To respond to a longstanding demand of persons of Indian origin who are now nationals of other countries, the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India had announced, on the occasion of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2005, the Government of India’s intention to grant dual citizenship to such nationals of certain countries, the laws of which permit such a facility for their citizens. This has now been given legal backing by the Indian Parliament with the approval of Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2005. The Scheme is called “Overseas Citizenship of India”.
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Under the said scheme, a Registration Certificate, like an Indian passport though in a different colour, will be issued to the applicant.
A multiple entry, multi-purpose OCI ‘U’ (Universal) visa sticker will be pasted on the applicant’s foreign passport.
These two documents will have the applicant’s photograph, and all the necessary security features.
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Eligibility criteria:
A foreign national, who
- was eligible to become a citizen of India on 26.01.1950, or
- was a citizen of India on or at any time after 26.01.1950, or
- belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15.08.1947
and his/her children and grandchildren, are eligible for registration as Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), provided his/her country of citizenship allows dual citizenship in some form or other under the local laws.
The minor children of such persons are also eligible for OCI.
However, if the applicant had ever been a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh, he/she will not be eligible for OCI.
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Application form and procedure:
a) The FORM can be downloaded from the Ministry of Home Affairs website at www.mha.nic.in. Part A of the form can also be filled on line by clicking on "Online Registration"
b) The OCI Application is in two parts, Part A and Part B. Part A must be filled up and submitted online by the Applicants. It can be accessed by selecting ‘individual’ box given in the beginning of the OCI application form. Each applicant has to fill in Part-A and the filling in of the ‘Fields’ marked with * is mandatory.
On submission of Part A, a Registration Number will be generated online. This will be a dummy number. However, applicants can retrieve information from this Reference Number. The applicant must take two printouts of Part A, affix one colour photo (35mmx35mm) on each form and sign in the signature box. Persons who cannot sign must affix an impression of left thumb
. Part A is tamper proof, i.e., once Part A has been submitted online the applicant cannot make any changes in it. Please ensure that important personal information like name, date / place of birth, passport number etc is filled in carefully and tallies with the information contained in the current passport.
Applicants not wishing to register themselves online can take a printout of the application form and fill Part A either by hand (IN NEAT BLOCK LETTERS) or type in the entries.
c) Part B of the application is meant for all members of the family, not exceeding four including the applicant. It is in ZIP format, and can be accessed by selecting ‘group’ in the OCI application form. It is to be downloaded either by using the ‘evaluation version’ or saved on a floppy/ CD ROM in MS Word format. Part B of the form should be filled either by hand in legible CAPITAL LETTERS or typed. Additional sheets can be used in case the space provided in the OCI application form is insufficient. Part B cannot be filled in online.
d) The following documents should be enclosed with each application:
1. 3 additional 35mmx35mm recent colour photographs of each applicant.
2. Proof of the foreign citizenship of each applicant, such as a Canadian passport.
3. Evidence of self or parent(s) or grandparent(s)
(i) having been eligible to become a citizen of India at the time of commencement of the Constitution of India on 26th January, 1950; or
(ii) belonging to a territory that became part of India after 15th August, 1947 or
(iii) being a citizen of India on or after 26th January, 1950.
As proof thereof, the following documents should be submitted:-
(i) Original Indian passport and copy thereof (or)
(ii) Any other proof acceptable to the Consular Officer.
If the applicant is claiming eligibility on the basis of the Indian citizenship of his/her parent(s)/ grandparent(s), he/she will also have to submit proof of his/her relationship with such a person.
4. Original and a copy of landing paper issued by the Canadian Immigration authorities for those who earlier had an Indian passport. If original has been lost, a duplicate may be obtained from Canadian authorities.
5. Persons of Indian origin, born in Canada and applying for OCI on the basis of their parent(s)’s initial Indian citizenship, should produce their parent(s)’landing paper(s). If original has been lost, a duplicate may be obtained from Canadian authorities.
6. PIO card holders should submit a copy of their PIO card with their application, and also bring along the original for scrutiny at the time of submission of the application form.
e) Payment of the fee of C$ 421/- for each applicant (C$ 40/- for each PIO card holder). The fee has to be paid in the form of Bank Certified cheque/ Money Order only payable to the
“High Commission of India, Ottawa” One certified cheque or postal order for all members of family applying at one time can be made.
f) The application form in duplicate, completed in all respects along with enclosures, should be submitted to the High Commission of India, Ottawa.
Applying in person:
This should be done after getting an appointment with the concerned officer at the High Commission of India, Ms. Rani Malick, at ssad-oci@hciottawa.ca. Please note submission of OCI applications in person is by prior appointment only.
Applying by mail: The completed application form with all documents including original passports, landing paper together with a self addressed, pre paid Fedex envelope/way bill should be sent with the documents for the original documents to be returned after scrutiny. The High Commission will, however, not be responsible for any delay or loss of documents in mail or by courier.
