OCI Card

OCI Card

The Embassy of India, Bratislava hereby notifies that the scheme for Overseas Citizenship of India has been launched.

Introduction

Based on the recommendation of the High Level Committee on Indian Diaspora, the Government of India decided to grant Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI). Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) of certain category, who migrated from India and acquired citizenship of a foreign country, other than Pakistan and Bangladesh, are eligible for grant of OCI. For details on eligibility criteria see section on Eligibility Criteria.

Eligibility Criteria

A foreign national, who was eligible to become citizen of India on 26.01.1950 or was a citizen of India on or at anytime after 26.01.1950 or belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15.08.1947; and his/her children and grand children, are eligible for registration as Overseas Citizen of India (OCI). Minor children of such person are also eligible for OCI. However, if the applicant had ever been a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh, he/she will not be eligible for OCI.

Where to apply for the OCI Card

Slovak passport holders fulfilling eligibility criteria can apply at Embassy of India, Bratislava.

How to Apply

Application forms are to be filled out online. You can click here or at the end of this section. A print-out of the completed form should be submitted in duplicate with one photograph pasted on each form (both sets must have original signature) along with the following documents:

1. Proof of Citizenship of applicant(s), which includes Slovak Passport.
2. Evidence of self or parents or grand parents:
1. Being eligible to become a citizen of India at the time of commencement of the Constitution; or
2. Belonging to a territory that became part of India after 15th August, 1947; or
3. Being citizen of India on or after 26th January, 1950.

Evidence for (iii) must be:

i. A copy of Indian passport; or

ii. Domicile certificate of India; or

iii. Any other proof, like School Certificate, Birth Certificate from India

3. Evidence of relationship as parent/grandparent, if their Indian origin is claimed as the basis for grant of OCI.
4. If you have ever been an Indian national, two self-attested copies of Surrender Certificate of your last Indian passport must be attached. If you do not have a surrender certificate please send your application for surrender certificate along with your Indian passport, to Consular Officer, Email:eindia.consular@stonline.sk. Phone: +421-2-52631374; Fax: +421-2-52962921.
5. In case of a minor applicant, one of the parents must be eligible for OCI. To facilitate verification of this, please include copies of Slovak passport and Indian passport or surrender certificate thereof in respect of a parent or copy of OCI card of a parent.

Fees:

1. Euro 262/- for each applicant
2. Euros 24/- for OCI Miscellaneous Services
3. Euros 95/- for issue of duplicate OCI card in case of loss/damage of OCI documents

Applicants can fill the application form online by clicking here.

Some Important Points for OCI Applicants

1. Please do not sign on the photograph.
2. Please paste (not staple) the photos on both copies of the application form in the space provided for the photo.
3. Please sign within the signature box provided. Any portion of your signature outside the signature box cannot be used for scanning thus causing delay in processing your application.
4. "Application in duplicate" means all requisite documents also should be in duplicate.
5. All photocopies should be self-attested. "Self attested" means you do not need to get it attested by a notary or public office. Mere signing the copy by the applicant saying "Certified True Copy" is enough. In case of a minor, photocopies should be attested by the legal guardian (or both parents).
6. If your name has undergone a change after acquiring Slovak nationality, you are required to provide us with a declaration to this effect. The declaration should be signed by the applicant himself or herself, and in case of a minor, by the legal guardian (or both parents).
7. In case of a minor applicant, the application form should be signed by the legal guardian or both parents.
8. Depending on the documents submitted alongwith your application in support of your claim for OCI, the Consular Officer, if need arises, may ask you to furnish further information/documents. Please provide your email in application form to facilitate this.

OCI Miscellaneous Services

OCI Miscellaneous Services are available in the event of:

1. Issuance of new passport;
2. Change of personal particulars viz. nationality;
3. Loss/damage of OCI registration certificate/visa;
4. Erroneously entering wrong personal particulars while submitting online applications;
5. Manually filled in applications mistakes have been committed by the Indian Mission/Post/Office while entering the personal particulars;
6. Change of address and occupation.

A person who has got registration as OCI cardholder prior to attaining the age of 20 years will have to get the OCI card re-issued only once when a new passport is issued after his/her completing 20 years of age, so as to capture his/ her facial features on attaining adulthood.  If a person has obtained registration as OCI cardholder after attaining the age of 20 years, there will be no requirement of re-issue of OCI card.

With a view to update the data regarding new passports obtained by the OCI cardholder, it has been decided that he/she shall upload a copy of the new passport containing his/her photo and also a latest photo on the online OCI portal, each time a new passport is issued up to 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age.  These documents may be uploaded by the OCI cardholder within 3 months of receipt of the new passport. 

In the case of those who have been registered as OCI cardholder as spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or an OCI cardholder, the person concerned will be required to upload on the system, a copy of the new passport containing the photo of the passport holder and also a latest photo along with a declaration that their marriage is still subsisting each time a new passport is issued.   These documents may be uploaded by the OCI cardholder spouse within three months of receipt of his/ her new passport. 

On updation of details on the system, an auto acknowledgement through e-mail will be sent to the OCI cardholder informing that the updated details have been taken on record.   There will be no restriction on the OCI cardholder to travel to/ from India during the period from the date of issue of new passport till the date of final acknowledgement of his/ her documents in the web-based system. 

All the above services of uploading documents will be provided on gratis basis to the OCI cardholders.

Process:

1. Registered OCIs shall make the application online selecting the requisite service(s).
2. Hard copy of application along with copy of existing visa, old and new Slovak/foreign passport and new enclosures to be submitted to the Embassy of India, Bratislava.
3. Application can also be submitted in Indian Mission/Post/Office in whose jurisdiction the applicant is ordinarily residing irrespective of the fact whether the same Mission/Post/Office has issued the original OCI documents or not.

Click Here to apply Online for OCI Miscellaneous Services

Enclosures:

1. Application form
2. One photograph to be affixed on the application
3. New Slovak/foreign passport in original
4. Old Slovak passport
5. Old OCI card
6. One photocopy of new Slovak passport, OCI card and existing visa
7. Police complaint copy in case of loss of documents

Email Enquiries:

We make every endeavour to dispose of OCI applications expeditiously. However, it may take upto a period of 4-8 weeks to process OCI applications. We, therefore, request that any enquiries may be made only after 8 weeks have lapsed. If you do need to contact us, you may address your queries at eindia.consular@stonline.sk. Status of your application can also be checked with Online Status Enquiry utility on MHA website.

Benefits accruing to an OCI cardholder

Registered OCIs shall be entitled to following benefits:

1. Multiple entry, multi-purpose life long visa to visit India;
2. Exemption from reporting to Police authorities for any length of stay in India; and
3. Parity with NRIs in financial, economic and educational fields except in the acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties.

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

Benefits to which OCI is not entitled to

The OCI is not entitled to vote, be a member of Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council or Parliament, cannot hold constitutional posts such as President, Vice President, Judge of Supreme Court or High Court etc. and he/she cannot normally hold employment in the Government.

Validity of the OCI Card

An OCI Card is a life time document.

Cancellation of OCI registration

If it has been found that the registration as an OCI was obtained by means of fraud, false representation or concealment of any material fact or the registered OCI has shown disaffection towards the Constitution of India or comes under any of the provisions of section 7D of the Citizenship Act, the registration of such person will not only be cancelled forthwith but he/she will also be blacklisted for visiting India.

For more details, you may visit the website: www.passport.gov.in/oci