Consulate General of India

Durban, South Africa

OCI Services

As per new guidelines, an OCI applicant applying for either Fresh OCI Card, OCI Miscellaneous Service or conversion of PIO to OCI, has to upload all the requisite documents (self-attested), photo and signature, in support of OCI claim while applying/filling up online

Applicant has to make an online registration for OCI Card at website https://ociservices.gov.in/ . He/she has to submit the computer generated application form, bearing registration number, photo and signatures (exactly in the box) at the appropriate places to the High Commission / Consulate. In case of minors, the form should only have thumb impression of the minor.

·  Two recent colour photograph with off-white background (51 x 51 mm or 2 inches x 2 inches). One to be pasted on Application Form and the other has to be attached;

· Self-attested copy of Foreign Passport held;

· Self attested copy of Unabridged Birth Certificate of the applicant;

· Self attested copy of Unabridged Birth Certificate of the parents, if parents were Indian national/s and OCI is claimed based on Indian descent;

· Proof of the applicant or parents/grandparents/great-grandparents having Indian nationality/Indian descent, such as Indian Passport, School leaving certificate, birth certificate, land holding in India, etc. issued by Govt of India. If the same is in any regional language then a translated copy in English by an authorised translator with Name and signatures bearing his stamp containing address and his licence number.

· In cases, where the applicant’s parents/grandparents/great-grandparents arrived in South Africa by Ship, then he/she may seek the help of Department of Archives in South Africa. Records can also be accessed at www.national.archives.gov.za , for guidance for accessing the website).

· Self attested copy of Naturalisation Certificate, if applicable;

· Self attested copy of Indian Passport Surrender Certificate and copy of cancelled passport, if the same was surrendered. Please note that the names should be exact in all the documents, otherwise if the spelling are different, a letter has to be obtained from the concerned Home Department that the persons mentioned in the document/s are same;

· For spousal category self attested copy of current passport, Marriage certificate and copy of spouse OCI card;

· Proof of Residential address in South Africa which can be any utility bill, copy of lease agreement, copy of property/etc;

· A fee of Rand 4135/- per application (fee is same for adult as well as child applicant). Payments are strictly via EFT and should only be made once documents are verified. The banking details are given on our website;

Fee Chart for OCI w.e.f. 01 April 2022 (this may vary from time to time):

Submission of application – between 09.00 AM and 12.00 noon by appointment.

Collection time between 15:00 – 16:00pm


Payments can ONLY be made through EFT as per following banking details:

A/c Name: CGI, Durban

A/c No: 050367676

A/c Type: Current

Branch code: 051001

Bank Name: Standard Bank

Branch: Kingsmead

Reference: Applicant name and service required

Email for proof of payment: consular@cgidbn.com , cgid.pop@gmail.com

• Original passports/documents would be returned after verification and a set of photocopy of all documents will be attached with the duly filled application form
• Any other document as specified by the Consular Officer

• Applicants must come personally for biometrics

The above mentioned requirements are general in nature and the applicant may be asked to submit additional documents.

Note:

• Fees would not be refunded in case OCI is not granted.

• For the purpose of claiming OCI, husband and wife have to claim on the strength of their own parents/grandparents i.e. husband cannot claim OCI on the basis of his wife and vice versa.

• OCI is to be re-issued, each time a new passport is issued each time a new passport is issued up to the age of 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age in view of biological changes in the face of the applicant.

• OCI/PIO card does not entitle cardholder to undertake any missionary work, mountaineering and research work without the permission of the Government of India and in accordance with the instructions issued from time to time

Cancellation of OCI Registration

If it is found that registration as an OCI was obtained by means of fraud, false representation or concealment of any material fact or the registered OCI has shown disaffection towards the Constitution of India or comes under any of the provisions of section 7D of the Citizenship Act, the registration of such person will not only be cancelled forthwith but he/she will also be blacklisted from visiting India.

OCI Information

Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) is a facility provided to people of Indian origin of foreign nationals. South Africa has a vast number of Indentured Labourers who arrived from India since 1860-1910 as well as British Indians and Indians for business or employment purposes.

To obtain or re-issue of an OCI Card, applicant needs to apply online on their respective categories and upload/update their relevant documents/photograph. OCI application is available online on https://ociservices.gov.in/welcome

Fresh application for OCI Card

The applicant needs to prove their Indian Origin by establishing their Lineage/Ancestry. The OCI is provided upto the Fourth Generation. To apply, one needs to prepare a family tree determining who came first from India either from their father’s or mother’s side. This may be maternal grandparents/great-grandparents or paternal grandparents/great-grandparents roots. Proof of Indian Origin document is required and this comprises of the Ship List (for Indentured Labourers) or British/Indian Passport or surrendered copy of Indian passport or Indian Birth Certificate, etc. as applicable. Unabridged Birth Certificate of the applicant and for those leading to the person who arrived from India to South Africa first is required to pursue their lineage. This process will take around 60 days for a new OCI card and less for re-issue cases. This will be longer for spousal category. Ship lists are available at the National Archives in Durban, Pietermaritzburg and Richards Bay.

Foreign Spouse Category:

The OCI card extends to the spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or a spouse of foreign origin of an OCI cardholder. To obtain this card, it is mandatory for the couple to be married for at least two years and must produce a valid government registered Marriage Certificate along with a copy of the spouse’s OCI Card and applicant’s Unabridged Birth Certificate. An interview will be conducted at the Consulate upon submission of application. In the event of divorce or death of the primary OCI Cardholder, the spouse must surrender their OCI Cards to the Indian Mission.

Re-issue of OCI Card:

It is mandatory to re-issue the OCI Card once after attaining 20 years of age when the applicant has received a new passport. In other cases of existing OCI cardholders need to update/upload the latest information about his latest passport, Change in address/Occupation/Contact details, etc. For this, the OCI cardholder can use the OCI Miscellaneous option “Gratis” on the OCI Portal https://ociservices.gov.in/welcome and upload/update the latest photograph and requisite documents. After uploading, an “Acknowledgement” shall be shared with the applicant on his/her registered email ID. The Mission will then process and grant the application online after 30 days and, in the final stage the applicant will receive a “Confirmation” through e-mail. No need to visit to the Mission as this is a system generated process through online OCI portal and the facility is gratis.

However, after attaining 20 years of age, the applicant has to opt for the “Payment option” under miscellaneous head and needs to submit the application at the Consulate for further processing and payment.

OCI Renewal Clarifications:

Benefits and restrictions of OCI facilities:

OCI card is a life-long visa for visiting India with unlimited stay and multiple entries. Applicant can buy property and hold investments and shall be treated at par with NRI status except in matters relating to:

• Purchase agriculture land,
• Voting rights,
• Contesting in Assembly/ Parliament elections or to hold Constitutional Posts,
• Entitlement to Public Services/Posts. Special permission is required to undertake Research, Missionary, Mountaineering, Journalism, Tabligh activities and also visit some Restricted/ Protected areas in Indian. However, Pakistan/Bangladesh origin foreign nationals and foreign military/ police personnel either serving or retired will not be registered as OCI cardholder.

Kindly note that each person must apply for their own OCI Card on their own capacity and an OCI Card will not be automatically transferred from parent to child/minor as there is a limitation of facility upto fourth generations. Final approval is done by the Ministry in Delhi on the OCI system therefore; Mission can only accept an application if it complies with the Rules and Regulations set by the Ministry.