OCI (Overseas Citizen of India)

A lifelong multi-entry visa and quasi-citizenship status granted to former Indian nationals who acquired the citizenship of another country (excluding Pakistan and Bangladesh) and to certain descendants. OCI holders enjoy visa-free entry to India, the right to live and work indefinitely, and parity with Non-Resident Indians for most economic, financial, and educational purposes — with notable exceptions: OCI holders cannot vote, hold constitutional office, or buy agricultural land. OCI is not citizenship; it does not confer an Indian passport. India does not permit dual citizenship in the formal sense, so OCI is the closest alternative for the global Indian diaspora.