India · Requisiti di domanda

India OCI Requisiti 2026

Foreign nationals of Indian origin (with limited exceptions for current Pakistani and Bangladeshi citizens), spouses of OCI cardholders married for 2+ years, and certain dependents who fall under the eligibility criteria in Section 7A of the Citizenship Act 1955. The PIO (Person of Indian Origin) card category was discontinued; existing PIO holders were merged into OCI by 1 January 2026.

Rilasciato da Ministry of External Affairs (Passport Seva) · Ultima verifica 28 maggio 2026 · Fonte ufficiale ↗

In sintesi

Costo della domanda

Fresh OCI (adult): ~USD $275
Re-issuance (most cases): ~USD $25
Lost / damaged card: ~USD $100
VFS / CKGS service fee: USD $15–$40

al 28 maggio 2026 · dettagli

Tempi di lavorazione

e-OCI digital (from May 2026): ~15 days
Standard physical card: 60–90 days
With extra security review: 4–6 months

dettagli

Ente rilasciante

Ministry of External Affairs (Passport Seva)

Chi ha bisogno di un India OCI?

Dove fare domanda

Online application via ociservices.gov.in. Since 1 May 2026 a new e-OCI option lets applicants who qualify receive a digital OCI tied to their passport, without the physical card — bringing processing down to ~15 days. Standard applications continue via CKGS (US), VFS Global (UK/Europe/Australia/most Gulf), or the Indian embassy elsewhere.

Costi

Fresh OCI (adult): ~USD $275
Re-issuance (most cases): ~USD $25
Lost / damaged card: ~USD $100
VFS / CKGS service fee: USD $15–$40

Fresh OCI: approximately USD $275 (varies slightly by country in local currency). Re-issuance for most cases (passport renewal, name change): approximately USD $25 — significantly cheaper than the legacy $100 schedule after the MEA fee revisions. Re-issuance for lost or damaged cards: approximately USD $100. Service-centre fees from CKGS (US) or VFS Global (UK/EU/Australia) add $15–$40 on top.

Costi al 28 maggio 2026. Conferma gli importi attuali sulla fonte ufficiale prima di pagare.

Cosa portare

Documenti e materiali che ti serviranno all’appuntamento o insieme alla domanda.

Online OCI application printout (Parts A and B, signed)
Current foreign passport valid for 6+ months
Proof of Indian origin (your or a parent/grandparent's Indian passport copy, birth certificate showing Indian birth, etc.)
Two recent compliant 51×51 mm passport-style photos (or e-OCI digital upload)
Separate signature image on plain white paper
Renunciation certificate if you previously held Indian citizenship
Marriage certificate (for OCI through spouse, plus evidence of 2+ years)

Cerchi le specifiche della foto?

Dimensioni esatte, altezza del viso, sfondo e cosa viene rifiutato.

Apri i requisiti foto →

Quanto tempo serve?

e-OCI digital (from May 2026): ~15 days
Standard physical card: 60–90 days
With extra security review: 4–6 months

Two tracks as of May 2026: (1) e-OCI (new digital flow, available where eligible) processes in roughly 15 days. (2) Standard physical-card OCI: 60–90 days typical, occasionally 4–6 months when additional security verification is required. There is no paid expedited service — the e-OCI digital flow is the fast path.

I tempi variano in base alla sede, alla stagione e al singolo caso. Verifica sempre il backlog attuale sulla fonte ufficiale prima di prenotare viaggi.

Fonte ufficiale

https://ociservices.gov.in/

Ultima verifica 28 maggio 2026

Verifica prima di presentare la domanda. Raccogliamo queste informazioni da fonti ufficiali governative e le riverifichiamo periodicamente. Costi, tempi e regole cambiano senza preavviso — verifica sempre le informazioni aggiornate sul sito ufficiale prima di presentare la domanda o pagare.

Domande frequenti

Domande comuni su come richiedere un india oci.

How much does an OCI card cost? +

A fresh OCI card costs approximately USD $275 (slightly higher in some countries due to local currency conversion). Re-issuance for most reasons (passport renewal, name change) is approximately USD $25 after the MEA fee revisions — significantly less than the legacy $100. Lost or damaged card replacement remains around USD $100. Service-centre fees (CKGS, VFS Global) add $15–$40 depending on your country.

How long does it take to get an OCI card? +

The new e-OCI digital flow (launched 1 May 2026) processes in around 15 days for eligible applicants — issued as a digital OCI tied to your passport, no physical card. The traditional physical-card route is 60–90 days typical; up to 4–6 months when additional security checks are needed. There is no paid expedited service.

What is e-OCI? +

A digital OCI introduced 1 May 2026 that is issued without a physical card — your OCI status is recorded against your passport in the Indian government system. It is recognised at Indian immigration on arrival. The e-OCI flow is faster (~15 days) and has lower service-centre fees than the physical card. Eligible applicants are notified when applying via ociservices.gov.in.

Who is eligible for an OCI card? +

Former Indian citizens, persons of Indian origin going back four generations (parents, grandparents, great-grandparents), and spouses of OCI cardholders (married for at least 2 years). Current or former citizens of Pakistan and Bangladesh and their descendants are excluded.

Do OCI cardholders need a visa to visit India? +

No — OCI cardholders enjoy visa-free travel to India for life, with unlimited entries and unlimited stay duration. You only need a valid foreign passport and your OCI card (or digital e-OCI status) to enter India.

Can OCI cardholders work in India? +

Yes — OCI holders can work and run businesses in India, with parity to NRIs in most economic matters. However, OCI holders cannot vote, hold elected office, work in government service, or own agricultural/farmhouse land in India.

Do I need to update my OCI when I get a new passport? +

Once — re-issuance is now required only one time after age 20 (for OCIs obtained as a minor) and one time after age 50 (when biometric features have changed). The historical rule requiring re-issue at every new passport has been simplified. For most adult renewals the lighter ~$25 e-OCI flow applies.

What happened to PIO cards? +

PIO (Person of Indian Origin) cards were discontinued. All previously-issued PIO cards lost validity by 1 January 2026 and holders were merged into OCI. If you held a PIO card, you should now apply for an OCI card (treated as a conversion, fee schedule similar to fresh OCI).

Is OCI the same as dual citizenship? +

No — OCI is a lifelong visa-free travel and stay privilege but does not grant Indian citizenship. India does not allow dual citizenship. OCI cardholders retain only their foreign citizenship.