Q672. Child born & living in India how to apply for OCI while staying in India

Question: Dear Sir: I am an OCI, Canadian Citizen, resident in Goa, India. I have a 2.5 year old daughter, born in India, but is a Canadian Citizen. I wish her to be an OCI. How do I go about applying? I do not see an appropriate form in the OCI site. Also, I notice that reference to all OCI applications is for applicants who are residing abroad. What is the drill for this applicant residing in Goa, India? Your help would be appreciated. Thanks. Carlos Mascarenhas. Answer: OCI visa is meant for foreigners of Indian origin, perhaps this is the reason reference to all OCI applications on many government sites refers to applicants residing abroad. Whereas OCI applicants deal with the Indian Consulates applicable to the area where they reside abroad, those who apply for OCI from within India, use the Foreigner Regional Registration Office (FRRO) applicable to their residential area in India. The OCI application procedure is the same, on-line application first, followed by the submission of documents. The only difference is that instead of documents being submitted to Indian consulate abroad, they are submitted to the appropriate FRRO in India. Once OCI registration has been approved, for applications filed in India, registration is granted by FRRO.

Additional documentation required when applying for OCI from India

When OCI application is made in India, a copy of valid visa/residential permit for a minimum valid period of three months is required.

Applying for OCI for a child born and resident in India

For a child born in India where parents are foreign citizens or suppose OCI holders resident in India, a valid visa (as mentioned above) will be required. This is proof that the applicant entered India legally. In the absence of such proof, OCI application may be rejected. Even for a newborn child in India, a entry visa is still required to complete the formality, for more explanation of this, kindly read question/answer number 209 titled ‘How to get visa for new born child in India to foreign parents’ I am not sure of the circumstances in your case as to the visa status of your daughter. Her OCI application will require a visa/residential permit along with other appropriate documentation that all OCI applicants must submit.

Applying for OCI from within India

My understanding is that there is no separate on-line application for minors applying for OCI from within India. The procedure is the same as set for OCI applicants applying from abroad. More information on applying for OCI from within India is available here: http://nriinformation.com/articles3/oci_india.htm When filling the on-line application for OCI where applicant is already in India: • For ‘Place of submission’ select India • For ‘Mission’ select the FRRO city that applies to you in India

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