India (IN)
India is the world's most populous nation and a fast-rising global power — a vibrant federal republic of extraordinary cultural, linguistic, and geographic diversity.
Capital: New Delhi
Region: Asia
Language: Hindi
Currency: INR (₹)
Cost of living: Very affordable (index 24)
Emergency: 112
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Citizenship & Permanent Residency
Long-term settlement options in India.
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Permanent Residency
Name
OCI Card (Overseas Citizen of India)
Eligibility
Person of Indian Origin (PIO) who is a citizen of another country (except Pakistan and Bangladesh). Includes: those who were Indian citizens on or after 26 January 1950; those who were eligible to be Indian citizens; spouses and minor children of OCI holders or Indian citizens; grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Indian citizens.
Duration
Lifelong — no expiry date on the OCI document itself, but the visa sticker must be re-stamped into each new passport within 3 months of the passport being issued (re-stamping is not required after the OCI holder turns 50). From May 2026 (Citizenship Amendment Rules 2026), details of a new passport must be updated on the e-OCI portal within 3 months; a USD 25 penalty applies for non-compliance.
Requirements
- ✓Foreign citizenship (current)
- ✓Proof of Indian origin: own birth certificate as Indian citizen, or parent/grandparent Indian citizenship certificate, or renunciation of Indian citizenship certificate
- ✓Foreign passport with at least 6 months validity
- ✓Proof of foreign address
- ✓Application fee: USD $275 (or equivalent)
- ✓Two passport-sized photos
- ✓Application via Indian embassy/consulate in home country or through online application on indianvisaonline.gov.in
OCI is the closest India has to permanent residency for PIOs. OCI holders can: live and work in India indefinitely without a visa; buy property (except agricultural land); access higher education at Indian institution rates; have no income tax on income not derived from India (NRI status). Cannot: vote; hold government jobs; buy agricultural/plantation land. Effective 1 May 2026 (Citizenship Amendment Rules 2026), all OCI processes are digital via ociservices.gov.in — the old duplicate paper application requirement is scrapped. The 6-month India-stay requirement before applying was also removed. Note: under the 2026 rules, a minor may NOT simultaneously hold both an Indian passport and a foreign passport.
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Citizenship
Name
Indian Citizenship (Naturalisation)
Eligibility
Foreigners who have been ordinarily resident in India for at least 11 years in aggregate out of the 14 years preceding the application (the Citizenship Act 1955 formulation). In practice, citizenship by naturalisation for non-PIOs is extremely rare and not actively encouraged by the government. OCI status is the practical long-term path for persons of Indian origin.
Duration
Permanent — Indian citizenship once granted
Requirements
- ✓11 years of ordinary residence in India in aggregate during the 14 years preceding the application (not required to be continuous)
- ✓Renounce previous citizenship — India does not permit dual citizenship
- ✓Language requirement: proficiency in one of the languages listed in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution
- ✓Good character and no serious criminal record
- ✓Genuine intent to reside in India
- ✓Application to Ministry of Home Affairs
India does NOT allow dual citizenship. If you become an Indian citizen, you must renounce your previous citizenship. Indian citizenship by naturalisation for non-PIOs is very rare in practice and not encouraged by the government. OCI is the practical alternative for PIOs — providing near-citizen rights without requiring renunciation of foreign citizenship. The Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 provides a special shorter residency path (5 years) for Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian minorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Other Routes to Residency & Citizenship
Citizenship by Descent (Children of Indian Citizens)
Eligibility
Children born on or after 3 December 2004 to at least one Indian citizen parent acquire Indian citizenship at birth, provided at least one parent is an Indian citizen and neither parent is an illegal migrant. Children born before that date had broader automatic citizenship rights under earlier law. Children born outside India on or after 10 December 1992 to an Indian citizen father (or after 2003 amendments, to either Indian citizen parent) may register as Indian citizens.
Duration / Outcome
Permanent from birth or registration
Requirements
- ✓At least one Indian citizen parent at the time of birth
- ✓For births outside India: registration at the nearest Indian consulate within one year of birth (or with late fee/penalty after May 2026 per Citizenship Amendment Rules 2026)
- ✓Neither parent should be an illegal migrant
India does not permit dual citizenship — a child holding Indian citizenship who also acquires another nationality will need to renounce one. Children born outside India should be registered promptly at the Indian consulate; from April 2026 a USD 25 late-registration penalty applies.
Long-Term Visa (LTV) — Humanitarian / Minority Categories
Eligibility
Very limited humanitarian categories: Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian minorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan who have entered India; and certain other government-approved cases.
Duration / Outcome
Long-term, renewable; may lead to citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 after 5 years
Requirements
- ✓Varies by category — apply at the Ministry of Home Affairs
Not a general path for most foreign expats. Primarily a humanitarian and minority-protection mechanism under the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019.
🌍 Dual Citizenship
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Dual citizenship is not allowed — India does NOT permit dual citizenship. The Citizenship Act 1955 requires renouncing previous citizenship upon acquiring Indian citizenship. The OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) status is sometimes informally called "dual citizenship" but it is NOT citizenship — it is a special residency/visa status for PIOs that provides many citizen-like benefits. OCI holders remain citizens of their foreign country only.
Citizenship & Permanent Residency
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