.

According to Section 7A of the OCI card rules, an applicant is not eligible for the OCI card if he, his parents, or grandparents have ever been a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh.

The Government of India via the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2015, merged the Person of Indian Origin (PIO) category with the OCI category in 2015.

Benefits of the OCI Card:

• Multiple entry, multi-purpose lifelong visa to visit India.
• Exemption from registering with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office(FRRO) regardless of the duration of their stay.
• Parity with Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in financial, economic, and educational fields.