Consulate General of India, Hong Kong : Application procedure

Application procedure

OVERSEAS CITIZEN OF INDIA (OCI) CARD
(Please carefully read General Guidelines/Instructions before filling the application form)

1. The Consulate General of India, Hong Kong issues Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Card to eligible applicants. Please visit https://ociservices.gov.in/ to apply for first time issue of OCI Card and for reissue of OCI card under miscellaneous services of existing OCI Cards.

2. After completion of online registration and uploading all requisite documents and photographs as per photo specifications online, applicants are required to write an email to ocipio[dot]hongkong[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in for an appointment for interview (verification of documents). Please ensure to attach duly-filled OCI application(s) and current Passport.

3. At the time of interview, please bring all the originals and self-attested copy of each of the supporting documents (to avoid inconvenience to applicants in case of wrong upload and/or no upload of required documents) to the Consulate General of India, Hong Kong, 16-D, United Centre, 95, Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong.

4. Fee
First issue of OCI :     HKD 2167
   Reissue of OCI under miscellaneous Services   : HKD 219
Reissue of OCI against Loss/Damage of OCI :     HKD 804
PIO to OCI conversion       :     HKD 804

5. The processing time for fresh OCI application is 4-6 weeks from the date of submission of documents/required fee at the Consulate.

6. Who is eligible – Following categories of foreign nationals are eligible for registration as Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Cardholder.

Who was a citizen of India at the time of, or at any time after the commencement of the Constitution of India i.e. 26.01.1950; or
Who was eligible to become a citizen of India on 26.01.1950; or
Who belongs to a territory that became part of India after 15.08.1947; or
Who is a child or grandchild or great grandchild of such a citizen; or
Who is a minor child of such persons mentioned above; or
Who is a minor child and whose both parents are citizens of India or one of the parents is a citizen of India; or
Spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign origin of an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Cardholder registered under section 7A of India’s Citizenship Act, 1955 and whose marriage has been registered and subsisted for a continuous period of not less than two years immediately preceding the presentation of the OCI application

7. Who is not eligible - Person, who or either of whose parents or grandparents or great grandparents is or had been a citizen of Pakistan, Bangladesh or such other country as the Government of India may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify, shall not be eligible for registration as an OCI Cardholder.

8. Types of OCI applications and documentations required:

A) Person who was Indian national and has renounced Indian nationality
B) Person who never held Indian nationality
Category (I) On the basis of spouse being Indian national/OCI card holder
Category (II) On the basis of either parent(s) being Indian national/OCI card holder
C) Reissue of OCI on account of Change in Passport and Personnel Particulars like Photo, Passport number, nationality and marital status
D) Reissue of OCI on account of loss/Damage of OCI
E) Conversion of PIO to OCI

9. General Guidelines/Instructions

Please ensure that your application is complete in all respects before bringing documents for submission during the interview. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

All personal particulars of the applicants such as name, DOB, place of birth, parent’s names, appearance, etc. must be the same as in passport. If there is any change, an affidavit, duly attested by Office of Oath commissioner of Hong Kong/Macau or notary public, is required to be submitted.

PIO Card scheme has been withdrawn by the Government of India vide its Gazette Notification No.25024/9/2014F.I dated 09.01.2015. Henceforth, PIOs are advised to get their PIO cards converted to OCI card. In terms of Ministry Home Affairs’ Notification No. 26011/01/2014-IC.I dated 9/1/2015 all PIO cardholders having valid PIO card are deemed to be OCI cardholders.

Please note that the Machine-Readable electronic travel document is mandated by the International Civil Aviation Organization. However, hand-written PIO cards will be accepted as a valid document for travel to India till 31st December 2024 by the Bureau of Immigration in India subject to the condition that if in the meantime any deadline is notified by the ICAO thereby making hand written PIO cards invalid, then PIO cardholders may have to obtain appropriate visa.

PIO Card holders (including spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign origin of an OCI cardholder) who have not yet converted their PIO Cards to OCI Cards are advised to do so at the earliest to avoid difficulty at Indian Immigration.

A person who has not attained the age of 18 years is considered to be a minor. In case a minor cannot sign, clear left thumb impression for boys and clear right thumb impression for girls is to be uploaded only in the prescribed box for signature. Parents should not sign on behalf of their children.

Eligibility for OCI is based on Indian lineage. If applicants have never possessed an Indian Passport and are applying on the basis of their parents'/grandparents' eligibility, proof of the same that is their parents' / grandparents’ Indian nationality/origin is required to be submitted as also clear proof of their relationship with the applicant.

Spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign origin of an OCI Card holder and whose marriage has been registered and has subsisted for a continuous period of not less than two years can submit an application for OCI card.

Applicants will be interviewed as part of processing of the OCI card application. After interview and subject to approval, applicants would be asked to deposit the OCI Card fee in cash and a receipt would be issued. After payment of the fee, applicants can check the status of OCI Card online at https://ociservices.gov.in/ and collect the same in person once it is received at CGI, Hong Kong by bringing the receipt, Current Passport and OCI Card ( in case of OCI Misc. services). Collection time: 1630 to 1730 hours on all working days.. After registration no query regarding receipt of OCI will be entertained.

Applicants residing in Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR may apply online for conversion of PIO to OCI card at https://ociservices.gov.in/ and after uploading the application form and required documents, take an appointment for interview at the Consulate by sending an email to ocipio[dot]hongkong[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in.

Photograph to be uploaded on the application should be of square shape of size not less than 51x51 mm (the image must be in jpg or jpeg with max size 200 KB - minimum dimension 200 pixels (width) x 200 pixels (height); maximum dimension 900 pixels (width) x 900 pixels (height) with 80% coverage of face) in matte finish as is given for the passport. It should have plain light color background (not white) without the border with front view of person’s head and shoulders showing the full face in the middle of the photograph. It should not be stapled and should not have any signature. Note: Photographs that do not conform to the above standards will be rejected and may cause delay in processing of the applications.

The earlier requirement to re-issue an OCI card each time a new passport is issued to a foreigner up to 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age has been dispensed with. However, an OCI cardholder shall have to get the OCI card re-issued once when a new passport is issued after completing 20 years of age so as to capture his/her facial features on attaining adulthood. For this purpose, the OCI cardholder shall submit an online application under OCI miscellaneous services as per procedure mentioned at http://www.cgihk.gov.in/page/application-procedure/. Meanwhile, the Government of India has temporarily relaxed the requirement to re-issue of OCI card till 31 December 2022. Further, the OCI card holders travelling on the strength of their existing OCI card bearing old passport number are not required to carry their old passport. However, carrying new passport is mandatory.

An OCI cardholder may upload a copy of the new passport containing the photo of the passport holder and also a latest photo on the online system under OCI miscellaneous-gratis services each time a new passport is issued up to 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age. These documents may be uploaded by the OCI cardholder within three months of receipt of the new passport. The service is available at website www.ociservices.gov.in under miscellaneous category.

In the case of those who have been registered as OCI cardholder as spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign origin of an OCI cardholder, the OCI cardholder shall upload a copy of the new passport containing the photo of the passport holder and also a latest photo on the online system under OCI miscellaneous services at website www.ociservices.gov.in each time a new passport is issued. In such cases, the OCI cardholder and his/her Indian spouse or OCI cardholder spouse will have to give a declaration that their marriage is still subsisting. Copy of the Indian Passport of the Indian spouse/Passport and OCI card of the OCI cardholder spouse shall also be uploaded in such cases. These documents may be uploaded by the OCI cardholder foreigner spouse within three months of receipt of his/her new passport. The service is available at website www.ociservices.gov.in under miscellaneous category.

In case OCI cardholder wants to get new OCI booklet reissued on change of Passport for whatsoever reason he/she may apply for the same under OCI miscellaneous services as per the procedure mentioned at www.ociservices.gov.in

OCI Miscellaneous Services can be availed of, only by the registered OCI cardholders for re-issuance of OCI booklet in the following circumstances:
I. In case of issuance of new passport;
II. In case of change in personal particulars, nationality etc;
III. In case of loss/damage of OCI booklet;
IV. In case of filing wrong personal particulars while submitting online applications, namely, father’s name, date of birth, gender, marital status, etc.

Please note that affixing of U visa stickers on the passport has already been discontinued. Now, only a eight-page OCI booklet is issued to the applicants.

In case of loss of OCI, the applicant is required to submit an FIR from the Hong Kong / Macau Police Authority mentioning the loss of OCI card with its number mentioned on the FIR. For damaged OCI, same is required to be submitted.

Benefits to an OCI cardholder:
- Lifelong visa for visiting India for different purposes;
- Aadhar Card is not required by OCI cardholders, instead OCI or PIO card can be used as proof of their Indian origin; OCI card will be treated as their identification for any services required to them in India.
- Exemption from registration with FRRO for any length of stay in India;
- Parity with NRIs in respect of facilities available to them, except in matters relating to the acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties.
- Parity with NRIs in matter of inter-country adoption of Indian children;
- Parity with NRIs in matters of tariffs in air fares in domestic sectors in India;
- Parity with NRIs for entry fee to visit national parks, wild life sanctuaries, historical sites and monuments, etc
- Parity with NRIs for pursuing following professions – doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, advocates; architects; chartered accountants and to appear for AIPMT or such other tests.

