How & where to apply for OCI in India

Can applications of OCI be made from India? This is a questions many readers have asked. The answer is yes, you may apply for OCI from India and pay the applicable fee in Indian currency. Here is the information for those who plan on making applications from India. Persons of Indian origin who are in India, can apply for OCI in India provided they are in India legally and the visa they hold when apply for OCI in India has at least a three month validity from the date of their OCI application. Those who are in India on a Missionary Visa or Mountaineering Visa are not eligible to apply for OCI from within India.

Applications in India for OCI can be made to:

The Foreigner’s Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Goa, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Amritsar. [FRRO Office list] OR OCI Cell in Foreigners Division of Ministry of Home Affairs at: Under Secretary (Foreigners Division) Ministry of Home Affairs, Jaisalmer House. 26 Man Singh Road, New Delhi - 110 011

Documents Required with OCI Application in

India

1. Proof of present citizenship 2. Evidence of self or parents or grandparents, o Being eligible to become a citizen of India at the time of Commencement of the Constitution; or o Belonging to a territory that became a part of India after 15th August, 1947; or o Being a citizen of India on or after 26th January, 1950 These may be: • Copy of the passport: or • Copy of the domicile certificate issued by the Competent Authority; or • Evidence of relationship as parent/grandparent, if their Indian Origin is claimed as basis for grant of OCI. • Any other proof that is acceptable to the authorities as proof of them being of Indian origin* *Acceptable documents under “Any other proof” for evidence of self or parents or grandparents being eligible for grant of an OCI? When it comes to accepting other types of proof as supporting documents, the final decision to accept any type of documentary proof would rest with the consular officers.

Some such documents may be:

• Documentary evidence like a school certificate. • Land ownership records in India. • Birth certificate. or • Any other type of documentation whereby eligibility may be reasonably ascertained to the satisfaction of the consulate officer dealing with your application. Applicants for OCI when applying in India, should first login to https://passport.gov.in/oci/ and complete the on-line part of the OCI application. Once they do this they will get a online registration number. Take this number when applying at the FRRO so as to help speed up your OCI application process at the FRRO. (When trying to login in to the OCI application site, a security certificate error may occur, you can accept to go to the site or download the certificate)

Documents required checklist

The documents required for OCI are required by FRRO in three sets. Make copies before going to FRRO. 1. Application form duly filled in triplicate along with required documents. 2. Applicants present passport at least 6 months valid of passport & 3 months valid Indian visa or Copy of PIO. card (if holding PIO card) 3. Copy of Registration Permit, if applicant arrived in India prior 90 days at the time of OCI application 4. Applicants or applicant’s parents or applicants grandparent’s previous or current Indian passport (if previously holding Indian passport then current passport also) 5. Applicant’s birth certificate, if applied on the basis of parents. (if applied on the basis of grand parents then parents birth certificate as well present passport showing proper linkage.) 6. Applicants Marriage certificate if applied on the basis of Indian passport on maiden name. 7. Three photographs of 35 mm x 35 mm size without border on light color background, with ears clearly visible, no spectacles and caps. (Not on white or off-white background) 8. If difference in name or alphabet on the Indian passport Gazette copy for change of name or Petition for name change or Deed Poll for name change. 9. Fee that is applicable by way of a ‘Demand Draft’ for each applicant drawn in favor of ‘Pay & accounts officer (Secretariat) MHA payable at New Delhi.’

OCI Fee for applications made in India.

OCI fee for applications filed in India is Rupees15,000 and has to be paid by demand draft in favor of 'Pay and Accounts Officer (Secretariat), Ministry of Home Affairs' payable in New Delhi. Those applicants who already hold a valid PIO Card can now until March 31, 2016 apply for and get OCI in lieu of PIO free of charge. They only have to pay any postage charges involved.

In case of unavailability of required documents

to apply for OCI

In case you are unable to find documents that are required to prove your Indian origin, there is an option to get a Nativity certificate, for more information on this, check HERE.