Who qualifies as an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)?
The Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status is a form of permanent residency available to people of Indian origin and their spouses which allows them to live and work in India indefinitely. Despite its name, OCI status does not confer actual citizenship and therefore does not grant the right to vote in Indian elections or hold public office.
The eligibility criteria for obtaining OCI status include:
- Being a foreign national who was eligible for Indian citizenship on January 26, 1950, or was an Indian citizen on or after this date.
- Being a foreign national belonging to a territory that became part of India after August 15, 1947, and their children and grandchildren.
- The applicant’s country of citizenship must legally recognize dual citizenship in some form.
Note: Individuals who, themselves or whose ancestors, were citizens of Pakistan or Bangladesh are ineligible for OCI status.
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