Blogs Frequently Asked Questions

No, an OCI card is not valid without a passport. Although the card provides visa-free travel to India to the cardholders. However, one should have a valid passport by their side from the country they are currently a citizen of to use it with an OCI card.

Yes, with an OCI card, you can live permanently in India. An OCI card provides cardholders the right to live in India for an indefinite time and visa-free travel. In addition, allow the individuals to enter the country multiple times for multiple purposes.

PIOs are people of Indian origin who are citizens of countries other than India. An individual is eligible to apply for a PIO card if he/she at had an Indian passport, his/ her parents, grandparents, or great grandparents were born or permanently lived in India, or belonged to a territory that, on and after 15 August 1947, became part of India.

The OCI cardholders do not have the right to vote in Indian elections and cannot work in government sectors. Additionally, they do not have the permission to be a member of the Legislative Council, Legislative Assembly, or Parliament, and cannot hold constitutional posts such as the Supreme Court or High Court judge, President, or Vice President.

OCI cardholders can live in India for an unlimited period of time.

Yes, PIO are able to own property in India subject to certain conditions.

Yes, PIO can become an Indian citizen if they register as an OCI.

Yes, Person of Indian Origin cards are still valid in India till December 31, 2024.

Yes, a US marriage certificate requires an apostille for OCI application if you are applying on the basis of marriage. In addition, one partner needs to have an Indian passport or an OCI card.

An OCI apostille is a specific form of document attestation, a standardized certificate that clarifies the authenticity of documents like marriage certificates, birth certificates, or more to use in foreign nations that are members of the Hague Convention.

If you are applying for an OCI application, and your birth certificate is issued outside the country, then you need to apostille your document first before applying for the OCI card. It is used as evidence of your Indian origin and your ties to the country.

Yes, a US birth certificate needs to be apostilled if you are using it for your OCI application. It serves as proof of your Indian origin or your relationship with your parents or grandparents, or great-grandparents who are Indian.

To apostille your U.S. birth certificate, first notarize your certificate by a notary public. In addition, ensure all signatures and seals are original. If the birth certificate is in a foreign language, translate it into English by a notarized and certified translator. Then apply for the process through a certified apostille service provider like Visament.

If your birth certificate is granted by a foreign official, it is mandatory for you to apostille it before applying for the OCI application in India. It serves as proof of an authenticated document.

Yes, an NRE account can use UPI.

A Non-Resident External (NRE) account is a type of NRI bank account that allows Non-Resident Indians to deposit and manage their foreign earnings in India.

Non-resident Indians (NRIs), Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs), and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) are eligible for an NRE account.

Currency risk, Limited investment options, Withdrawal restrictions, Domestic transactions, and Account closure are some of the major disadvantages of an NRE account.

No, you cannot deposit rupees in an NRE account.

Yes, an NRE account is tax-free. It means that, for the account holder, the principal amount and the earned interest are free from tax. Additionally, the account holder is also free for the repatriation of the principal and interest amount without any limitations.