The Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cardholders will now get multiple entry lifelong visa for visiting India for any purpose but will be needed to obtain a special permit from the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) or the Indian Mission to undertake research, missionary, Tabligh and journalistic activities as well mountaineering expedition.
In another major concession to OCI cardholders, the Union Home Ministry has allowed them parity with Indian nationals in the matter of tariffs in air fares in domestic sectors, entry fees for visiting national parks, national monuments and museums in India.
In a notification, the Home Ministry said the OCI cardholders will be entitled to get multiple entry lifelong visa for visiting India for any purpose but “required to obtain a special permission or a special permit from the FRRO or the Indian Mission to undertake research and to undertake any missionary or Tabligh or mountaineering or journalistic activities”.
The OCI cardholders will also require a special permit to undertake internship in any foreign diplomatic missions or foreign Government organisations in India or to take up employment in any foreign diplomatic missions in India or to visit any place which falls within the protected or restricted or prohibited areas as notified by the Central Government or competent authority.
The Home Ministry said the OCI cardholders will now be exempted from registration with the FRRO or Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) for any length of stay in India, but they have to inform the FRRO or FRO concerned whenever there is a change in permanent residential address and in their occupation.
An OCI cardholder is a foreign national holding a passport of a foreign country and is not a citizen of India.
They will also get parity with Non-Resident Indians in the matter of inter-country adoption of Indian children subject to the compliance of the procedure as laid down by the competent authority, appearing for the all India entrance tests such as National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, Joint Entrance Examination (Mains), or other such tests to make them eligible for admission only against any Non-Resident Indian seat or any supernumerary seat, provided that the OCI cardholder shall not be eligible for admission against any seat reserved exclusively for Indian citizens, the notification read.
The OCI cardholders will get parity in the purchase or sale of immovable properties other than agricultural land or farmhouse or plantation property and pursuing professions like doctors, dentists, nurses and pharmacists in India as per the provisions contained in the applicable relevant statutes or laws.