A) Application for OCI cards 1. Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) who have migrated from India and acquired citizenship of a foreign country, other than Pakistan and Bangladesh are eligible for grant of Overseas Citizenship of India. 2. OCI status confers the following benefits: a. Multiple-entry, multi-purpose life-long visa to visit India b. Exemption from reporting to Police authorities for any length of stay in India c. Parity with NRIs in financial, economic and educational fields except in the acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties, and d. A person registered as OCI is eligible to apply for grant of Indian citizenship under section 5(1) (g) of the Citizenship Act, 1955 if he/she is registered as OCI for five years and has been residing in India for one year out of the five years before making the application. 3. Procedure: Application for registration as OCI is to be made online through the website of the Ministry of Home Affairswww.mha.nic.in.Alternatively, please go directly to https://ociservices.gov.in Instructions therein may be perused carefully particularly with respect to supporting documentations required so that there is no mistake in submission of application. A family consisting of spouse and up to two minor children can apply online in the same form i.e. Form XIX. Part A of the application form can be filed online. Part B can be downloaded and printed on computer or filled by hand in block letters. Printed Part A and Part B of the application form have to be submitted to the High Commission. 4. Documents required: The required documents listed below are indicative in nature and an attempt has been made to cover majority of the cases. However, additional documents may be required after examining the application. After making an online application, please report to the High Commission with a hard copy of the application along with the following documents: - Two photographs (51mmx51mm) with light background (NOT PASSPORT SIZE) Do's and don'ts regarding photograph are listed on the website.
- Police clearance certificate from local police
- Evidence of self or parents or grandparents previous Indian Passport, Birth Certificate, valid foreign passport held and local residential proof.
- Evidence of relationship as parent/grandparent, if their Indian origin is claimed as basis for grant of OCI.
- In case the applicant does not have an old Indian Passport, he/she may provide copy of other documents issued from India such as birth certificates, nativity certificates etc. These will be sent to India for verification before acceptance of the application form. If the applicant ever held an Indian Passport, then proof of renunciation of citizenship/surrender of passport should also be submitted.
- All the above documents are to be produced in original for verification and photocopies of the same are to be attached in duplicate with the application.
5. After grant of registration, a registration certificate in the form of a booklet will be issued and a multiple entry, mulch-purpose life-long OCI 'U' visa sticker will be pasted on the foreign passport of the applicant. While travelling, you are expected to carry the booklet along with your passport containing OCI visa. B) OCI Miscellaneous Serviceshave been made available on the Ministry's website https://ociservices.gov.inand can be availed for re-issuance/issuance of duplicate OCI Registration Certificate and Visa in the following category of cases: - In case of issuance of new passport (Please refer to para Press release)
- In case of change of personal particulars viz. name, father's name, date of birth, nationality, change of address/occupation etc.
- In case of loss/damage of OCI registration certificate/visa
- Conversion of PIO card to OCI card.
2. Procedure: These services can be availed by applying Online and submitting hard copy of the application along with the requisite fee and enclosures as mentioned in the application to the High Commission.
3. Documents to be enclosed along with the application: a. Copy of OCI registration certificate and visa b. In case of issuance of a new passport (Please refer to para Press release), copy of new and old passport along with copy of registration certificate (OCI card) has to be enclosed. c. In case of loss of OCI Registration Certificate and/or Visa, copy of the complaint lodged with Police authorities and copy of visa and registration certificate to be enclosed. d. In case of change of personal particulars e.g. wrong filling of particulars by the applicant, copy of the document (s) relevant for affecting the requisite changes viz. Nationality Certificate in case of change of nationality etc. to be enclosed. 1. PRESS RELEASE: “The mandatory requirement of re-issuance of an OCI card each time a new passport is issued to a foreigner up to20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age is dispensedwith”, following procedures are required to be followed. - An OCI cardholder shall have to get the OCI card re-issued once when a new passport is issued after completing 20 years of age. For this purpose, the OCI cardholder shall submit an online application under OCI Miscellaneous Services and then submit at the High Commission with necessary documents.
