Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, including foreign spouses of Indian citizens
Official name: Registration as an Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder (Citizenship Act, 1955, section 7A)
India has no general permanent residence. The closest long-term status is the OCI card: a multiple-entry, multi-purpose visa to visit India with no need to register with the FRRO for any length of stay. It is for foreign citizens of Indian origin (and their children and grandchildren), and for foreign spouses of Indian citizens or OCI cardholders whose marriage is registered and has lasted at least two continuous years. Spouse applicants need prior security clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs. OCI cards issued to spouses on or after 3 Sep 2025 have an initial validity of 5 years, extendable to lifelong after scrutiny. OCI is not citizenship and does not give voting rights.
1 entry rule for India based on recent travel
These apply to people who were recently in certain countries. Sign in and add your trips to see whether any apply to you.
Yellow fever certificate needed after a stay in countries with risk of yellow fever transmission (WHO list) in the last 6 days
Anyone over 9 months arriving within 6 days of leaving a yellow fever risk country without a valid certificate is isolated for up to 6 days. Without one: quarantine/isolation until the certificate becomes valid or for up to 6 days from last possible exposure, whichever is first.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (India), IHR Points of Entry: Yellow Fever Vaccination Bureau of Immigration (India): Health Regulation WHO International Travel and Health, Annex 1: Countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and countries requiring proof of vaccination against yellow fever (18 Nov 2022, revised 3 Jan 2023) WHO ITH Country List: Vaccination requirements and WHO recommendations for international travellers, 2022 edition (18 Nov 2022, revised 3 Jan 2023) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (India): Advisory for passengers coming to India from yellow fever endemic countries Checked October 19, 2026
Life in India
Finance
3
Currency
Indian Rupee
INR
Indian Rupee
Cost of living
23
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
5–30%
Income tax (national)
GST 18%
New (default) regime; 30% above INR 24 lakh, plus surcharge up to 25% on high incomes and 4% health and education cess.
Living
1
Happiness
#114 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Your edge here Premium
What gives you an edge here: passports, visas and permits you hold, work, study, language and family ties
Who it’s for
Foreign nationals of Indian origin and their descendants, and foreign spouses of Indian citizens or OCI cardholders.
Eligibility
Indian origin
Sign in to check this route against your profileYou need to be a foreign national who was, or was eligible to become, an Indian citizen, or have a parent, grandparent or great-grandparent who was.
- Covers parents, grandparents or great-grandparents of Indian origin
- Minor children are also covered
- Set out in section 7A
Official wording
Foreign nationals who were, or were eligible to become, Indian citizens, or whose parents, grandparents or great-grandparents were, and their minor children, as set out in section 7A.
Foreign spouseSpouses
Sign in to check this route against your profileSpouse of foreign origin of an Indian citizen or of an OCI cardholder, whose marriage has been registered and has lasted continuously for at least two years immediately before applying. Prior security clearance by a competent authority in India is required.
Who is barred
Sign in to check this route against your profileYou are barred if you or a parent, grandparent or great-grandparent is or was a citizen of Pakistan, Bangladesh or another notified country.
- Other countries are those notified by the Central Government
- Spouse applicants with military or police conscription, past or current, are not eligible
Official wording
Anyone who, or whose parent, grandparent or great-grandparent, is or was a citizen of Pakistan, Bangladesh or another country notified by the Central Government. Spouse applicants who have undergone or are undergoing military or police conscription are not eligible.
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Document checklist
- Steps to apply
The full requirements are for members
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- 3 documents
- 4 steps
- Processing times and conditions
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