OCI Center
OCI Eligibility Checker
Born in India, or have Indian parents or grandparents? Find out in about a minute whether you qualify for an OCI card.
- 60-second check
- No signup
- No personal data
- Instant result
Educational estimate only. Not legal, tax, immigration, or financial advice. Full disclaimer below.
Based on the broad OCI eligibility rules. Verify your case on VFS Global and with your Indian consulate.
OCI card — fee & time before you check eligibility
Fresh OCI (USA)$275 · 6–16 weeks
Fresh OCI — govt fee
$275
Adult or minor; same government fee. Re-issue is also $275.
VFS service + ICWF
$19 + $3
Per application; plus optional return courier $20.
All-in (fresh adult)
~$317
Govt + VFS + ICWF + return courier. Use the Cost Calculator for your exact case.
Processing time
6–16 weeks
Two-stage clearance (consulate + MHA in India); plan for the long end.
Fees and processing times are best-known current figures (from VFS/consulate schedules) and change without notice; MHA clearance timing varies widely. Educational planning only — confirm the exact fee and time on VFS/your consulate before applying or booking travel.
OCI eligibility generally depends on your Indian origin or connection: former Indian citizens, and people with a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent who was an Indian citizen, often qualify, as can certain spouses of Indian citizens/OCIs. Some categories are not eligible — including those with certain citizenship histories — so check the specific rules.
OCI eligibility has several qualifying routes and a few hard exclusions. This checker helps you see whether your Indian-origin connection or spouse relationship likely qualifies, and what documents you'd use to prove it — so you don't apply (and pay) before confirming.
- Who this tool is for
- People of Indian origin abroad (and spouses of Indian citizens/OCIs) who want to confirm whether they're eligible for an OCI card before applying.
Key inputs & documents you'll need
- Whether you were ever an Indian citizen
- Whether a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent was an Indian citizen
- Whether you're the spouse of an Indian citizen or OCI (and marriage duration)
- Whether the applicant is a minor child of eligible parents
- Your current citizenship and any prior citizenship history
Your situation
A few questions about you
Your eligibility
Answer the questions to see your eligibility
Tell us about your citizenship and your Indian ancestry. Your answers stay in your browser — nothing is sent or stored.
After the tool
What your result means
A 'likely eligible' result points to the qualifying route (former citizen, ancestry, or spouse) and the documents you'd use to prove it. Eligibility ultimately depends on the official rules and document verification, and some categories are excluded, so treat the result as guidance and confirm against the official OCI criteria before applying.
Who qualifies (and who doesn't)
Former Indian citizen
Someone who was a citizen of India at or after independence, and later took another citizenship, is a core eligible category.
Child / grandchild / great-grandchild
A person whose parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent was an Indian citizen may qualify by ancestry, with documents tracing that link.
Spouse eligibility
A foreign-origin spouse of an Indian citizen or an OCI cardholder can be eligible, generally subject to a minimum marriage duration and other conditions.
Minor child
A minor child where both parents are Indian citizens, or one parent is an Indian citizen, may qualify depending on the situation.
Ineligible categories
Certain people are not eligible — for example, those who (or whose parents/grandparents) have been citizens of specific countries (such as Pakistan or Bangladesh) may be excluded. These exclusions are specific, so verify carefully against the official criteria.
Step-by-step process
- 1Identify your qualifying route (former citizen, ancestry, or spouse).
- 2Gather documents that prove the Indian-origin link or marriage.
- 3Check the exclusions to confirm you're not in an ineligible category.
- 4Confirm the current eligibility rules on the official OCI portal/VFS.
- 5Proceed to the application only once eligibility and documents are confirmed.
Documents that prove Indian origin
- Current foreign passport
- Naturalization/citizenship certificate (showing when you acquired foreign citizenship)
- Old/expired Indian passport (or a parent's/grandparent's proof of Indian citizenship)
- Birth certificate linking you to the Indian-citizen ancestor
- Marriage certificate (for spouse-based applications)
Common mistakes to avoid
- Applying before confirming the Indian-origin link can be documented.
- Assuming a distant ancestor qualifies without the paperwork to trace the link.
- Overlooking the marriage-duration condition for spouse applications.
- Missing an exclusion category based on prior citizenship history.
- Not having the naturalization certificate that shows when Indian citizenship ended.
Related NRITOUSA tools
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible for an OCI card?
Broadly, a foreign national who was an Indian citizen, or whose parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent was an Indian citizen, is eligible — as is the foreign spouse of an Indian citizen or OCI holder where the marriage has been registered and subsisting for at least two years. You must be a foreign national: current Indian citizens cannot hold OCI.
Can a current Indian citizen get OCI?
No. OCI is only for foreign nationals of Indian origin. India does not allow dual citizenship, so you would first surrender your Indian passport after acquiring another citizenship and then apply for OCI.
Are people with Pakistan or Bangladesh links eligible?
No. Anyone who is, or whose parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents were, citizens of Pakistan or Bangladesh is excluded from OCI under the current rules, regardless of other Indian-origin links.
Can my US-born child get OCI through me?
Yes. A minor child generally qualifies through an Indian-origin parent. Minor applications require both parents' consent and signatures and a different document set — use the document checklist generator for the exact list.
Does this checker decide my application?
No. It's an educational screening based on the broad eligibility rules and your answers. The final decision always rests with the Indian government via VFS Global and the consulate. Always confirm borderline cases with your consulate.
Disclaimer, assumptions & sources
This tool is for general education and planning only. It does not replace advice from a CPA, attorney, financial advisor, USCIS, IRS, State Department, or other official source. Rules, limits, forms, fees, dates, and government processing information may change. Always verify before filing, investing, or making immigration, tax, or financial decisions.
- For educational use only — not legal advice.
- Not tax advice.
- Not financial advice.
- Not immigration advice.
- Numbers, forms, fees, dates, rules, and limits may change at any time.
- Always verify with official sources before acting.
- Consult a CPA, attorney, financial advisor, or the relevant official agency (USCIS, IRS, State Department) when it matters to your situation.
This eligibility checker is educational only and is not legal or immigration advice. OCI rules have exclusions and edge cases this tool cannot fully capture. Always confirm with VFS Global and your Indian consulate before applying.
See our full site disclaimer for complete terms.