Overseas Citizen of India Card

Step1 : Apply online (https://ociservices.gov.in). Applicants are required to upload all the requisite documents (self attested), photograph and signature (in the case of minors who cannot sign, left hand thumb impression) along with the application. Further, every person, including a minor, eligible to be registered as Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder under Section 7A, may submit separate application. In case of a minor, the application from may be signed by either of the parents or by the person to who the legal custody of the minor has been granted or by the legal guardian of such minor, as the case may be.

Step2 :Take appointment (https://www.eoibudapest.gov.in/page/appointment-for-visa-consular-passport/) for submitting your application with original passport and other required documents at Embassy. Print out of the OCI application, Self-attested photocopies of required documents and photographs have to be submitted  along with the originals  supporting documents for  verification and return

Eligibility: 

A foreign national, - (i) who was a citizen of India at the time of, or at any time after 26th January, 1950; or (ii) who was eligible to become a citizen of India on 26th January, 1950; or (iii) who belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15th August, 1947; or (iv) who is a child or a grandchild or a great grandchild of such a citizen; or (v) who is a minor child of such persons mentioned above; or (vi) who is a minor child and whose both parents are citizens of India or one of the parents is a citizen of India - is eligible for registration as OCI cardholder. Besides, spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign origin of an Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder and whose marriage has been registered and subsisted for a continuous period of not less than two years immediately preceding the presentation of the application is also eligible for registration as OCI cardholder. However, no person, who or either of whose parents or grandparents or great grandparents is or had been a citizen of Pakistan, Bangladesh or such other country as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify, shall be eligible for registration as an Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder. Foreign Military/ Police Personnel either serving or retired will not be registered as OCI Cardholder with an exception to Israeli citizens.

Benefits of OCI- 

1. A multiple entry, multi-purpose lifelong visa for visiting India (however one needs to carry a valid passport along for travel).
2. No separate student/Employment/Business visa will be required for admission in colleges/institutions or taking up employment , business, etc in India
3. Special counters for speedy immigration clearance at designated Immigration check posts
4. Exemption from registration with the local police authorities for any length of stay in India
5. Parity with Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in respect of economic, financial and educational fields except acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties.
6. OCI registration certificate can be used as identity proof for applying for a (I)PAN Card (II) Driving License (III) Opening of Bank account in India, if the OCI Card holder resides in India. 

However, the OCI card holder is not entitled to vote, to be member of a Legislative Assembly or of a Legislative Council or of the Parliament of India and to hold Indian constitutional posts such as that of the President, Vice-President, Judges of the Supreme/High Courts etc. He/She cannot normally hold employment for appointment to public services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union or of any State except for appointment in such services and posts as the Central Government may, by special order, in that behalf specify. Further, the OCI Cardholder cannot acquire agricultural or plantation properties in India.

For further details, kindly read the following Brochure: https://mha.gov.in/PDF_Other/BROCHURE_OCI_25042017.pdf

Important Note :-

1. The following OCI guidelines have been in force since 2005:

OCI card needs to be re-issued each time a new passport is acquired by the cardholder up to the age of 20 years. 

OCI card is required to be re-issued onceon acquiring a new passport after completing 50 years of age. 

Re-issuance of OCI card is not required each timea passport is issued to a cardholder between 21 and 50 years of age.  

2. This is to inform that Government of India has decided to grant temporary relaxation till 30th June 2021 in the following cases:

In case an OCI card holder below the age of 20 years has not got the OCI card re-issued on change of passport, he/she may travel on the strength of his/her existing OCI card bearing old passport number subject to the condition that along with the new passport, the OCI cardholder carries old passport mentioned in the OCI card.

In case an OCI card holder who has attained the age of 50 years and has got his/her passport renewed subsequently but has not got his/her OCI card re-issued on renewal of his/her passport, he/she may travel on the strength of the existing OCI card along with the old and new passports. 

3. It is, however, advised that OCI cardholders may take steps to comply with the existing OCI guidelines in Point 1 above and renew their OCI cards as required by the rules.

 Documentation required

After online submission of OCI application and online uploading the required document,   Print out of the OCI application, Self-attested photocopies of required documents and photographs have to be submitted to the Indian Mission  along with the originals  supporting documents for  verification and return.  Apostilled documents can be accepted only if the applicants are unable to produce original documents.

Adult applicants (Indian Origin/Having Indian passport in past)

• OCI Registration Form (part A&B duly filled online and signed by the applicant)
• Three recent photographs of the size of 5×5 cm without border and showing full frontal view of applicant’s head/shoulder, white/light background. No glare if wearing glasses
• Copy of Cancelled Indian passport.
• Passport surrender certificate /renunciation of Indian citizenship certificate.
• Copy of the Hungarian/Bosnian passport.
• Copy of the Naturalization certificate issued from Hungarian/Bosnian Government.
• Name change deed from solicitor/oath commissioner/local administration should be submitted in case of name/surname change, change of appearance
• Marriage certificate needs to be submitted in case of change of name after marriage.
• Copy of Hungarian/Bosnian Identity and Address card.
• 1. Those who have acquired foreign nationality after 01.06.2010 may apply for Renunciation Certificate online on the Ministry of Home Affairs (Foreigners Division) website https://indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in/
  The applicant has to click on “Declaration of Renunciation of Citizenship under Section 8 of the Act Made by a Citizen of India who is also a Citizen or National of another country”
  Instructions and details regarding the application can be seen in the website link given below;
  https://indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in/Renounce
  Applicants need to upload these documents on MHA portal:-
  Indian Passports including expired one (Please upload both front and back page of the passport), address proof (utility bill, bankpassbook, extract from municipality etc).
  2. Those who have acquired foreign nationality before 01.06.2010 may apply for Surrender Certificate on the link https://portal6.passportindia.gov.in/Online/index.html
  3. For minors also please apply for Surrender Certificate on the link https://portal6.passportindia.gov.in/Online/index.html apart from mentioning names in parents application.

