OCI stands for Overseas Citizen of India. An OCI cardholder is a foreign national who was a citizen of India at the time of, or at any time after, the commencement of the Constitution of India i.e. January 26, 1950, or who was eligible to become a citizen of India on that date, or who is a child or a grandchild of such a citizen, or who is a spouse of a foreign origin citizen of India or spouse of an OCI 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.
OCI cardholders are entitled to multiple entry, multi-purpose, lifelong visa to visit India and are exempted from registration with the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) or Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) for any length of stay in India. They are also allowed to undertake the following activities in India:
- Purchase and own immovable property in India, except for agricultural land, plantation property, and farmhouses
- Work in India in any employment except for certain specified positions in government
- Study in India in any educational institution recognized by the government for this purpose
- Open a bank account, obtain a PAN card, and obtain a drivers license or a SIM card
OCI cardholders are required to carry their foreign passport bearing a 'U' visa sticker for travel to India.
