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India Digitizes OCI, Citizenship Processes
1 May
Summary
- Digital applications for OCI card registration and renunciation are now mandatory.
- Minor children cannot hold both Indian and foreign passports simultaneously.
- New rules allow for digital OCI registration and provide a right to be heard.
India's Union Home Ministry has introduced significant changes to the Citizenship Rules, 2009, ushering in a digital era for Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders and citizenship applicants. The updated rules, known as the Citizenship Rules, 2026, mandate electronic submission for all OCI card registration and renunciation applications via the official portal, https://ociservices.gov.in. This digital shift replaces previous paper-based procedures.
A critical amendment states that a minor child cannot simultaneously hold both an Indian passport and a passport from any other country. Furthermore, the government will now maintain a digital register of OCI holders and offers the option of an electronic OCI registration alongside a physical card.
The revised regulations also introduce enhanced review processes for OCI or citizenship application rejections. Challenges will be handled by a higher authority, and affected individuals are granted a right to be heard before any final decision is made, ensuring a fairer review process.
