OCI CARD

OCI CARD

Subject: Governance

Context: Recently, the Centre has stated that the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders will now be required to get their document re-issued only once at the age of 20 instead of multiple times needed currently.

Concept:

• The notification stated that a person who has got registration as OCI cardholder prior to attaining the age of 20 years will have to get the card re-issued only once.
• The re-issue of OCI card will begin when a new passport is issued after his or her completing 20 years of age, so as to capture his or her facial features on attaining adulthood.
• The centre said that if a person has obtained registration as OCI cardholder after attaining the age of 20 years, there will be no requirement of re-issue of OCI card.
• Currently, the OCI card is required to be re-issued each time a new passport is issued up to 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age.
• The Centre said there will be no restriction on the cardholder to travel to or from India during the period from the date of issue of new passport till the date of final acknowledgement of documents in the web-based system.

OCI CARD SCHEME

• The OCI scheme came with the amendment of the Citizenship Act in 2005. Further in 2015 it was merged with the PIO (Person of Indian Origin) card.
• Individuals who do not have citizenship of any other country are not eligible to gain an OCI status.
• Individuals whose parents or grandparents hold citizenship of Pakistan and Bangladesh are not eligible to apply.

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

• Was a citizen of India on or after 26th January 1950; or
• Was eligible to become a citizen of India on 26th January 1950; or
• Belong to a territory which became part of India after 15 august 1947; or
• Is a child or grandchild of such a person; or
• Is a minor child of the persons from any of the above category or either or both of the parents are citizens of India.
• For foreign origin spouse of the Citizen of India or An OCI card holder: 1) Whose marriage is registered 2) Married for more than two years before the date of application.