Q545. New Zealand citizen with

OCI apply for Indian citizenship

Question: Hello, me and my husband are NZ citizens. we are here in NZ since 10 yrs. we hold OCI since last 5 yrs now due to my husbands ill health due to weather conditions we would like to return to india and obtain indian citizenship. can you pls tell em the procedure ? SR Answer: OCI holders can get Indian citizenship if they wish to do so. Since you have been having OCI for last five years, you do meet the first criteria required by OCI holders. The requirement for those who have OCI to apply for Indian citizenship is: 1. All adults, who have had OCI status for at least five five years, AND 2. have been residing in India for one year before making an application to get Indian citizenship. You have already been registered as OCI for five years. Hence, you and your husband could move to India anytime and satisfy the one year requirement of having lived in India. This will allow you to apply for and obtain Indian citizenship. Applications for acquiring Indian citizenship can now be made on-line. The fee currently is Rupees 500/- Loss of New Zealand Citizenship: Kindly note that when you your applications for Indian citizenship are approved, you and your husband would both have to give up New Zealand citizenship.

Procedure to Apply for Indian

Citizenship

• Visit the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India website to start your application for getting Indian citizenship. The site url is: http://indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in/ic_form_pu blic.aspx • You will find 8 options listed on their main page to apply for Indian Citizenship under various categories. • Those who have OCI and are applying for Indian citizenship, should select the sixth option (vi) that says, Registration as a citizen of India under section 5(1)(g) of the citizenship act, 1955 made by a person who is registered as an overseas citizen of India under section 7A The Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India has an excellent website page that shows step by step procedure when applying on-line for Indian citizenship. To view this guide visit: http://indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in/UserGuide/Public _User_Guide_5_1_g.pdf Before starting the on-line application, read the user guide first so you can easily fill the application form.

Giving up New Zealand citizenship to

get Indian Citizenship

Before applying for Indian citizenship, take into account all the pros and cons of loosing your New Zealand citizenship. As each person would have their own priorities and family circumstances, this is a decision that should be taken with careful thought and consideration, taking into account the effect of such a decision on not only yourself but your children who may be involved. Benefits such as New Zealand’s publicly funded health and disability services would be lost once you renounce New Zealand citizenship. On the other hand you could keep your New Zealand citizenship and still live in India as long as you wish on the basis of your OCI lifelong visa.