Benefits to which OCI cardholder is NOT entitled to:
- Right to vote in India;
- Cannot become a Member of Parliament, Legislative Assembly, Council and cannot hold any Constitutional Post such as President, Vice-President, Judge of High Court or UPSC, Election Commission, etc.
- Further, OCI cardholders cannot acquire agricultural or plantation properties in India.
- OCI Cardholders will require a special permission to undertake research work in India for which they may submit the application to the Indian Mission/ Post/ FRRO concerned.
- OCI cardholders are also not entitled to undertake Missionary, Mountaineering, journalism & tabligh activities without prior permission of the Government of India. For undertaking missionary, mountaineering & tabligh activities, OCI cardholder may seek prior permission from the Indian Mission/ Post/ FRRO concerned. For undertaking journalistic activities, requisite permission may be sought from the External Publicity (XP) Division of the Ministry of External Affairs.
- OCI cardholder shall also require Protected Area Permit (PAP)/ Restricted Area Permit (RAP) to visit any place which falls within the Protected/ Restricted Area notified by the Government as in the case of any other foreigner.

A) Person who was Indian national and has renounced Indian nationality

Documentation required:

Printout of the completed online registration form with no corrections /overwriting /Soft Editing
Two recent photographs as per photo specifications, one pasted on the form and one extra
Self-attested copy of Valid Passport and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of HK ID / Macau ID / Valid visa and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of Renunciation / Surrender Certificate of Indian nationality and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of last cancelled Indian Passport (Front & Back) and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of Naturalization / Registration Certificate of foreign nationality and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of Parents Passports and HK ID/ Macau ID / Valid visa (in case of Minor) and original to be shown
Self- attested copy of Birth Certificate and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of marriage certificate (for married applicants only), issued by the Registrar of Marriages or District Administration and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of Divorce decree issued by Court (in case of Divorcee applicants) and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of Declaration/Sworn Affidavit/Deed Poll duly attested by Commissioner of Oaths/Notary (in case if the name is different/changed at any point of time) and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of Court order of dissolution of marriage, which specifically mentions that the legal custody of the child (in case of single divorcee parent and minor applicant) is with the parent, who is applying for OCI card for Minor child with legal custody and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of Address proof, Utility Bill (Gas/Electric/Water/Broadband) which is not more than two months old or tenancy agreement and original to be shown
A written declaration that the applicant has surrendered/ never held Indian voter card and ration card.

B) Person who never held Indian nationality

Category (I) On the basis of spouse being Indian national/OCI card holder

Documentation required:

Printout of the completed online registration form with no corrections /overwriting/soft editing
Two recent photographs as per photo specifications, one pasted on the form and one extra
Self-attested copy of Valid Passport and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of HK ID / Macau ID / Valid visa and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of Naturalization / Registration Certificate of foreign nationality and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of Spouse’s Indian Passport (front & back) or OCI (front & back) and HK ID/ Macau ID / Valid visa and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of Birth Certificate of applicant and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of Declaration/Sworn Affidavit/Deed Poll dully attested by Commissioner of Oaths/Notary (in case if the name is different/changed at any point of time) and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of evidence of spouse being citizen of India at the time of, or at any time after the commencement of the Constitution i.e. 26.01.1950; or being eligible to become citizen of India; belonging to a territory that became part of India after 15.08.1947. These could be– Indian Passport (first & last page and observation, if any to be uploaded online) or Nativity Certificate or Domicile Certificate issued from the concerned District Administration (First Class Magistrate / District Magistrate) or OCI Card/ PIO Card of parents/ spouse or certificate of residence or place of birth of self/ parents/ grandparents from First Class/ District Magistrate (DM) of the concerned place and original to be shown
Original Suitably worded Notarized Affidavit for the applicant who have never applied for or have been issued an Indian Passport
Self-attested copy of Marriage certificate issued by the Registrar of Marriages from the concerned Indian State Government. If the Marriage Certificate is issued by the Foreign Governments, it should be first Apostled / authenticated by the concerned Diplomatic Mission and thereafter by the Consulate General of India, Hong Kong. After the attestation is over, it should be uploaded online with other documents and original to be shown.
A written declaration that in the event of dissolution of marriage or death of the Indian spouse, the applicant shall notify and return the OCI card forthwith to the Consulate General of India, Hong Kong or the nearest Indian Mission.
Self-attested copy of Address Proof, Utility Bill (Gas/Electric/Water/Broadband) which is not more than two months old or tenancy agreement and original to be shown

