A comparative chart - PIO and OCI - http://mha.nic.in/pdfs/oci-chart.pdf
Discussions also available at
Questions for USCs/OCIs returned to India
MT: OIC - Overseas Indian Citizenship
Forms: http://www.mha.nic.in/oci/oci-main.htm
From: RRKSent: 8/26/2005 3:07 AMhttp://www.indiacgny.org/php/showContent.php?linkid=355
Details on Overseas Citizenship
Government of India has since issued the notification on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2003 on the 7th of January, 2004 under which persons of Indian origin are now eligible to apply for Overseas Citizenship and obtain a “Certificate of Registration” as an Overseas Citizen of India.
Eligibility : Under this scheme, any person of Indian origin of full age and capacity who is a citizen of a specified country [(section 7A(1)] or who has obtained the citizenship of a specified country on or after the commencement of the Citizenship Act 2003 i.e. on 07.01.2004 and who was a citizen of India immediately before such commencement under section 7A(1)(b). The minors of persons mentioned above are also eligible for Overseas Citizenship (section 7A(1)(c).
Details : Full text of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2003 and the Citizenship (Second Amendment) Rules 2004 is available on the mha.nic.in/citi.htm
Countries : Persons of Indian origin residing in the following 16 countries are eligible for Overseas Indian Citizenship:
1. Australia
2. Canada
3. Finland
4. France
5. Greece
6. Ireland
7. Israel
8. Italy
9. Netherlands
10. New Zealand
11. Portugal
12. Republic of Cyprus
13. Sweden
14. Switzerland
15. United Kingdom; and
16. United States of America
Fees : The applicant will have to submit his/her application at the Indian Mission/Post in person and sign a declaration in the presence of Consular Officer in the Mission. He/She will be required to submit a sum of US$ 275.00 along with his/her application out of which US$ 25.00 is non-refundable as processing charges while US$ 250.00 will be refunded in case the application is not accepted. The fees will be collected only in US dollars.
Requirements for an application
( Note: The application can not be sent by mail and has to be submitted personally by the applicant to the Consular Officer at the Consulate/Embassy. )
1. Application in triplicate in following prescribed format :-
a) For registration under Section 7A(1)(a) – Form XIX
b) For registration under Section 7A(1)(b) – Form XIX-A
c) For registration under Section 7A(1)(c) – Form XIX-B2. Furnish details of records of civil or criminal cases against the applicant.
3. Furnish detailed description of immovable property, business interests and other details as mentioned in Form XIX-A or XIX-B.
4. A declaration and oath of allegiance duly attested by the Consular Officer at the Consulate/Embassy.
5. Four copies of applicant’s latest passport size photograph.
Minor : Along with an application for a minor in form XIX-B, the following particulars are also
required :-
(a) a statement whether the applicant is a parent or guardian of the child and if he is a guardian, how he became the guardian;
(b) a statement showing whether the child was adopted by the applicant and if so, documentary evidence to that effect;
(c) a statement indicating reasons for which the child is required to be registered as an overseas citizen of India.
Processing Time : The time for processing an application from the date the application is received completed in all respects from the concerned Indian Diplomatic mission by the Ministry of Home Affairs will be 4 months.
Period of Validity : The Registration Certificate will be valid for life of the holder unless renounced or cancelled.
Facilities
(i) An Overseas Citizen of India will enjoy all rights and privileges available to Non-resident Indians (NRIs) including investment in agriculture and plantation properties, which is currently not available to PIO card holders.
(ii) There would be no visa requirement for travel to India. The person would have to carry
his/her existing foreign passport along with Registration Certificate.
(iii) The person so traveling would not be required to complete registration formalities for his/ her stay in India (no need for registering with the FRRO, if the stay exceeds 6 months).
(iv) facilities as available to children of NRIs for getting admission to educational institutions in India including Medical and Engineering Colleges, Management Institutes etc. under the general category and membership of various housing scheme etc. will be open to holders of Certificate of Registration.
Notes : The Overseas Citizens, however, will not enjoy the following Rights:-
(i) Right to Vote;
(ii) Right to hold Constitutional Offices (Member of Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha,
Legislative Assembly or Council, offices of President, Vice President, Judge of Supreme Court & High Court etc.);
(iii) Appointment to Public Services (Govt. Services)
Status of PIO Card : A person already holding a PIO Card can also apply for Registration Certificate. The fees paid in respect of PIO Card will not be refunded or adjusted against the cost for the Registration Certificate.
Persons with Dual Passports : Persons having the passport of the country concerned, (one of the sixteen countries listed) and that of a third country, can also apply for a Certificate of Registration.
Overseas Citizenship is not Dual Nationality : It may kindly be noted that Overseas Citizenship is not a full citizenship of India and, therefore, does not amount to dual citizenship or dual nationality.
Some of the important features of this scheme are:
The facility would be available to persons of Indian origin located in all countries except Pakistan and Bangladesh. The concerned country should however have the provision of dual citizenship in some form or the other.
The application form has been simplified bringing in clarity and transparency.
One application form would suffice for a family
A person would be able to apply for overseas citizenship in their country of citizenship, and also in any other country where he/she is ordinarily residing.
There is no need for any oath of allegiance.
The fees for OCI would be $ 275 and for PIO card holders $ 25.
Indian missions would be authorized to grant OCI within 15 days for applicants having no criminal record.
OCI will be issued a new type of visa called ‘U’ visa which is multi-purpose, multiple entry with no time limit on length of stay and no requirement of police reporting.
OCI would be granted all rights in the field of economic, financial and educational fields, in parity with NRIs. ( They would not however have any rights respect to acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties.)***