Oci Application Form For Minors: 5 Essential Steps

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Are you a minor or a parent/guardian looking to apply for an Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card? As a popular destination for tourism, education, and business, India attracts millions of visitors every year. The OCI card is a special type of visa that allows holders to live and work in India indefinitely, making it an attractive option for minors with Indian heritage. In this article, we will walk you through the 5 essential steps to fill out the OCI application form for minors.

Why Apply for an OCI Card as a Minor?

Before we dive into the application process, let's explore the benefits of applying for an OCI card as a minor. The OCI card is a lifetime visa that offers numerous advantages, including:

• Multiple entry, multi-purpose, life-long visa for visiting India
• Exemption from reporting to the authorities for any length of stay in India
• Parity with Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in financial, economic, and educational fields, except in the acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties
• Eligibility to apply for a PAN card, open a bank account, and purchase property in India

Step 1: Determine Eligibility

Before applying for an OCI card, it's essential to determine if the minor is eligible. To be eligible, the minor must meet one of the following criteria:

• Be a child or grandchild of a person who is a citizen of India
• Be a child or grandchild of a person who is an OCI cardholder
• Be a spouse of a citizen of India or an OCI cardholder

Check the official government website or consult with the Indian embassy or consulate in your country to confirm the eligibility criteria.

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Step 2: Gather Required Documents

To apply for an OCI card, the minor will need to provide the following documents:

• A valid passport with at least six months' validity
• Proof of citizenship of the parent or grandparent (e.g., Indian passport, birth certificate, or naturalization certificate)
• Proof of relationship with the parent or grandparent (e.g., birth certificate, adoption certificate, or divorce decree)
• Proof of address (e.g., utility bills, lease agreement, or bank statement)
• Recent passport-sized photographs

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Step 3: Fill Out the OCI Application Form

The OCI application form for minors is available online and can be downloaded from the official government website. The form must be filled out in capital letters and signed by the parent or guardian.

• Section 1: Personal details of the minor
• Section 2: Details of the parent or grandparent
• Section 3: Details of the minor's passport
• Section 4: Address and contact details
• Section 5: Declaration and signature

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Step 4: Submit the Application and Pay the Fee

Once the application form is complete, submit it along with the required documents and payment to the Indian embassy or consulate in your country. The application fee for an OCI card is currently $275 (subject to change).

Step 5: Track the Application Status

After submitting the application, track the status online using the application reference number. The processing time for an OCI card can take several weeks to months, depending on the workload of the embassy or consulate.

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Gallery of OCI Card Application Process

FAQs

We hope this article has provided you with a comprehensive guide to filling out the OCI application form for minors. If you have any further questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to ask. Share your experiences and tips with us in the comments section below.