OCI Card For A Foreign Spouse Of An Indian Citizen

An OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card comes with numerous benefits, including a lifelong visa to visit India, professional opportunities, and equality in economic and educational sectors. But what about the spouses of OCI cardholders? Can spouses of OCI holders get OCI?

This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to apply for an OCI card for a spouse and how to simplify the application process.

Table of contents

• OCI Card for a Spouse of an Indian Citizen: Rules and Benefits
• OCI Card Eligibility for Spouses
• OCI Application for Foreign Spouse: Step-by-step Process
• Documents Required for OCI Application
• OCI Photo Requirements
• Online OCI Photo Maker
• OCI Photo and Signature App
• How Much Does it Cost to Get an OCI Card?

OCI Card for a Spouse of an Indian Citizen: Rules and Benefits

The OCI card is a significant asset for foreign spouses married to Indian citizens, offering stability and benefits similar to those enjoyed by residents of India.

Key benefits of holding an OCI card for a spouse of an Indian citizen include:

• A lifelong, multiple-entry visa to India.
• No requirement to report to police authorities, regardless of the length of stay in India.
• Equal treatment with Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in financial, economic, and educational sectors, with the exception of acquiring agricultural or plantation properties.
• The same tariffs on domestic air travel and entry fees to national parks and wildlife sanctuaries as resident Indian nationals.

However, OCI cardholders do have certain limitations: they cannot vote, run for legislative bodies, hold constitutional positions, or obtain an Indian passport.

OCI Card Eligibility for Spouses

Can my wife get an OCI card if I hold one? — Your spouse can apply for an OCI card if they meet the eligibility criteria. Specifically, a foreign spouse of an Indian citizen or an OCI cardholder must meet the following OCI requirements for a spouse:

• The marriage must be legally registered and must have lasted for at least two consecutive years before the application.
• A registered marriage certificate is required as proof.
• The Indian spouse must provide documentation such as an Indian passport, domicile certificate, or nativity certificate to demonstrate their Indian citizenship.

However, Bangladeshi and Pakistani nationals are not eligible to receive OCI cards.

OCI Application for Foreign Spouse: Step-by-step Process

Here’s a guide to an OCI card application for the spouse of an Indian citizen:

1. Visit the official OCI Services website.
2. Complete the online application form.
3. Upload all necessary documents and photographs as specified on the application portal. Ensure the uploaded documents match the physical copies you will submit later.
4. Pay the Fees.
5. After completing the online form and payment, schedule an appointment at the designated government office for document review and biometric data capture.

Documents Required for OCI Application

Here’s an OCI foreign spouse checklist of documents:

• OCI Application Form, signed and dated.
• Two recent photos measuring 5×5 cm.
• A copy of the photo page of your current passport, which must be valid for at least six months.
• Proof of Address. This could be an electricity bill, rent contract, or a statement from a relative if you’re living with them.
• A copy of the marriage certificate with an apostille stamp.
• A copy of your spouse’s current passport.
• A copy of your spouse’s OCI card, if they have one.
• Name change document, if applicable.
• Visa copy, if you are applying from India.

Make sure all documents are in PDF format and do not exceed 1000 KB each. The embassy or consulate may request additional documents during the process.

OCI Photo Requirements

To have your OCI application photo and signature accepted, follow the guidelines below.

Photo Requirements:

• The photo size must be 51×51 mm and range from 200×200 pixels to a maximum of 1500×1500 pixels.
• Your face should occupy approximately 80% of the photo area.
• Choose a plain, light-coloured background.
• The image file must be no larger than 500 KB.
• The photo must be in JPG or JPEG format.

Here is an example:

Signature Requirements:

• Signatures should be placed in the designated box on the OCI application form. For group applications, all adults must sign a common Part B of the form.
• The signature or image must be in JPEG or JPG format and should not exceed 1 MB in file size.

Online OCI Photo Maker

Need an OCI photo quickly and easily? Use Visafoto.com, a top-tier photo editing service with a 99.7% approval rate.

Capture a photo against a plain white background. Go to Visafoto.com and upload your picture. Visafoto will automatically adjust the size, format, background colour, and face positioning to meet OCI card standards.

You'll receive a digital copy for online applications and a print-ready version. Not satisfied? Get a full refund.

Take an image with a smartphone or camera against any background, upload it here and instantly get a professional photo for your visa, passport, or ID.

You will have two types of photos: a digital one for electronic applications and another one suitable for printing.

OCI Photo and Signature App

Create your OCI photo and signature easily with the 7ID App by Visafoto.com, available on both iPhone and Android.

For Photos:

Use the app to upload your photo and select the document type and country. The app will adjust your image to meet official specifications, including size, format, background colour, and face positioning.

Get both a digital file for online use and a template for printing. Enjoy 24/7 support.

For Signatures:

Write your signature on a piece of paper. In the 7ID App, go to the "Signatures" section and tap “New signature”. Take a picture of your signature, select “India signature for OCI Card application”, and instantly get a ready-to-submit digital image file in the correct size.

How Much Does it Cost to Get an OCI Card?

Wondering about the cost of an OCI card for a non-Indian spouse? Here's a breakdown:

Applying from outside India:

• Consular fee: USD 275 per application.
• Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) fee: USD 3.

Applying from within India:

• Consular fee: INR 15,000 (approximately USD 180).

Use the 7ID App and Visafoto.com to get a photo and signature for your OCI card for a spouse of an OCI holder in just a few clicks!