India•AsiaOverseas Citizen of India (OCI) Card
At a Glance
Processing Time
28-56 days
Application Fee
250 USD
Stay Duration
Indefinite
Renewable
Yes
Job Offer
Not Required
Dependents
Allowed
PR Pathway
Available
This visa can lead to permanent residency — the right to live and work here indefinitely without renewing your visa.Remote Work
Not Required
Overview
Lifetime visa-free entry to India for people of Indian origin. Registered OCI cardholders get multiple entry lifelong visa for any purpose.
The Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card is a visa-free entry document for people of Indian origin. It provides lifetime multiple-entry visa for visiting India for any purpose and comes with various economic, financial, and educational benefits parity with Non-Resident Indians.
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Requirements
Excluded Nationalities
Citizens of the following countries are not eligible: PK, BD
Documentation
Applicant Documents
Valid passport
Current international travel document
Birth certificate
Original or attested copy
Naturalization documents
Certificate of naturalization or citizenship
Family tree
Documentation of Indian ancestry
Marriage certificate
If applicable for current name
OptionalChildren's documents
If applying for children's OCI
OptionalPassport copy
First and last page of passport
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Advantages
- Lifetime visa-free entry to India
- Unlimited multiple entries
- No stay restrictions
- Can work and study in India
- Parity with NRI in economic/financial benefits
- Exemption from registration requirements
- Path to permanent residency
Considerations
- Limited to eligible people of Indian origin
- Requires extensive documentation
- Processing time 4-8 weeks
- Cannot hold Indian citizenship
- Does not grant political rights
Application Process
Verify eligibility
Confirm eligibility as person of Indian origin
Complete application form
Fill OCI registration application
Submit at embassy
File application at Indian embassy/consulate
Provide documentation
Submit birth certificate, naturalization documents, family tree
Biometric collection
Provide fingerprints and photos
Receive OCI card
Obtain OCI registration certificate and card
Application Forms
OCI Registration Application
Ready to Apply?
Check your eligibility first to see how well you match this visa