Category (II) On the basis of either parents being Indian national/OCI card holder

Documentation required:

Printout of the completed online registration form with no corrections/overwriting/soft editing
Two recent photographs as per photo specifications, one pasted on the form and one extra
Self-attested copy of Valid Passport and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of HK ID / Macau ID / Valid visa and original to be shown
Self-attested copy Naturalization / Registration Certificate of foreign nationality and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of Parents’ Passports and HK ID/ Macau ID / Valid visa and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of Birth Certificate and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of Declaration/Sworn Affidavit/Deed Poll dully attested by Commissioner of Oaths/Notary (in case if the name is different/changed at any point of time) and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of evidence of parents or grandparents or great grandparents being citizens of India at the time of, or at any time after the commencement of the Constitution i.e. 26.01.1950; or being eligible to become citizen of India; belonging to a territory that became part of India after 15.08.1947. These could be – Indian Passport (first & last page and observation, if any to be uploaded online) or Nativity Certificate or Domicile Certificate issued from the concerned District Administration (First Class Magistrate/District Magistrate) or OCI Card/ PIO Card of parents / spouse or certificate of residence or place of birth of self/ parents/ grandparents from First Class/ District Magistrate (DM) of the concerned place and original to be shown
Declaration by parents on behalf of their minor children for never having applied for or been issued an Indian Passport
Self-attested copy of Marriage certificate issued by the Registrar of Marriages from the concerned Indian State Government. If the Marriage Certificate is issued by the Foreign Governments, it should be first Apostled / authenticated by the concerned Diplomatic Mission and thereafter by the Consulate General of India, Hong Kong and original to be shown.
Self-attested copy of Address Proof, Utility Bill (Gas/Electric/Water/ Broadband) which is not more than two months old or tenancy agreement and original to be shown

C) Reissue of OCI on account of Change of Passport and Personnel Particulars like Photo, Passport number, nationality and marital status, etc:

The earlier requirement to re-issue an OCI card each time a new passport is issued to a foreigner up to 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age has been dispensed with. However, an OCI cardholder shall have to get the OCI card re-issued once when a new passport is issued after completing 20 years of age so as to capture his/her facial features on attaining adulthood.

Documentation required:

Printout of the completed online registration form with no corrections/Overwriting/Soft Editing
Two recent photographs as per photo specifications,one pasted on the form and one extra
Self-attested copy of Valid Passport and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of Hong Kong ID / Macau ID/ Valid visa and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of OCI card (front and back) and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of Old Passport which is mentioned in the OCI card and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of Parents’ Passports and HK ID (in case of Minor ) and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of Marriage Certificate and spouse’s Passport in case the marital status of applicant is changed and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of Declaration/Sworn Affidavit/Deed Poll dully attested by Commissioner of Oaths/Notary (in case the name is different/changed at any point of time) and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of Address Proof, Utility Bill (Gas/Electric/Water/Broadband) which is not more than two months old or Tenancy Agreement and original to be shown

D) Reissue of OCI on account of loss/Damage of OCI

Documentation required:

Printout of the completed online registration form with no corrections/Overwriting/Editing
Two recent photographs as per photo specifications, one pasted on the form and one extra
Self-attested copy of Valid Passport, if different from the one mentioned in OCI and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of Hong Kong ID / Macau ID/ HK valid visa and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of OCI card (front and back) ( if copy is available)
Self-attested copy of Passport which is mentioned in the OCI card and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of complaint lodged with Police, if the report is in foreign language authorized translation is required and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of Parents Passports and HK ID (in case of Minor) and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of Marriage Certificate and spouse Passport (in case the marital status of applicant is changed) and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of Declaration/Sworn Affidavit/Deed Poll dully attested by Commissioner of Oaths/Notary (in case the name is different/changed at any point of time) and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of Address Proof, Utility Bill (Gas/Electric/Water/ Broadband) which is not more than two months old or Tenancy Agreement and original to be shown

E. Conversion of PIO to OCI

Documentation required:

Printout of the completed online registration form with no corrections/ Overwriting/Soft Editing
Two recent photographs as per photo specifications, one pasted on the form and one extra
Self-attested copy of Valid Passport and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of Hong Kong ID / Macau ID/ Valid visa and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of PIO card (front and back) and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of Declaration/Sworn Affidavit/Deed Poll dully attested by Commissioner of Oaths/Notary (in case the name is different/changed at any point of time) and original to be shown
Self-attested copy of Address Proof, Utility Bill (Gas/Electric/Water/ Broadband) which is not more than two months old or Tenancy Agreement and original to be shown