India does not grant dual citizenship, but its law offers several routes to a lasting connection with the country: the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, long-term visas, and — for substantial investors — the Permanent Residency Status (PRS) scheme. The chamber assists with documentation, applications and representations in these matters.
The OCI Card
The OCI scheme under Section 7A of the Citizenship Act, 1955 allows registration of foreign nationals of Indian origin — broadly, persons who were citizens of India, were eligible to be citizens at the commencement of the Constitution, or are descendants of such persons — as Overseas Citizens of India. A foreign national married to an Indian citizen or to an OCI cardholder may also be eligible after the prescribed period of marriage. An OCI card confers a lifelong, multiple-entry visa to India and exemption from routine FRRO registration, though it is not citizenship: OCI cardholders cannot vote, hold constitutional office, or purchase agricultural land.
PIO Cards Stand Merged into OCI
The earlier Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card scheme was merged into the OCI scheme in 2015, and PIO cards are no longer a valid category. Former PIO cardholders were required to convert their cards into OCI cards. Anyone still holding an unconverted PIO card should treat the conversion as pending and seek current guidance before travelling, since a PIO card by itself no longer serves as a visa document.
Permanent Residency Status (PRS) for Investors
In 2016 the Union Government introduced a Permanent Residency Status scheme for foreign investors. Broadly, a foreign national (other than a citizen of Pakistan) investing at least Rs. 10 crore within 18 months, or Rs. 25 crore within 36 months, with resulting employment for resident Indians, may be considered for PRS — long-duration residence with multiple-entry facility, extendable, and carrying certain work and property entitlements. It is a scheme of limited application, and eligibility turns on the investment route and conditions being strictly met.
How the Chamber Assists
- Assessing eligibility for OCI — by origin or by marriage — and preparing the documentary chain of ancestry, citizenship and civil-status records;
- Guidance on long-term visas and FRRO processes for those not yet eligible for OCI;
- Representations where an application is delayed, returned or declined;
- Connected work such as marriage registration and documentation for cross-border family matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a PIO card still valid in India?
No. The PIO card scheme was merged into the OCI scheme in 2015 and PIO cards are no longer a valid standalone category. Former PIO cardholders were required to convert to OCI cards, and anyone still relying on a PIO card should verify the current position and complete conversion before treating it as a travel document.
Who is eligible for an OCI card?
Broadly, foreign nationals who were citizens of India, who were eligible for Indian citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution, or who are children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren of such persons. A foreign spouse of an Indian citizen or OCI cardholder may also apply after the prescribed period of a subsisting registered marriage. Certain nationalities face restrictions.
Does an OCI card make the holder an Indian citizen?
No. India does not permit dual citizenship. The OCI card is a form of lifelong visa and residence facility: it allows multiple entry and long-term stay and exempts the holder from routine registration, but it carries no voting rights, no eligibility for constitutional office, and no right to buy agricultural land.
What is India's Permanent Residency Status for investors?
PRS is a scheme introduced in 2016 under which foreign investors meeting prescribed thresholds — broadly Rs. 10 crore within 18 months or Rs. 25 crore within 36 months, generating employment for resident Indians — may be granted long-duration, extendable residence in India with multiple-entry facility. It is confined to qualifying investors and their eligible dependants.