Overseas Citizenship of India

Overseas Citizenship of India
Front Cover of an OCI registration certificate
Date first issued	2 December 2005
Issued by	India
Eligibility requirements	see eligibility
Cost	₹15,000 (In India) US$275 (abroad)

Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) is a scheme that was introduced in response to demands for dual citizenship by the Indian diaspora, particularly in developed countries. It was introduced by The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2005 in August 2005. It was launched during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention at Hyderabad in 2006. Indian authorities have interpreted the law to mean a person cannot have a second country's passport simultaneously with an Indian one — even in the case of a child who is claimed by another country as a citizen of that country, and who may be required by the laws of the other country to use one of its passports for foreign travel (such as a child born in the United States or in Australia to Indian parents), and the Indian courts have given the executive branch wide discretion over this matter. Therefore, Overseas Citizenship of India is not actual citizenship of India and thus, does not amount to dual citizenship or dual nationality.

Before Feb. 2015, passengers holding OCI card were required to carry the passport which contained the lifetime visa while traveling to India.This requirement was done away with in 2015, and OCI card holders do not need the visa sticker passport. Just the OCI card (the blue booklet) AND current valid foreign passport of the passenger is enough to travel to and from India

OCI Cards were formerly printed with the lifelong “U” Visa Sticker (which is normally pasted on the applicant's passport). The proof of lifelong visa is now just the OCI Card which will have “Life Time Visa” printed on it. The OCI Card will be valid with any valid passport." However, countries may consider the OCI as dual citizenship: for example, the UK government considers that, for purposes of the British Nationality Act 1981, "OCI is considered to be citizenship of another State".

The Constitution of India does not permit dual citizenship. Per the recommendations of a High Level Committee on Indian Diaspora, the Government of India decided to register Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) of a certain category, as has been specified in the Section 7A of the Citizenship Act, 1955, as Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cardholders.

Indian OCI Cards have a blue cover with golden coloured printing. The Emblem of India is emblazoned in the centre of the front cover. The words 'Certificate of Registration' and 'Overseas Citizen of India' are inscribed above the Emblem whereas 'भारत गणराज्य' (Hindi) and 'Republic of India' (English) are inscribed below the emblem.