You might think that if obtaining a Tourist Visa (or an eVisa) is so simple then why should you bother getting an OCI card or OCI visa?
Well, some added benefits of having an OCI card are:
- A one-time charge
- Numerous multiple-entry, long standing lifetime Visa to visit India
- You will share many rights with NRIs in economic, financial, and education fields which means you will be able to buy property, be employed, or conduct business activity in India, whereas an Indian Tourist Visa would restrict you.
- You can stay in India for as long as you like and authorities will not need to be informed about the duration or length of your stay in India
What are the restriction of an OCI Holders in India ?
- OCI cardholders are restricted from operating any kind of mountaineering, missionary and/or research work in India. It is possible, but you will have to take prior permission from Ministry of Home Affairs in India if you intend to do any of these.
- OCI visa holders can not acquire plantation or agricultural properties.
Are OCI holders Indian Citizens or classed as Dual Nationality?
Holding an OCI card does not make you an Indian citizen, which means you not get any voting rights in India. The OCI card is a lifelong Visa – plain and simple and is not classed as dual citizenship. You can still be domiciled in India – as domiciled just means where you eventually intend to die later in life.