When the applicant is not resident in Canada, the application form should be submitted to the Indian Mission/Post in the country in which he/she is ordinarily resident.
If the applicant is in India, he/she can apply to the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata or Amritsar or Chief Immigration Officer (CHIO) Chennai or to the Under Secretary, Citizenship Section, Foreigners Division, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Jaisalmer House, 26 Mansingh Road, New Delhi-110011.
After checking all the relevant details, the High Commission of India, Ottawa will issue an acknowledgement, and the number mentioned thereon (the file number) or the reference number can be used for online status enquiry at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) website www.mha.nic.in/.
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Procedure for granting registration:
After preliminary scrutiny, if there is no adverse information available against the applicant, the Indian Mission/Post shall register a person as OCI within 15 days of application and the case shall be referred to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), New Delhi for post verification of the antecedents of the applicant. If during the post verification, any adverse information comes to the knowledge of the MHA, the registration as OCI already granted by the Indian Mission/Post shall be cancelled by an order under section 7 D of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
After preliminary scrutiny, if there is any adverse information against the applicant, prior approval of MHA, New Delhi shall be required before grant of registration. MHA may approve or reject the grant of registration within 90 days from the date of the receipt of the application. If the grant of registration as OCI is approved by MHA, the Indian Mission/Post shall register the person as OCI.
If the application is filed in India, registration shall be granted by MHA by following the above procedure.
After grant of registration, a registration certificate in the prescribed format will be issued and a multiple entry, multi-purpose life long OCI ‘U’ visa sticker will be pasted on the foreign passport of the application.
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OCI registration for PIO card holders:
PIO card holders who are otherwise eligible for registration as OCI may apply in the same Form and they will be considered for grant of registration in the same manner as other applicants. PIO card holders will have to pay a fee of C$ 40 instead of C$ 421 for a normal applicant. A PIO cardholder will have to surrender his/her PIO card after issuance of acceptance of the application and before the grant of the OCI registration certificate/visa. If the application is rejected, C$ 381/- will be returned to the applicant, after deducting C$40/- as processing fees.
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OCI registration for persons who have applied on the earlier prescribed application form:
All such applications will be considered for grant of OCI on the same lines as in para 3 above without seeking fresh application and fees.
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Cancellation of OCI registration:
If it is found that the registration as an OCI was obtained by means of fraud, false representation or the concealment of any material fact, or that 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 for entry into India.
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Benefits to OCI:
The following benefits will accrue to an OCI:
(i) A multiple entry, multi-purpose lifelong visa for visiting India.
(ii) Exemption from registration with the local police authorities for any length of stay in India
(iii) Parity with Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in respect of economic, financial and educational fields, except in relation to acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties.
Any other benefits to OCIs will be notified by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) under Section 7B(1) of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
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Benefits an OCI is not entitled to:
The OCI is not entitled to vote, to be a member of a Legislative Assembly or of a Legislative Council or of the Parliament of India, to hold Indian constitutional posts such as that of the President, Vice President, Judge of the Supreme Court or High Court etc. He/she cannot normally hold employment in the Government.
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Help Desk
For any clarification/query on the scheme, please visit the website www.mha.nic.in/ or contact Citizenship Section, Foreigners Division, Ministry of Home Affairs, Jaisalmer House, 26 Mansingh Road, New Delhi-110011.
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Jurisdiction
Our consular offices in Canada and their respective jurisdictions are as follows:
1.The High Commission of India,
10, Springfield Road, Ottawa, Ontario, K1M 1C9
Tel: (613) 744 3751 Fax: (613) 744 0913
E-Mail: consular@hciottawa.ca
Website: www.hciottawa.ca/
Jurisdiction: Ottawa-Hull National Capital Region, Kingston, Cornwall, Hawksbury, Arnprior, Renfrew, Perth Prescott, Brockville, Smith Falls, Carleton Place, Morrisburg (all in Ontario),Montreal (in Quebec), and the Territory of Nunavut.
ONLY THOSE RESIDENT IN THE ABOVE AREAS SHOULD NORMALLY APPLY TO THE HIGH COMMISSION OF INDIA IN OTTAWA.
2.Consulate General of India
No.201-325, Howe Street, Vancouver BC V6C 1Z7
Tel: (604) 6628811
Fax: (604) 6822471/ 3556
E-Mail: www.hciottawa.ca/mailto
Website: www.cgivancouver.com/ Jurisdiction: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Northwest Territories.
3.Consulate General of India
Suite# 400, 1835 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario M4S1X8
Tel: (416) 960 0751- 52
Fax : (416) 960 9812
E-Mail: cgindia@cgitoronto.ca
Website: www.cgitoronto.ca/
Jurisdiction: The Provinces of Ontario and Quebec (except places falling under the jurisdiction of HCI, Ottawa)), Manitoba, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador,
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