Any applicant fulfilling the following conditions, shall be eligible to become an OCI:

• The applicant is a citizen of another country AND was a citizen of India after 1950;
• The applicant is a citizen of another country AND was eligible to become Indian Citizen post 1950;
• The applicant is a citizen of another country AND belonged to a territory which became a part of India post 1947;
• Child or grand child or great grand child of citizen of India;
• Minor of any of the above four conditions is eligible to be an OCI;
• Minor and parents – citizens or one parent;
• Spouse of OCI Card holder or citizen of India;

Additional conditions for spouses:

• The marriage shall be registered;
• The marriage should have subsisted for a continuous period of not less than 2 years before the presentation of application;
• A security clearance of the spouse will be undertaken.

*It is also pertinent to note that any child, grand-child or great grand child of citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh cannot be an OCI card holder.

• Proof of the applicant’s present Citizenship
• A minimum 6-month valid passport
• Certificate of registration of citizenship or naturalization
• Surrender certificate or Cancellation Certificate in case after 2010
• Evidence of address of place of application
• Copy of electricity bill or telephone bill in own/parents’/grandparents’/spouse’s name
• Lease license in case of tenant
• Relationship evidence as parent, grandparent or great grandparent, if their Indian origin is the basis for application
• Evidence as spouse of a foreign origin of a citizen of India or an OCI cardholder
• Current passport size photograph of the applicant
• Thumb impression and signature of the applicant

An OCI Card Holder does not have the right to vote in India.

Residential or Commercial Properties:
As per the guidelines issued by Reserve Bank of India, an NRI or OCI card holder can invest in any residential or commercial property. They can buy any number of residential or commercial properties.

Agricultural Land:
OCI Card holders are not permitted to invest in farmland, plantation land, and agriculture land. However, they can inherit agricultural land/plantation property/farmland.

Documents required for investing in Real Estate:

• OCI card (In case of OCI) or Passport (In case of NRI)
• PAN card (Permanent account number)
• Passport size photographs
• Address proof

An Overseas Citizen of India is eligible to open:

• Non-Resident External Account (NRE)
• Non-Resident Ordinary Account (NRO)
• Foreign Currency Non-Resident Account (FCNR)

More details: Opening a Bank Account in India

An NRI is classified as an individual who has gone out of India, or who stays outside India for employment or for carrying on business or any vocation. Furthermore, an NRI is an individual who has gone out of India or who intends to stay outside India for any other purpose signifying his intent to stay outside India for an indefinite period.

The Fees for US approximately $275 or equivalent in local currency for each applicant. In case of PIO card holder, US $25 or equivalent in local currency for each applicant. In case of application filled in India, fee Rs.14,230/- for general category and for PIO card holders Rs.1,290/- to be paid by way of Demand Draft.