OCI card and Indian citizenship abroad in 2026: dual citizenship, renunciation, fees and rights
Last reviewed 2026-10-23. Rules, fees and processing times in this area change often. Check the official source before you act, and tell us if something looks out of date.
Many Indians who settle abroad eventually face the same question: what happens to my Indian passport when I take another citizenship? This guide covers the basics. It is general information, not legal advice.
India does not allow dual citizenship
Indian law does not let a citizen hold another country's citizenship at the same time. If you voluntarily take foreign citizenship, you are expected to surrender your Indian passport and renounce Indian citizenship, and Indian missions publish a checklist for this. Do not keep using the Indian passport after naturalising elsewhere.
What the OCI card is
The Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card is not citizenship. It is a lifelong, multiple-entry visa-like status for people of Indian origin who hold a foreign passport, with long-standing benefits such as visa-free entry to India and no need to register with local police for most stays. Voting rights, holding constitutional offices and buying agricultural land are not included. Check the Ministry of Home Affairs for the current list of rights.
The 2026 changes in brief
According to one law-firm summary of the April 2026 rules:
- The deadline for converting old PIO cards to OCI passed on 31 December 2025.
- Applicants no longer need to have lived in India for six months before applying.
- New application fee: USD 275.
- Reissue with changed details, or at age 20: USD 25. Lost card replacement: USD 100. Renunciation of OCI: USD 25.
- If you get a new passport, update the OCI portal within three months, or a USD 25 penalty applies.
Another travel-industry source reports the same USD 275 fee from April 2026, and says PIO cards stopped being accepted for entry from January. Confirm the details on the official OCI portal.
Planning tips
- Do not renounce before you have the new citizenship, because you would become stateless in the meantime.
- Get the renunciation certificate and keep it, since it is often needed for the OCI application.
- Apply for OCI soon after you receive the foreign passport.
- Think about property and inheritance in India: speak to a lawyer about what an OCI holder can own and inherit.
- Remember tax: your tax residency is separate from citizenship.
See also our guide to permanent residence routes from India and the Portugal citizenship guide.
Sources
- Erickson Immigration Group: India updates OCI rules and fees (April 2026)
- Wego: OCI fee rises to USD 275
- Embassy of India, Manila: renunciation of Indian citizenship
Figures in this guide were gathered in October 2026 from news reports, travel-industry guides and law-firm summaries. These sources sometimes disagree with each other and with official pages, and entry rules for Indian passport holders change often. Check the destination's official immigration site or the Indian embassy page before you book. Visa Ray is a rule-based reference tool, not a law firm. You can run a free assessment on Visa Ray for your own profile.
