Latest News/Guidelines on OCI Card:-

1. The time line for re-issuance of OCI cards in r/o OCI card holders, who may be required to get their OCI card reissued has been extended until 31.12.2022.

2. Such OCI cardholders will be allowed to travel on strength of their existing OCI cards bearing old passport number subject to the condition that the OCI cardholder will have to travel along with new passport.

3. Mandatory requirement of re-issuance of an OCI card each time a new passport is issued to a foreigner upto 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age is dispensed. OCI cardholder is required to get the OCI card re-issued only once when a new passport is issued after completing 20 years of age.

4. OCI cardholder is required  to upload ONLINE a copy of the new passport and a latest photo each time a new passport is issued upto 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age.  The uploading of these documents may be done within three months of receipt of the new passport.  The service will be provided on Gratis basis.

5. Foreign Spouse of an Indian Citizen or spouse of foreign origin of an OCI cardholder are required to upload a copy of  the new passport and also a latest photo ONLINEeach time a new passport is issued along with a declaration on subsisting of marriage, copy of the Indian passport of the Indian spouse/passport & OCI card of the OCI cardholder spouse.

6. Requirement of carrying old and new passports along with the OCI card has been done away. Henceforth, the OCI card holders travelling on the strength of their existing OCI card bearing old passport number are not required to carry their old passport. However, carrying of new passport is mandatory.

7. The Online OCI webportal has been suitably modified under “OCI Miscellaneous Services” to facilitate OCI cardholders to update details of new Passport (each time a new passport is issued up to 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age) and reissue of OCI card once a new passport is issued after completing 20 years of age. A detailed instruction in order to fill Online Application form and requirement may be accessed at https://ociservices.gov.in/welcome.

8. Likewise, as per Gazette Notification dt 04.03.2021 on rights and privileges, OCI cardholders are required to obtain Special Permission from concerned authorities to undertake certain activities in India. In order to make it convenient to such OCI cardholders, a separate sub-portal under the name “Apply for Special Permission (Only for OCI cardholders)” has been created in the Online OCI webportal at https://ociservices.gov.in/welcome. The link has detailed instructions as well as documents required to be submitted. The link would facilitate such OCI cardholders to apply for Special Permission.

Overseas citizens of india scheme (oci) general information:-

OCI applicants are requested to surrender their Indian passports to passport section as per instructions on this matter and submit copy of Surrender Certificate alongwith their OCI applications. Those applicants who have ever held Indian passports and are unable to produce the same for surrender for any reason (loss/ misplacement/ submitted to home office long time back) are required to furnish a Notarized Affidavit (if the passport is already expired) and also police report (in cases where Indian passport was still valid).

Important Point:- Application procedure w.e.f. 23 November 2015: The applicants can upload the requisite documents, photograph and the signature with the application in the online system. The procedure is mentioned below for the processing of applications for registration as OCI cardholder and for OCI Miscellaneous Services:

1. The applicants shall submit the application form online and 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.

2. After the applicant submits the complete application online including documents, photograph and signature, the originals of the supporting documents have to be submitted to the Indian Mission/ Post/ FRROs concerned for prior verification. The Indian Missions / Posts/ FRROs will be responsible for verifying the supporting documents with the originals.

3. If there is any discripancy in the application/ uploaded documents/ photographs, the Indian Mission/ Post/ FRRO concerned shall inform the same to the applicant by email. The applicant may then submit the required documents to the Indian Mission/ Post/ FRRO concerned, who will take necessary action to upload the same on the online system.

4. Applicant, who has been a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh, shall not be eligible for OCI.Minor PIO children whose both parents are either Indian nationals or one parent is an Indian national and the other is ineligible for OCI are also not eligible for registration as OCI.

BENEFITS:-

Registered OCIs shall be entitled to following benefits:-

1. Multi-purpose, multi entry, lifelong visas for visiting India.

2. Exemption from registration with Foreigners Regional Registration officer/Foreigners Registration Officer for any length of stay in India.

3. Parity with Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in respect of all facilities to the     latter     in economic, financial and educational fields except in matters relating to the acquisition of agricultural/plantation properties.

4. Any other benefits to OCIs will be notified by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) under Section 7 B (1) of the Citizenship Act, 1955.

Restrictions:-

1. The OCI is not entitled to vote,

2. Be a member of Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council or Parliament.

3. He/she cannot hold constitutional posts such as President, Vice President, Judge of Supreme Court or High Court etc.and cannot hold employment in the Government.

