Applications for OCI cards can be now made online

NEW DELHI: The Union home ministry on Thursday notified an amendment to the Citizenship Act allowing online application for Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards. The digital application will be for both inclusion and renunciation.

All applications will be submitted electronically through the portal https://ociservices.gov.in. The amended rule also provides for inclusion of minors as OCI but "the minor cannot at any time hold passport of any other country while also holding Indian passport".

"An application for registration as an OCI cardholder under section 7A shall be made in Form XXVIII electronically on the designated online portal," according to a gazette notification. There will not be any requirement to provide duplicate certificates as in the past.

Those registered as OCI shall be issued OCI card in physical form or an electronic e-OCI registration containing details. The authority will maintain a record of persons registered as OCI in electronic form.

Similarly, a declaration of renunciation of the card shall be made (in Form XXXI) electronically on designated portal to Indian Missions or Posts, or Foreigners Regional Registration Officers. In case of OCI card issued in physical form, the original card must be surrendered to authorities, who will issue an acknowledgment, the notification said. Once the authority cancels registration of OCI, the person whose registration has been cancelled will deliver the card in original.

The new rule provides that "if an application for revision is made...by a person aggrieved by an order made by an authority with reference to his application, the application shall be disposed of by an authority one rank higher than the authority specified for disposal of the application for citizenship".

For a minor, OCI cardholder has to make a declaration, where it is specifically mentioned that the child does not hold passport of any other country while also holding Indian passport. The consent must also be provided to "share biometric information that will be captured for registration as an OCI cardholder for the purpose of registration under the 'Fast Track Immigration Programme' whenever an application is submitted.

The govt also introduced a new rule - "If an application is made by a person for review under Section 15A, (grant of citizenship by naturalisation), the application for review shall be disposed of by the central govt after giving a reasonable opportunity to the person affected to present his case."