- An OCI cardholder may upload a copy of the new passport containing the photo of the passport holder and also a latest photo on the online system under OCI Miscellaneous Services 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 three months of receipt of the new passport. This service will be provided on gratis basis.
- In case of those who have been registered as OCI cardholder as spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign origin of an OCI card holder, the OCI cardholder shall upload a copy of the new passport containing the photo of the passport holder and also a latest photo on the online system under OCI Miscellaneous Services each time a new passport is issued. In such cases, the OCI cardholder and his/her Indian spouse or OCI cardholder spouse will have to give a declaration that their marriage is still subsisting. Copy of the Indian passport of the Indian spouse / passport and OCI card of the OCI cardholder spouse shall also be uploaded in such cases. These documents may be uploaded by the OCI cardholder foreigner spouse within three months of receipt of his / her new passport. This service will be provided on gratis basis.
- Immediately on uploading of the documents mentioned above, an email will be auto sent by the system to the OCI cardholder confirming that the documents have been successfully uploaded. Further after scrutiny and verification, an acknowledgement through e-mail will also be automatically 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 online system.
2. The timeline for re-issuance of OCI card in respect of OCI cardholders who may be required to get their OCI card re-issued has been extended till 31 December 2021. 3. It is, advised that OCI cardholders may take steps to comply with the existing OCI guidelines in Para 1 above and renew their OCI cards / upload new passport details as required by the rules.”
C) PIO card holderswho are otherwise eligible for registration as an OCI may apply following the same procedure as for the miscellaneous services and they will be considered for grant of registration in the same manner as other applicants. The application is required to be supported with the eligibility documents listed at Para 4 above. PIO card holders should submit a copy of his/her PIO card. PIO card will have to be surrendered to the Embassy for grant of OCI registration certificate and an OCI 'U' visa sticker.
D) Collection of OCI documents:On preparation of OCI document, applicant is required to be present in person. E) OCI card does NOT entitlethe cardholder to undertake any missionary, mountaineering and research work in India, without the prior permission of the Government of India. Prior permission of the competent authority is also required for visiting restricted/protected area (for details, visit http://www.mea.gov.in/Images/pdf/ForeigD-FAQs-onPAPandRAP.pdf. F) Advantages of the OCI as compared to PIO cardholders: a. An OCI card holder is entitled to life-long visa with free travel to India whereas for a PIO card holder, it is only valid for 15 years. b. A PIO cardholder is required to register with local Police authority for any stay exceeding 180 days in India on any single visit whereas an OCI card holder is exempted from registration with Police authority for any length of stay in India. c. An OCI gets a specific right to become an Indian Citizen, whereas the PIO card holder does not have this. G) Kindly note that the High Commission will accept an application for grant of OCI status after satisfying itself on the adequacy and authenticity of supporting documentation provided. In certain case this is likely to take time as the documents may require verification from the issuing authorities in India. In these cases the High Commission cannot prescribe the time frame within which the OCI card will be issued. In these cases, at the stage of initial application, an acknowledgment will be provided to you by post. Applicants will be periodically informed about the processing of their application and are also advised to keep in touch with the Embassy to follow up. H) For any more details, please contact the High Commission. Fees: - Fresh OCI MVR 4300 /-
- Lost case OCI MVR 1600 /-
- Misc services on OCI - MVR 440 /-
| FAQs
Ministry of External Affairs is responsible for all aspects of India's relations with the world. It formulates, implements & presents the foreign policy of the Government of India. The main objective is to advance India's national security & developmental priorities in a globalized and independent world.
Who handles external affairs? ›
The State Department formulates and implements the president's foreign policy. Learn more about ambassadors, diplomatic history, and American embassies.
What is meant by external affairs? ›
External Affairs means administering the Parties' activities in the areas of governmental relations, community support and economic development, as well as the analysis and formulation of regulatory policy, rate case preparation and rate administration.