Every registered OCI will be issued a registration certificate which is printed like an Indian passport in different colour and will have the photograph of the individual and all necessary security features.

Eligibility Criteria:- 

A foreign national, who:

1. was eligible to become a citizen of India on 26.01.1950, or

2. was a citizen of India on or at any time after 26.01.1950, or

3. belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15.08.1947and his/her children and grandchildren, are eligible for registration as Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), provided his/her country of citizenship s dual citizenship in some form or other under the local laws.

The minor children of such persons are also eligible for OCI.

DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED WITH OCI APPLICATION

(All Documents should be self attested)

OCI Card for Adults:-

1. Application form -Part A duly filled in and signed wherever necessary

2. Application form -Part B duly filled in and signed wherever necessary

3. 2 recent passport photographs measuring 51x51 mm without border and showing full frontal view of the person's head and shoulders having a white or light colored background. No glare if wearing glasses.

4. Copy of previous Indian passport OR any document which clearly establishes applicant's previous nationality as Indian.

5. Copy of present Belarusian passport

6. Copy of nationality certificate along with its English translation, duly notarized.

7. Copy of apostilled Birth Certificate, along with its English translation, duly notarized.

OCI Card for children below 18 yrs (who held an Indian Passport):-

1. Application form -Part A duly filled in and signed by the applicant . Please note that, in the box on Part A, minor can sign only if he/she can, otherwise only thump impression (signature /thump impression should be within the box).

2. Application form -Part B duly filled in and signed wherever necessary by either of the parent

3. 2 recent passport photographs measuring 51x51 mm without border and showing full frontal view of the person's head and shoulders having a white or light colored background. No glare if wearing glasses.

4. Copy of previous Indian passport.

5. Copy of present Belarusian passport.

6. Copy of father's/mother's Belarusian passport who are eligible for an OCI Card.

7. Copy of nationality certificate along with its English translation, duly notarized.

8. Copy of apostilled Birth Certificate, along with its English translation, duly notarized.

OCI Card for Adults born to Indian parents and never held an Indian Passport:-

1. Application form -Part A duly filled in and signed wherever necessary

2. Application form -Part B duly filled in and signed wherever necessary

3. 2 recent passport photographs measuring 51x51 mm without border and showing full frontal view of the person's head and shoulders having a white or light colored background. No glare if wearing glasses.

4. Copy of previous Indian passport of either of the parent.

5. Copy of appostilled Birth Certificate along with its English translation, duly notarized.

6. Copy of present Belarusian passport

7. Copy of appostilled marriage certificate of the parents along with its English translation, duly notarized

8. Copy of nationality certificate along with its English translation, duly notarized.

OCI Card for Children below 18 yrs born to Indian parents and never held an Indian Passport:-

1. Application form -Part A duly filled in and signed by the applicant. Please note that, in the box on Part A, minor can sign only if he/she can, otherwise only thump impression (signature /thump impression should be within the box).

2. Application form -Part B duly filled in and signed wherever necessary by either of the parent

3. 2 recent passport photographs measuring 51x51 mm without border and showing full frontal view of the person's head and shoulders having a white or light colored background. No glare if wearing glasses.

4. Copy of present Belarusian passport.

5. Copy of father's/mother's Belarusian passport who are eligible for an OCI Card.

6. Copy of previous Indian passport of either of the parent.

7. Copy of appostilled Birth Certificate, along with its English translation, duly notarized

8. Copy of present Belarusian passport

9. Copy of nationality certificate along with its English translation, duly notarized

Fee structure:-

1. OCI Card - fee – US $ 275

2. OCI Miscellaneous Services - US $ 25

3. Issue of OCI Card in case of Loss/Damage of OCI Documents - US $ 100

4. With effect from 05 July, 2021, an additional fee of USD 3/-is payable on each OCI application

Payment details:- 

OCI card fees are non-refundable and subject to change without notice. The Embassy of India, Minsk reserves the right to issue or deny OCI card irrespective of the fees tendered at the time of making application. In case of denial of OCI card, the fee paid will not be refunded.

To apply for a new OCI : https://passport.gov.in/oci/; https://passport.gov.in/oci/OnlineOCIRegistrationG.jsp

To check the status of OCI already applied for https://passport.gov.in/oci/OnlineOCIenquiry.jsp

To apply for OCI Miscellaneous services: https://passport.gov.in/oci/OnlineOCIMiscMain.jsp

For any queries related to OCI Card please contact the following:-