OCI Card For Infants – How To Apply For An Child’s OCI Card

The article was updated on 24 November 2025

Can you get an OCI Card for infants? Are newborns eligible for OCI cards? What is the fee for an OCI Card? Know all about the OCI card or Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card for infants.

Well, India does not accept dual citizenship, and in many cases, children born abroad get citizenship of the country they are born in.

Even if both parents are Indian, a child with foreign citizenship will need a visa to visit India. Rather than apply for a tourist visa for every visit, these infants and children can apply for an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Card.

Key Takeawys

• Babies need a separate OCI application.
• Tourist visa must be converted to Entry Visa before OCI.
• Apply for OCI after 6 months on Entry Visa.

What Is An OCI Card?

An OCI card allows the cardholder to visit India as many times a year as they like. An OCI cardholder can stay in the country indefinitely and can study here as well as work in the country. In many ways, an OCI cardholder has the same status as Indian citizens but they do not have certain rights. This includes:

• The right to vote
• The right to apply for government jobs
• The right to hold public office
• The right to invest in farmland

When the child grows up, he/she can apply for Indian citizenship to gain these rights.

Read: Renewing OCI Card In India

Can you get an OCI Card for infants?

Many Indian-origin families returning from abroad (such as the US) already have OCI cards, but their newborns don’t automatically get one. The baby has to go through a separate OCI application process.

Here are some key points to keep in mind:

• Babies born abroad usually get foreign citizenship by birth. Therefore, even if both parents are Indian citizens or OCI holders, the child will need a visa to enter India.
• If the baby is already in India on a tourist visa, you must convert the tourist visa to an Entry Visa before applying for an OCI from within India.
• The conversion process is handled online via the FRRO portal www.indianfrro.gov.in.
• After 6 months on the Entry Visa, you can apply for the baby’s OCI card.
• Keep all important documents ready, such as the baby’s passport, parents’ passports and OCI cards, marriage and birth certificates, and proof of address in India.

Eligibility for an Infant’s OCI Card

A child is eligible for an OCI card if they are the child or grandchild of someone who:

• Was eligible for Indian citizenship on January 26, 1950, or
• Became an Indian citizen on that date, or
• Belonged to an area that became part of India after August 15, 1947.

OCI Card For Infants – How to Apply Online

The following are the steps to apply for an OCI card for infants:

Step 1: Converting Baby’s Tourist Visa to Entry Visa (For Those Already in India)

If your baby entered India on a tourist or e-visa, you must convert it to an Entry Visa before applying for OCI. This process can be done online through the FRRO portal: https://indianfrro.gov.in/eservices/

If you have questions, you can reach out to the FRO/FRRO office in your city.

Documents Required

• Baby’s passport, eVisa, and arrival stamp
• Both parents’ passports and OCI cards
• Request letter from parents addressed to FRRO for visa conversion
• Parents’ marriage certificate
• Baby’s birth certificate
• Proof of address – if parents don’t have local utility bills, a host can provide a declaration letter confirming stay, along with their passport and OCI copies

Once it is approved, the baby will get an Entry Visa, which lets them stay in India for a longer time and also apply for an OCI card while in India.

Step 2: Applying for Baby’s OCI (After 6 months on Entry Visa)

Once your baby has been on an Entry Visa for at least 6 months, you can apply for their OCI Card in India. You can fill out the OCI application form online at: https://ociservices.gov.in.

Documents Required for OCI Application

You must prepare the following scanned documents before applying:

1. Baby’s passport photo (plain light background, face covering 80% of frame, maximum size 500 KB)
2. Thumbprint or signature of the baby
3. Passport and birth certificate of the baby
4. Parents’ passports and OCI/valid visas
5. Proof of Indian origin (parent or grandparent documents)
6. Parents’ marriage certificate
7. Proof of address (parent’s driving license, utility bill, valid lease agreement or host declaration letter)

OCI Card For Infants – Application Process

• Register on the OCI Services portal and complete Part A and Part B of the online form.
• Upload the required photograph, signature, and supporting documents.
• Pay the non-refundable fee of US $25 (or local equivalent).
• In Part B of the form, you will be asked Yes/No questions about the child’s nationality.
• Submit the physical documents for verification at your FRRO/FRO office (if in India) or VFS Global (if abroad).

OCI Card For Infants – Application Fee

• US$25 or its equivalent in INR
• The fee is non-refundable and paid online during the application process.

Tracking & Validity Of OCI Card For Infants

• Once you submit the form, you will get a Web File Number. You can use this to track the application status.
• The OCI card is valid for life, but it must be reissued when your child gets a new passport at age 20.

Conclusion

If you are looking to apply for an OCI card for your child, make sure you follow the guidelines, submit all required documents and complete the online application carefully. Applying early will help avoid delays and make the process smooth and hassle-free.

OCI Card For Infants – FAQs

Also See

• 9 Countries Indians Can Easily Get Permanent Residency
• Top 10 Countries Where You Can Immigrate and Settle Easily
• Changing Trends Of Citizenship – Where are Indians Migrating To?
• A Comprehensive List of Countries That Allow or Disallow Dual Citizenship
• Traveling From India In Transport Bubbles