Registration of Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI)

Constitution of India does not allow dual citizenship. Government of India (GOI)  introduced OCI Scheme on December 2, 2005. GOI decided to register Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) of certain category as specified in Section 7A of the Citizenship Act, 1955 as Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) Cardholder.

OCI card is multiple entry and multi purpose life long visa for visiting India.

Benefits

1. OCI card is multiple entry and multi purpose life long visa for visiting India and stay unlimited duration without registration with FRRO.
2. Parity with Non-Resident Indian (NRI) in respect of all facilities available to them in economic, education and financial fields.
3. OCI cardholder can pursue many professions such as doctor, nurse, architect, chartered accountant, advocate and pharmacist.
4. OCI cardholders are eligible for appointment as teaching faculties in IITs, IIMs, NITs and in Central Universities.

Not Entitled

1. OCI cardholders are not entitled to vote in India.
2. OCI cardholders need special permission to undertake Research Work, Mountaineering, Missionary Work, Tabligh Work, Journalism.
3. OCI cardholder need permission to visit Protected/Restricted Area Notified by Government of India.
4. OCI cardholder cannot acquire agricultural and plantation properties in India.

Please visit link for online OCI Application Form and guidance for eligibility and required documents CLICK HERE

Issuance of OCI in lieu of valid PIO

The PIO Card Scheme has been withdrawn since January 9, 2015.

All PIO Card holders are advised to apply for issuance of OCI card (In Lieu of valid PIO cards) at the earliest.

Please visit link for online OCI Application Form and guidance for eligibility and required documents CLICK HERE

Fee Structure

For sending applications by Courier please include a return air-way bill addressed to:

                        Attache (Consular)

                        High Commission of India,

                        307 Church & Peter Rose Streets,

                        Queenstown, Georgetown,

                        Guyana, South America.

Consular Section is open from Monday to Friday in HCI, Georgetown as follows:

Consular Application Receiving time:     From 0930 Hrs. to 1130 Hrs.

Consular Application Delivery time:        From 1500 Hrs. to 1600 Hrs.

The Mission is closed on some Holidays as publicized under our Holiday list: https://www.hcigeorgetown.gov.in/pages.php?id=10.

For more details, you may write to Attaché (Consular.), HCI, Georgetown at cons.georgetown@mea.gov.in