Can I live in India permanently with OCI?
Asked by: Jackson Lehner DVM | Last update: November 29, 2025Score: 4.4/5 (19 votes)
Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) is a form of permanent residency available to people of Indian origin which allows them to live and work in India indefinitely.
Can OCI stay in India forever?
(i) An OCI is entitled to life long visa with free travel to India whereas for a PIO card holder, it is only valid for 15 years.
Can a US citizen permanently live in India?
Permanent Residency in India. If you are interested in obtaining permanent residency in India, you should know that there are two ways to obtain it if you already have ties with the country: being an OCI (overseas Citizen of India) or a PIO (Person of Indian Origin).
How long can a US citizen stay in India without OCI?
Maximum stay by a foreigner in India on an e-Tourist visa or regular paper Tourist visa or both in one calendar year shall be restricted to 180 days.
How can I live in India permanently?
Residence permit by employment in India
One of the simplest ways to immigrate to India and obtaining residency is employment. This type of visa has the advantage of being issued for up to 5 years, as well as being extendable, thus enabling its holder to become a permanent resident of India.
Everything about OCI Card explained
Can foreigners get permanent residence in India?
Permanent Residency Status (PRS) will be granted to a foreign investor making an investment of minimum of Rs. 10 crores to be brought within 18 months or Rs. 25 crores to be brought within 36 months under FDI route and resulting in employment for at least 20 resident Indians in every financial year.
What are the disadvantages of an OCI card?
- to vote;
- to be a member of a Legislative Assembly or of a Legislative Council or of the Parliament of India;
- to hold Indian constitutional posts such as that of the President, Vice President, Judge of the Supreme Court or High Court etc.;
Can OCI hold resident account in India?
Further, an OCI can open all types of accounts allowed to a Resident customer. A joint account with Resident Indian (RI) who is a close relative can also be opened subject to following conditions: Mode of operation permitted is 'Former (NRI) or Survivor' only.
Can I buy property in India with OCI?
Both NRIs and OCI have the permission to buy both commercial and residential property in India. You do not need to submit any intimation or send any communication to the Central Bank for the purchase of a property. NRIs cannot buy agricultural land, plantation or farmhouses in India.
Is OCI permanent residency?
OCI is like a permanent residency. It can be taken away if one engages in some criminal activity or has issues with the law. Indian government can change the rules around OCI in the future, and we can do nothing about it. But if you really don't see a future back in India, just go for citizenship.
Can I live in India after getting US citizenship?
At this time, no penalties exist if a naturalized U.S. citizen simply goes to live in another country, even on a permanent basis. This is a distinct benefit of U.S. citizenship, since green card holders can have their status taken away for "abandoning" their U.S. residence.
How to stay in India long term?
A long-term visa is categorized as one that permits the visa holder to stay in India for more than 180 days (six months). The main visas that provide this are the Employment, Entry and Student visas. Extensions to visas are also reviewed on an individual case basis.
Can I retire in India from USA?
There's no specific retirement visa available for those who want to emigrate to India. Retiring is generally simpler for Indian citizens or those with Indian family ties than it is for foreigners.
What are the limitations of OCI in India?
Restrictions Faced by OCI Cardholders
They cannot vote in Indian elections, hold public office, or take up government jobs.
Can OCI holders get a gun license in India?
Grant of arms license to OCIs will be subject to the condition that they shall abide by Page 6 5 the Arms Act / Rules and ensure safe custody of the weapon(s) while leaving India and deposit the same in a police station or with an approved arms dealer.
Is OCI worth it?
OCI cardholders can enter and exit India freely without a visa. They can live and work in India indefinitely. They can access certain economic rights like opening bank accounts, buying property, and investing in India.
Can US citizen with OCI stay in India?
Yes, for the period the OCI Cardholder is living in India. citizenship? Yes.
Does OCI pay tax in India?
Taxation of OCIs
If an OCI is classified as a resident under these criteria, their global income will be taxed in India. “Any earnings, regardless of location, will be subject to Indian income tax," says Pallav Pradyumn Narang, partner, CNK. If classified as a non-resident, their taxation is different.
Can OCI get mortgage in India?
Like Resident Indians, NRIs (Non-Resident Indian)/OCIs (Overseas Citizen of India) who want to apply for a Home Loan in India are required to submit their KYC documents, along with financial documents for loan approval. Read this post to know more about KYC documents.
Which is better, OCI or NRI?
The basic difference between NRI and OCI is that NRIs will continue to have their Indian citizenship, and the OCIs will have their respective citizenship based on the country of their origin. Can an OCI live permanently in India? Yes, OCI cardholders can stay and work in India indefinitely.
Can OCI live and work in India?
Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) is a form of permanent residency available to people of Indian origin which allows them to live and work in India indefinitely.
Can I keep my savings account in India if I move abroad?
You can either close or convert your resident savings account to an NRO account or open new NRE, NRO and FCNR (B) accounts. While in India, you can consider opening an international bank account, which will help you transaction conviently while migration.
How long can I stay in India on OCI?
A PIO cardholder is required to register with local Police authority for any stay exceeding 180 days in India on any single visit whereas an OCI is exempted from registration with Police authority for any length of stay in India.
Can OCI have a bank account in India?
Both NRIs and OCI cardholders are allowed to open bank accounts in India. There are primarily three types of bank accounts that NRIs and OCIs can hold: Non-Resident Ordinary Accounts (NRO), Non-Resident External Accounts (NRE), Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Bank) Accounts FCNR(B).
What is the new rules for OCI card holders?
OCI cardholders now enjoy the same rights as foreign nationals in any commercial, financial, or educational field not specifically included in the OCI Notification 2021, according to the OCI Notification 2021.