High Commission of India

Pretoria, South Africa,
Concurrently accredited to Lesotho

As per new guidelines, an OCI applicant applying for either Fresh OCI Card, OCI Miscellaneous Service or conversion of PIO to OCI, has to upload all the requisite documents (self-attested), in support of OCI claim while applying/filling up online

BENEFITS TO AN OCI CARDHOLDER
1. Multiple entry lifelong visa for visiting India for any purpose (However OCI Cardholders will require a special permission to undertake
2.research work in India for which they may submit the application to the Indian Mission/Post/FRRO concerned).
3.Exemption from registration with Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) or Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) for any length of stay in India.
4. Parity with Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in respect of all facilities available to them in economic, financial, and educational fields except in matters relating to the acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties.
5.Registered Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder shall be treated at par with Non-Resident-Indians in the matter of inter-country adoption of Indian children.
6.Registered Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder shall be treated at par with resident Indian nationals in the matter of tariffs in air fares in domestic sectors in India.
7. Registered Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder shall be charged the same entry fee as domestic Indian visitors to visit national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in India.
8.Parity with Non-Resident Indians (NRI) in respect of:
9.entry fees to be charged for visiting the national monuments, historical sites and museums in India;
10.pursuing the following professions in India, in pursuance of the provisions contained in the relevant Acts, namely:
11.doctors, dentists, nurses and pharmacists;
12.advocates;
13.architects;
14.chartered accountants;
15. to appear for the All India Pre-Medical Test or such other tests to make them eligible for admission in pursuance of the provisions contained in the relevant Acts.
16.State Governments should ensure that the OCI Cardholder registration booklets of OCI Cardholders are treated as their identification for any services rendered to them. In case proof of residence is required, Overseas Citizens of India Cardholder may give an affidavit attested by a notary public stating that a particular/specific address may be treated as their place of residence in India and may also in their affidavit give their overseas residential address as well as e-mail address, if any.

Benefits to which OCI Cardholder is not entitled to:
The OCI Cardholder is not entitled to vote, be a member of Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council or Parliament, cannot hold Constitutional posts such as President, Vice President, Judge of Supreme Court or High Court etc. The OCI Cardholder shall not be entitled for appointment to public services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union or of any State except for appointment in such services and posts as the Central Government may, by special order, in that behalf, specify. Further, as stated in para 5 above, the OCI Cardholder cannot acquire agricultural or plantation properties in India.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Following categories of foreign nationals are eligible for registration as Overseas Citizen of India (OCI):
1.Who was a citizen of India at the time of, or at any time after the commencement of the Constitution of India i.e. 26.01.1950; or
2.Who was eligible to become a citizen of India on 26.01.1950; or
3.Who belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15.08.1947; or
4.Who is a child or a grandchild or a great grandchild of such a citizen; or
5.Who is a minor child of such persons mentioned above; or
6. Who is a minor child and whose both parents are citizens of India or one of the parents is a citizen of India; or
7. Spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign origin of an Overseas Citizen of India cardholder registered under   section 7A of the Citizenship Act, 1955 and whose marriage has been registered and subsisted for a continuous period of not less than two years immediately preceding the presentation of the application.

Applicant has to make an online registration for OCI Card at website www.ociservices.gov.in. He/she has to submit the computer generated application form, bearing registration number, photo and signatures (exactly in the box) at the appropriate places to the High Commission / Consulate. In case of minors, the form should only have thumb impression of the minor.

· Two photos (51 x 51 mm or 2 inches x 2 inches). One to be pasted on Application Form and the other has to be attached;

· Self-attested copy of Foreign Passport held;

· Self attested copy of Unabridged Birth Certificate of the applicant;

· Self attested copy of Unabridged Birth Certificate of the parents, if parents were Indian national/s and OCI is claimed based on Indian descent;

· Proof of the applicant or parents/grandparents having Indian nationality/Indian descent, such as Indian Passport, School leaving certificate, birth certificate, land holding in India, etc. issued by Govt of India. If the same is in any regional language then a translated copy in English by an authorised translator with Name and signatures bearing his stamp containing address and his licence number.

· In cases, where the applicant’s father/grandfather or great grandfather arrived in South Africa by Ship, then he/she may seek the help of Department of Archives in South Africa. Records can also be accessed at www.national.archives.gov.za, for guidance for accessing the website).

· Self attested copy of Naturalisation Certificate, if applicable;

· Self attested copy of Indian Passport Surrender Certificate and copy of cancelled passport, if the same was surrendered. Please note that the names should be exact in all the documents, otherwise if the spelling are different, a letter has to be obtained from the concerned Home Department that the persons mentioned in the document/s are same;

· Self attested copy of Marriage certificate of the applicant and copy of the foreign passport of the spouse;

· Proof of Residential address in South Africa which can be any utility bill, copy of lease agreement, copy of property/etc;

· Proof of Payment. Applicant can deposit fee by cash or EFT. The banking details are given on our website;

· Original passports/ documents would be returned after verification.

· Any other document as specified by the Consular Officer;

The above mentioned requirements are general in nature and the applicant may be asked to submit additional documents.

Note:

· Fees would not be refunded in case OCI is not granted.

· Re-issuance of the OCI Cardholder registration is not mandatory each time a new passport is issued between 21 and 50 years of age. However, if the applicant wishes to avail this service, he/she can apply for the same. If the OCI card holders have obtained a new passport, they need to carry the old passport containing the OCI sticker.

· OCI/PIO card does not entitle cardholder to undertake any missionary work, mountaineering and research work without the permission of the Government of India and in accordance with the instructions issued from time to time

Please click  https://www.mha.gov.in/MHA1/OCI.html  for more detailed information on OCI Scheme.

Fee Chart for OCI

Cancellation of OCI Registration

If it is found that registration as an OCI was obtained by means of fraud, false representation or concealment of any material fact or the registered OCI has shown disaffection towards the Constitution of India or comes under any of the provisions of section 7D of the Citizenship Act, the registration of such person will not only be cancelled forthwith but he/ she will also be blacklisted from visiting India.