Complete information for Pravasi Bharatiya
OCI stands for Overseas Citizen of India. It is a long-term visa card issued by Government of India to Persons of Indian Origin who have taken foreign citizenship. OCI card allows you to live and work in India for lifetime without any visa. It is not Indian citizenship, but it gives you most of the rights like an Indian citizen.
OCI card is issued by Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India through Bureau of Immigration and Indian Embassies/Consulates abroad.
Lifelong stay, work, study and financial benefits in India
No need to apply for Indian visa again and again. You can enter India anytime, any number of times.
No need to register with police / FRRO office even if you stay more than 180 days in India.
You can work in private sector, do business, and study in India. You can also study under general category (not NRI quota for some institutes).
You can buy residential and commercial property in India (except agricultural land).
You can open special bank accounts, invest in India, and enjoy same benefits as NRI.
You get same benefits as NRI in economic and educational fields.
OCI is not Indian citizenship
OCI holders do not have voting rights in Indian elections.
Government of India employment is not available to OCI card holders.
Residential and commercial property is allowed. Agricultural and plantation land is not.
You will remain a foreign citizen. You cannot hold an Indian passport along with OCI.
No. India does not allow dual citizenship. OCI is not citizenship. It is a lifelong visa with many benefits. You will remain citizen of USA / UK / Canada etc., but you can stay in India as long as you want.
If you are Indian origin person living abroad, or your parents / grandparents were Indian, or you are foreign spouse of an Indian citizen / OCI holder, then OCI is the best option for you instead of taking Indian visa every time.
WhatsApp your passport and family details. We will tell you the correct category.
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