India Proposes Expanding OCI Privileges to More Countries, Including Fiji
The OCI card offers numerous advantages, including a lifelong, multiple-entry visa for entry into India and exemption from the requirement to register with the police during their stay. Additionally, OCI cardholders enjoy parity with Indian nationals and non-resident Indians on specific matters
India is poised to broaden the scope of its Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) relaxation scheme, extending its benefits to more countries, with Fiji being a potential addition. This move comes after the recent extension of OCI privileges to overseas Indians in Suriname, as reported by livemint.com.
The Indian government announced in 2023 its decision to relax the eligibility criteria for overseas Indians in Suriname, a South American nation. This expansion allowed descendants of Indian immigrants to apply for OCI cards up to the sixth generation, deepening India’s ties with its diaspora. Now, India is contemplating extending similar benefits to other countries with significant overseas Indian populations, such as Fiji.
The OCI card offers numerous advantages, including a lifelong, multiple-entry visa for entry into India and exemption from the requirement to register with the police during their stay. Additionally, OCI cardholders enjoy parity with Indian nationals and non-resident Indians on specific matters. However, it’s important to note that possessing an OCI card does not grant the right to vote or run for elected office, nor does it constitute dual citizenship. The scheme was initiated in 2005.
According to data from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), over 3.5 million OCI cards were issued by March 2020. The majority were issued to foreign nationals residing in countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. By early 2022, this number had surpassed 4 million, reflecting the scheme’s growing popularity.
India’s move to expand OCI privileges to more countries aligns with its commitment to fostering stronger connections with its global diaspora, facilitating easier access and fostering a sense of belonging among overseas Indians
The OCI card scheme serves as a cornerstone of the Indian government’s efforts to strengthen its relationship with the diaspora. This initiative holds particular significance in countries like Suriname, where large populations are descended from Indian migrants. During a visit to Suriname in 2023, President Droupadi Murmu announced the relaxation of OCI eligibility criteria, emphasizing its importance in the enduring relationship between India and the diaspora.
“The Government of India’s decision to extend OCI Card eligibility criteria up to the sixth generation of original Indian immigrants from Suriname underscores the significance of this 150-year-old bond with India,” stated the President’s Secretariat, as reported by livemint.com.
India’s move to expand OCI privileges to more countries aligns with its commitment to fostering stronger connections with its global diaspora, facilitating easier access and fostering a sense of belonging among overseas Indians.
***********************************************************************
Readers
These are extraordinary times. All of us have to rely on high-impact, trustworthy journalism. And this is especially true of the Indian Diaspora. Members of the Indian community overseas cannot be fed with inaccurate news.
Pravasi Samwad is a venture that has no shareholders. It is the result of an impassioned initiative of a handful of Indian journalists spread around the world. We have taken a small step forward with the pledge to provide news with accuracy, free from political and commercial influence. Our aim is to keep you, our readers, informed about developments at ‘home’ and across the world that affect you.
Please help us to keep our journalism independent and free.
In these difficult times, running a news website requires finances. While every contribution, big or small, will make a difference, we request our readers to put us in touch with advertisers worldwide. It will be a great help.
For more information: pravasisamwad00@gmail.com