• Benefits
  
• Restrictions
  
• Eligibility
  
• Where to apply
  
• Fee Schedule
  
• Instructions for filling application form
  
• Required documents
  
• Online OCI Registration form
  
• Online OCI Miscellaneous Services

Benefits:
Registered OCIs shall be entitled to following benefits:

• Multi-purpose, multi entry, lifelong visas for visiting India.
  
  
• Exemption from registration with Foreigners Regional Registration officer/Foreigners Registration Officer for any length of stay in India.
  
  
• 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.

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

Restrictions:

• The OCI is not entitled to vote,
  
• Be a member of Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council or Parliament.
  
• He/she cannot hold constitutional posts such as President, Vice President, Judge of Supreme Court or High Court etc.
  
• and cannot normally 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 an OCI visa sticker will be pasted in the person's foreign passport. These two documents will have the photograph of the individual and all necessary security features.

Eligibility Criteria:
A foreign national, who:

• was eligible to become a citizen of India on 26.01.1950, or
  
• was a citizen of India on or at any time after 26.01.1950, or
  
• belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15.08.1947
  and his/her children and grandchildren, are eligible for registration as Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), provided his/her country of citizenship allows dual citizenship in some form or other under the local laws.

The minor children of such persons are also eligible for OCI.
N.B. Minor children are NOT eligible for OCI in case both parents are Indian nationals

However, if the applicant had ever been a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh, he/she will not be eligible for OCI.

Where to apply

The Government of India has amended its Citizenship Rules, 1956 to simplify the procedure and application form for grant of OCI registration. The application for the grant of OCI can be received in two ways:

• In India: If the applicant is in India, he/she can apply to the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkota or Amritsar or Chief Immigration Officer (CHIO) Chennai or to the Under Secretary, OCI Cell, Citizenship Section, Foreigners Division, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Jaisalmer House, 26 Mansingh Road, New Delhi- 110011.
  
• Elsewhere in the world: At Indian Missions/Posts outside India and by FRROs/CHIO and OCI Cell in Foreigners Division of MHA in India.

Fee Schedule:

• OCI Card - fee - EUR 240,00
  In case the application is rejected € 22.00 will be deducted as processing charges.
  
  
• OCI Card - fee - EUR 22,00
  (For PIO card holders )
  You should submit a copy of your PIO card along with other documents.

Instructions for filling application form:

1. Please access the Consulate General of India, Hamburg Website www.cgihamburg.de and use Internet Explorer and not any other browser.
2. Click on OCI Card under Main Menu.
3. “OVERSEAS CITIZENSHIP OF INDIA SCHEME” will appear on the screen.
4. To do the online registration click “ONLINE OCI REGISTRATION FORM”.
5. After clicking on “Online OCI Registration Form”, Online OCI Registration Form will appear on the screen.
6. Please complete this Online OCI Registration Form carefully.
1. Choose ‘Individual’ as an applicant – Fill up the form separately for every person, do not choose Family Group.
2. Place of Submission of application should be chosen as “GERMANY–HAMBURG”.
3.  Complete the rest of the form carefully as per individual’s particulars.
7. After the form is completed press the ‘SAVE’ button at the bottom of the page. Your application will be saved, and an online registration number will appear on the monitor. Note down the number for further enquiries. The computer will automatically ask whether you want to take a print out. Please take out a print of the online registration form.
8. The Online OCI Registration Form has two parts – Part A & B. After submission of Part A online, a copy of Part A with an online Registration Number will be printed along with Part B of application form. Details in Part B can be typed or hand written in BLOCK LETTERS. This online OCI registration form has to be submitted by the applicant at the Consulate along with the required documents.
9. A person who has not attained the age of 18 years is considered as minor. In case of minor who cannot sign, his/her left thumb impression may be placed in the Signature Box. Parents should not sign on behalf of minors. A minor child will be eligible for OCI only if either parent is also eligible.
10. Photograph to be affixed on the application should be of square shape (No biometric) of size 40mmx40mm. It should have light colour background without border with front view of person's head and shoulders showing the face in the middle of the photograph. It should not be stapled and should not have any signature.
11. Please ensure all enclosures are self-attested. In case of minors, parent may attest the enclosures.

Documents to be submitted with OCI Application:

A. OCI Card for Adults:

1. Application form -Part A duly filled in and signed wherever necessary (to be submitted in 2 original sets)
   
2. Application form -Part B duly filled in and signed wherever necessary (to be submitted in 2 original sets)
   
3. 4 recent passport photographs (No Bio-metric)
   Photograph must show full frontal view of the persons head and shoulders showing in the middle of the photograph, having a white or light coloured background. The photograph should measure 40 x40 mm without border
   
4. Self attested copy of previous Indian passport (2 sets) OR any document which clearly establishes applicant's previous nationality as Indian.
   
5. Self attested copy of present German passport (2 sets)
   
6. copy of Einbürgerungsurkunde ( where the person was earlier holding an Indian passport )
7. Arbeitsbescheininngung (work certificate)
   
8. Copy of Anmeldebescheinigung (House Registration)
   .........................................................................................................................................

B. 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 (to be submitted in 2 original sets). 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 (to be submitted in 2 original sets)
   
3. copy of previous Indian passport (2 sets) attested by either of the parent
   
4. Copy of present German passport (2 sets) attested by either of the parent
   
5. Copy of father's/mother's German passport ( 2 sets)who is eligible for an OCI Card, duly attested by either of them respectively.
   
6. 4 recent passport photographs (No Bio-metric)
   Photograph must show full frontal view of the persons head and shoulders showing in the middle of the photograph, having a white or light coloured background. The photograph should measure 40 x40 mm without border
   
7. Copy of Anmeldebescheinigung (House Registration)
   .........................................................................................................................................
   

C. 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 (to be submitted in 2 original sets)
   
2. Application form -Part B duly filled in and signed wherever necessary (to be submitted in 2 original sets)
   
3. 4 recent passport photographs (No Bio-metric)
   Photograph must show full frontal view of the persons head and shoulders showing in the middle of the photograph, having a white or light coloured background. The photograph should measure 40 x40 mm without border
   
4. Self attested copy of previous Indian passport (2 sets) of either of the parent.
   
5. Self attested copy of Birth Certificate (2 sets)
   
6. Self attested copy of present German passport (2 sets)
   
7. Copy of Anmeldebescheinigung (House Registration)
   ........................................................................................................................................
   

D. 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 (to be submitted in 2 original sets). 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 (to be submitted in 2 original sets)
   
3. Copy of present German passport (2 sets) duly attested by either of the parent
   
4. Copy of father's/mother's German passport ( 2 sets) who is eligible for an OCI Card, duly attested by either of them respectively.
   
5. 4 recent passport photographs (No Bio-metric)
   Photograph must show full frontal view of the persons head and shoulders showing in the middle of the photograph, having a white or light coloured background. The photograph should measure 40 x40 mm without border
   
6. Copy of previous Indian passport of either of the parent (2 sets) duly attested by either of them.
   
7. Copy of Birth Certificate (2 sets) attested by either of the parent
   
8. Copy of present German passport (2 sets) attested by either of the parent
   
9. Copy of Anmeldebescheinigung (House Registration)
   .........................................................................................................................................
   

E. OCI Card for PIO Card holders:

1. Attested copy of PIO Card (2 sets ) along with all documents mentioned against each category
   .........................................................................................................................................