OCI Frequently Asked Questions

A PIO stands for Persons of Indian Origin, which is a travel document issued by the Indian government to people of Indian origin who are citizens of other countries. It can be used to travel visa-free to India for a period of 15 years, offers exemption from registering with local police for stays up to 180 days, and provides several benefits like parity with NRIs in financial, economic, and educational fields.

Yes, according to the RBI (Reserve Bank of India), a person of Indian origin (PIO) can have a bank account in India.

The OCI card fee for a minor in the UK is the same as for adults and seniors, which is £200,00 for a new application.

Yes, a minor can apply for an OCI card in the UK. Particularly, a minor can apply if either or both of their parents are eligible for an OCI card.

An OCI stands for Overseas Citizen of India, which is a foreign national of Indian origin, while an NRI stands for Non-Resident Indian, which is an Indian citizen who stays abroad for work, business, or other purposes. An NRI holds an Indian passport and has Indian citizenship, along with voting rights and the eligibility to own property in India. In contrast, an OCI is a foreign national who has special privileges in India, including a lifetime visa, but they cannot hold Indian citizenship.

Yes, eligible OCI cardholders have to pay income tax in India on the income generated in the country as per the Income Tax Act.

In the year 2021, the Indian government changed the rules for an OCI cardholder, including taking special permission for specific activities and online passport updates. Although OCI cardholders are treated similarly to Indian nationals for specific purposes, they are not allowed to have Indian citizenship or enjoy political rights.

Yes, an OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cardholder can apply for an Aadhar card in India if they fulfill the residency requirement. They must have stayed in India for at least 182 days or more in the last year before applying for an Aadhaar card.

The main rule change for an OCI card (Overseas Citizen of India) is the requirement to upload a copy of their new passport and a recent photo on the OCI services portal every time they issue a new passport. This rule applies to all OCI cardholders until they turn 20 or after they turn 50.

Yes, OCI cardholders can also apply for a PAN card in India. They are required to fill out the Form 49AA for the application process.

The new rule for an OCI cardholder in India is regarding the re-issuance process. Previously, re-issuance was required every time a new passport was issued, but after the rule change, OCI cardholders are required to re-issue their card only once, when they issue a new passport after they turn 20.

There is no need to send a passport for the OCI renewal. You can send a recent passport copy or an online photo of the first and last page of your passport.

Yes, a police report for lost OCI card is mandatory. It helps to prevent misuse of your OCI card and also after reporting to the police, you can find a way back to your home country.

If you have lost your OCI card then, don’t worry. You can still travel back to your home country, but you need to report it to the local police station or Indian Mission.

You need to pay Embassy Fees: £75.00 for the lost OCI with some additional fees for the VFS Charges: £7.44, and SMS Charges: £2.00. There is also an additional fee for the courier which is £15.00 one day delivery or £8.00 3 days delivery.

If you have applied for a new OCI card application in the UK, then the possible time when you get your OCI card is between 7-10 days from the application submission date. You can also check the status of your OCI card through the official website.

Yes, minor children can apply for an OCI card (Overseas Citizen of India) if either both parents or any one parent is a citizen of India and if they are a minor under the age of 18.

To apply for an OCI card for your minor, either or both the parents must be an Indian citizen or an OCI cardholder. It means that either they must have been born in India or they must be a child of someone who was born in India. The minor child can apply based on their parents’ eligibility.

An OCI cardholder can stay in India for as long as they want or for a lifetime with multiple entries. Also, they are not required to register with the local police or Foreign Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) for any duration of stay in India.

Yes, there are some restrictions that OCI cardholders have to face in India like they are not allowed to cast a vote, cannot work for the government, require special permission for several activities, can't buy and acquire agricultural or plantation property in India, etc.