OCI Application Requirements

Everything you need to know before you start — eligibility criteria, required documents, and what our service covers.

Eligibility

The following categories of foreign nationals are eligible to register as an OCI Cardholder under the Citizenship Act, 1955.

✅ Who is Eligible

Adults who hold citizenship of another country and meet any of the following:

  • Were a citizen of India at any time on or after 26 January 1950
  • Were eligible to become a citizen of India on 26 January 1950
  • Belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15 August 1947
  • Are a child, grandchild, or great-grandchild of any person meeting the above criteria

Minor children who meet any of the following:

  • At least one parent is eligible under the adult criteria above
  • Both parents are Indian citizens, or one parent is an Indian citizen

Foreign spouses of an Indian citizen or an existing OCI cardholder — provided the marriage has been registered and has subsisted for a continuous period of at least two years before the application is submitted.

❌ Who is NOT Eligible

  • Anyone who, or whose parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents are or were citizens of Pakistan, Bangladesh, or any other country notified by the Indian Government
  • Foreign military or police personnel, whether currently serving or retired

📌 The above is a summary for reference only. For complete and up-to-date eligibility requirements, please visit the official Government of India Online OCI Services website.

📋 Document Prerequisites
Have these documents ready before you start your application.

Required for all application types (A–E). Have both ready as JPEG files before you start.

🖼️ Applicant Photo

  • Height and width must be equal (square)
  • Minimum: 200 × 200 pixels
  • Maximum: 1500 × 1500 pixels
  • File size: max 500 KB
  • Format: JPEG only
  • White background, full face visible

✍️ Applicant Signature

  • Minimum: 200 × 67 pixels
  • Maximum: 1500 × 500 pixels
  • File size: max 500 KB
  • Format: JPEG only
  • Sign on white paper, photograph or scan

Documents required across new OCI applications. Items tagged Minor only apply when applying on behalf of a minor. Your personalised checklist will show the full list for your specific situation.

  • Photograph — passport-style, meets the specifications above
  • Signature — meets the specifications above
  • Current valid foreign passport — minimum 6 months validity; information page must be signed
  • Proof of address — State ID, driving license, utility bill (≤3 months old), lease, mortgage, or tax return
  • Birth certificate Minor only
  • Both parents' current passports Minor only
💡 Document requirements vary by application category, and you don't need all documents before starting. Once you complete the questionnaire, OCI Assistant generates your personalised checklist showing exactly which documents you need for your specific situation.
🛠️ What OCI Assistant Does (and Doesn't Do)
We are a document preparation service. Here is exactly what that means.
✅ What We Do
  • ✓ Guide you through a step-by-step wizard
  • ✓ Generate your personalised document checklist
  • ✓ Auto-generate affidavits and forms pre-filled with your details
  • ✓ Validate file formats and sizes to meet Govt. standards
  • ✓ Organise all documents into a ready-to-submit file package
  • ✓ Provide step-by-step instructions for Govt. website and VFS submission
❌ What We Don't Do
  • ✕ Submit your application to the Govt. website or VFS on your behalf
  • ✕ Book or manage your VFS appointment
  • ✕ Provide legal or immigration advice
  • ✕ Guarantee application approval
  • ✕ Notarise documents (notarisation must be done by you)

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