What is mea full form? ›
Organogram of the Ministry of External Affairs*
Who handles the foreign affairs in India? ›
India, officially the Republic of India, has full diplomatic relations with 201 states, including Palestine, the Holy See, and Niue. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is the government agency responsible for the conduct of foreign relations of India.
What are the responsibilities of external affairs? ›
May coordinate and lead volunteers at promotions, press conferences, and similar events, and may assist with implementing sales and marketing initiatives. Provides general public relations research and summaries for reports and presentations, and assists in conducting surveys.
What does the Office of External Affairs do? ›
The Office of External Affairs (OEA) engages, informs and educates our partners and the public to achieve the FEMA mission of helping people before, during and after disasters. Our office coordinates with programs and initiatives to: Tell the FEMA story. Educate the nation to be ready for all hazards.
Who is the High Representative for external affairs? ›
The position is currently held by Josep Borrell Fontelles. The Treaty of Amsterdam had established the position of High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy.
Does the U.S. have a Ministry of foreign affairs? ›
Within the Executive Branch, the Department of State is the lead US foreign affairs agency, and its head, the secretary of state, is the president's principal foreign policy advisor.
What is another word for external affairs? ›
On this page you'll find 6 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to foreign affairs, such as: diplomacy, foreign relations, international relations, and world politics.
MEA means the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, S.O. 1996, c.
What is MEA in the army? ›
Temporary Quarters Subsistence Expenses (TQSE) Miscellaneous Expense Allowance (MEA) Movement and Storage of Household Goods (HHG)
What does MEA mean agreement? ›
Multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) are legally binding international agreements between three or more states on a subject relating to the environment.
What are the different types of foreign affairs? ›
These types are trade, diplomacy, sanctions, military/defense, intelligence, foreign aid, and global environmental policy.
What is an external affairs executive? ›
The role of External Affairs Manager is focused on building an impactful and consistent advocacy programme across a wide range of stakeholders. You will take responsibility for stakeholder mapping, intel gathering and monitoring, engagement planning and delivery, and the development of relevant materials.
Who chooses the High Representative? ›
The purpose of the High Representative and the OHR is to oversee the civilian implementation of the Dayton agreement. They also serve to represent the countries involved in the implementation of the Dayton Agreement through the Peace Implementation Council (PIC), which chooses the High Representative.
Who is the deputy secretary external affairs? ›
Sara Aminzadeh joined the California Natural Resources Agency in March 2023. As the Deputy Secretary of External Affairs, she leads federal relations with California's Congressional Delegation and federal partners on the Agency's behalf.
What are the five foreign affairs agencies? ›
Click on each agency below to go to that constituency's section of the AFSA website.
- Department of State.
- USAID.
- USAGM.
- Foreign Agricultural Service.
- Foreign Commercial Service.
- Retirees.
- APHIS.
The Constitution gives the federal government the primary power to manage the United States' foreign relations.
Who runs U.S. consulates? ›
Bureau of Consular Affairs
| Bureau overview |
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| Annual budget | $3.48 billion (FY 2017) |
| Bureau executive | Rena Bitter, Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs |
| Parent department | U.S. State Department |
| Website | http://travel.state.gov/ |
3 more rowsevents and activities that involve the governments, politics, economies, etc. of different countries: He is the director of international affairs and trade at the Government Accountability Office.
What is considered international affairs? ›
International relations (often referred to international affairs) has a broad purpose in contemporary society, as it seeks to understand: The origins of war and the maintenance of peace. The nature and exercise of power within the global system.
What does MPC mean in law? ›
The Model Penal Code (or MPC) is a model code assembled by the American Legal Institute that was first promulgated in 1962. Following the MPC's promulgation, many states' criminal codes underwent significant reforms, and to this day, many states' criminal codes are based on the MPC.
What is mea culpa in law? ›
Blameworthiness or a fault. (This word is Latin.) Mea culpa (I am at fault)
What does may mean in the black law dictionary? ›
The word “may” is an expression of possibility, a permissive choice to act or not, and ordinarily implies some degree of discretion. This contrasts with the word “shall,” which is generally used to indicate a mandatory provision.