Foreign spouse of Indian national/Overseas Citizen of India

• OCI Registration Form (part A& B duly filled online and signed by the applicant)
• Three recent photographs of the size of 5×5 cm without border and showing full frontal view of applicant’s head/shoulder, white/light background. No glare if wearing glasses.
• Copy of the Hungarian/Bosnian passport.
• Copy of Indian passport of spouse.
• Copy of OCI Card of spouse .
• Marriage certificate, marriage should have subsisted at least two years at the time of submission of the application for OCI registration in respect of the foreign spouse. Note: In all the cases where the Marriage Certificate is to be submitted, the following guidelines will be applicable:- (i) If the marriage is solemnized in India, Marriage certificate issued by Marriage Registrar is required. (ii) If the marriage is solemnized in foreign country, it should be apostled/certified by the concerned authorities. (iii) If the Marriage Certificate is in any foreign language other than English, it should be translated in English by authorized translator.
• An affidavit to the effect that the Indian/OCI spouse is still alive and that the couple are not separated/divorced
• Name change deed from solicitor/oath commissioner/local administration should be submitted in case of name/surname change, change of appearance
• Copy of Hungarian/Bosnian Identity and Address card.

Minor children

• OCI Registration Form (part A&B duly filled online and signed by the applicant). If minors are not capable of writing then it should have LTI in respect of girl child and RTI in respect of boy child. The From B in respect of minors is to be countersigned by both parents.
• Three recent photographs of the size of 5×5 cm without border and showing full frontal view of applicant’s head/shoulder, white/light background. No glare if wearing glasses.
• Copy of Hungarian/Bosnian passport.
• Passport surrender certificate /renunciation of Indian citizenship certificate.
• Copy of the OCI card, Indian Passport/Passport surrender certificate /renunciation of Indian citizenship certificate of the parents
• Copy of the minor’s Birth certificate containing names of both parents
• Marriage certificate of the parents
• Copy of the Naturalisation certificate.
• Copy of Hungarian/Bosnian Identity and Address card.

OCI Card in lieu of PIO  (Current PIO cardholders may apply for OCI cards in lieu of their  PIO cards till 31.12.2017.)

• OCI Registration Form (part A& B duly filled online and signed by the applicant)
• Three recent photographs of the size of 5×5 cm without border and showing full frontal view of applicant’s head/shoulder, white/light background. No glare if wearing glasses.
• Copy of the valid PIO card
• Copy of the Hungarian/Bosnian passport
• Copy of Proof of OCI status/Indian nationality of Spouse/Parent.
• Name change deed from solicitor/oath commissioner/local administration should be submitted in case of name/surname change, change of appearance.
• Copy of Hungarian/Bosnian Identity and Address card.

OCI Miscellaneous Services

• OCI Miscellaneous Registration Form (part A& B duly filled online and signed by the applicant) for change of Passport particulars, personal particulars, loss/ damage of OCI etc.
• The applicants should fill up new passport number not old passport number while applying for transfer of OCI visa sticker from old passport to new passport
• Three recent photographs of the size of 5×5 cm without border and showing full frontal view of applicant’s head/shoulder, white/light background. No glare if wearing glasses.
• Copy of the new Hungarian/Bosnian passport
• Copy of the previous OCI Visa sticker and the OCI booklet (the first and the last page)
• Name change deed from solicitor/oath commissioner/local administration should be submitted in case of name/surname change, change of appearance etc.
• Copy of Hungarian/Bosnian Identity and Address card.

OCI Fee Structure: The fee is accepted in Hungarian Forint  and in cash only at the Consular section of the Embassy of India; no Credit cards or other payment cards are accepted. 

OCI Fee wef 01 April 2024

Additional fees of HUF 1100/- is applicable with each OCI application as ICWF.

Dispensation of the OCI services

OCI card is issued normally after 45 days from the date of submission of application subject to its receipt from the Ministry. OCI Cards for Foreign spouses of Indian national take about 3 months. OCI Miscellaneous services take about 3-4 weeks. Applicants are advised to check the status of their applications online.

Person of Indian Origin (PIO) Card Scheme

The PIO card scheme has been withdrawn vide Gazette Notification No. 25024/9/2014 F.I dated January 09, 2015. Further, vide Gazette Notification No 26011/01/2014IC.I dated 09.01.2015, all existing PIO card holders are deemed to be OCI card holders.  Henceforth, applicants may apply for OCI Card only, as PIO Card scheme is no longer in existence. All PIO card holders are strongly encouraged to apply for OCI in Lieu of PIO card.

Please note entering/exiting India with PIO card (along with original passport) is valid only until March 31, 2020. After March 31, 2020, handwritten PIO cards will be considered as an invalid travel documents according to the ICAO guidelines.