The Indian government has announced a new rule that could lead to the cancellation of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards for Indian-origin foreign nationals if they face serious criminal charges or convictions.
According to a recent gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, an OCI registration can be revoked if the cardholder is sentenced to prison for at least two years, or if they are named in a chargesheet for an offence that carries a possible jail term of seven years or more.
The order, issued under clause (da) of Section 7D of the Citizenship Act, 1955, makes it clear that such legal circumstances will make an OCI holder liable for cancellation of their status.
OCI cards, introduced in August 2005, give persons of Indian origin the ability to enter and stay in India without a visa.
This facility is available to those who were citizens of India on or after January 26, 1950, or who were eligible for Indian citizenship on that date—except for individuals who are or have been citizens of Pakistan, Bangladesh, or any other nation notified by the Indian government.
| Feature / Rule | OCI Cardholder | PIO Cardholder (Now Merged with OCI) |
| Who qualifies | Foreign nationals of Indian origin (excluding those who were/are citizens of Pakistan, Bangladesh, or other nations specified by India) | Foreign nationals of Indian origin (similar; stricter exclusions sometimes applied) |
| Scheme introduced | August 2005 | 2002 (merged into OCI scheme in 2015) |
| Validity | Lifelong (if passport remains valid) | 15 years (before merger) |
| Visa-free entry | Yes, multiple entries permitted | Yes, multiple entries permitted |
| Duration of stay | No restriction; can live/work in India indefinitely | Up to 180 days at a time; required to report for longer stays (before merger) |
| Parity with NRIs | Except for voting, government jobs, or buying farmland | Except for voting, government jobs, or buying farmland |
| Registration revocation | Can be cancelled if sentenced to ≥2 years in prison or charge-sheeted for offence with ≥7 years imprisonment | Revocation for similar legal issues before merger |
| Property purchase | Allowed (except agricultural/plantation property) | Allowed (except agricultural/plantation property) |
| Merged status | OCI scheme continues; PIO cards were converted to OCI | Discontinued; all PIOs advised to convert to OCI |
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