What does Charlie Mike mean in military? ›
In military terms, “Charlie Mike” means “continue mission,” which is usually relayed after an interruption or hiccup in the mission.
What does P and G mean in military? ›
PG - Military and Government.
What does AAA stand for in the military? ›
AA. Anti-Aircraft or Army Artillery. AAA. Anti-Aircraft Artillery.
What origin is MEA? ›
The name Mea is primarily a female name of Italian origin that means Mine.
What are the 3 main foreign policies? ›
The State Department has four main foreign policy goals: Protect the United States and Americans; Advance democracy, human rights, and other global interests; Promote international understanding of American values and policies; and.
We now work to fight terrorism, protect U.S. interests abroad, and implement foreign policy initiatives while building a more free, prosperous, and secure world.
What is the main difference between domestic affairs and foreign affairs? ›
Domestic policy is a type of public policy overseeing administrative decisions that are directly related to all issues and activity within a state's borders. It differs from foreign policy, which refers to the ways a government advances its interests in external politics.
Does the US have a Ministry of Foreign Affairs? ›
Within the Executive Branch, the Department of State is the lead US foreign affairs agency, and its head, the secretary of state, is the president's principal foreign policy advisor.
What is the Ministry of Religious Affairs? ›
The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Indonesian: Kementerian Agama) is an Indonesian ministry that administers religious affairs.
What is the Ministry of Europe and External Affairs? ›
The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (French: Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères) is the ministry of the Government of France that handles France's foreign relations.
What is the name of the Ministry of Internal Affairs? ›
Ministry of the Interior changed its name into the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Is foreign affairs a state or federal? ›
The Constitution gives the federal government the primary power to manage the United States' foreign relations.
Why does the U.S. use department instead of ministry? ›
US departments are called departments rather than ministries, because a minister is an assistant (the word is etymologically connected to minor) to the king. Without a king, the name makes little sense.
What are the 3 ministries of the church? ›
The doctrine states that Jesus Christ performed three functions (or "offices") in his earthly ministry – those of prophet, priest, and king. In the Old Testament, the appointment of someone to any of these three positions could be sanctioned by anointing him by pouring oil over his head.
Who is the head of religious affairs? ›
Directorate of Religious Affairs
| Logo of the Directorate of Religious Affairs |
|---|
| Formation | 3 March 1924 |
|---|
| President | Ali Erbaş |
| Budget | $2 billion (2020) |
| Website | Official website |
4 more rowsThe European External Action Service (EEAS) is the European Union's diplomatic service. Since 2011, the EEAS carries out the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy to promote peace, prosperity, security, and the interests of Europeans across the globe.
What is the Directorate for European Affairs? ›
The Directorate for European Affairs coordinates Slovenia's policy on issues related to the work of EU institutions and authorities, particularly in the process of drawing up legislative and other proposals and decisions of the Council of the EU and the European Council, and strengthens bilateral relations with other ...
Does France have a secretary of state? ›
In France, a Secretary of State (Secrétaire d'État) is a junior minister, responsible to a minister or the Prime Minister. It is not to be confused with the Minister of State title given to a senior French cabinet minister of particular importance.
What are the names of the four ministries and what does each one control? ›
The Ministry names and functions are as follows: The Ministry of Truth, which regulates all forms of media, entertainment, and arts; the Ministry of Peace, which presides over all aspects of war; the Ministry of Love, which is a form of judicial system; and the Ministry of Plenty, which governs economic affairs.
Who is the boss of internal affairs? ›
Following senate confirmation in March 2021, former U.S. representative Deb Haaland was sworn in as the secretary of the interior, the first Native American to hold the position.
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| United States Secretary of the Interior |
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| Website | doi.gov |
16 more rowsThe four ministries are the ministries of peace, love, plenty and truth. Their names in Newspeak are Minitrue, Minipax, Miniluv, Miniplenty. What is Newspeak? Newspeak is a shortened version of English.
