1. Create an account (Register yourself) on Alankit Global Service Centre website. Click Here to register.
2. Login to the Indian Government's Online OCI Services portal. Follow these steps:
   1. Select the type of service required
   2. Complete the application online (Part A and Part B).
   3. Upload documents (self-attested), photograph, [not less than 51x51 mm with 80% coverage of face, light colour background (not white), without border, front view, minimum dimensions are 200 x 200 pixels and maximum dimensions are 900 pixels x 900 pixels] and signature [in case of minors who cannot sign, left-hand thumb impression is required]. Photograph and signature must be in JPEG/JPG format with max size 200 KB.
   4. You must upload the documents mentioned in the checklist while filing the form online.
   5. If you will not find the related category please upload under the "others" category.
3. Book your appointment online at Alankit Global Service Centre website. You can choose a convenient date and time to visit the Alankit Global Service Centre for your application submission. Click Here to book your appointment online.  
4. Ensure that you carry all your documents, exactly as per the "Documents Checklist" section. 
5. Visit the Alankit Global Service Centre, as per your jurisdiction. The address and location of the centre will be clearly mentioned in the appontment letter. 
6. Kindly ensure you reach Alankit Global Service Centre 15 minutes prior to your appointment time. 
7. Submit your application and deposit your fees at Alankit Global Service Centre. You can check the fee for this application under the "Fee Details" section. 
8. Enroll for Biometrics at Alankit Global Service Centre, if required.
9. Your application submission process is now complete! You can avail our Courier service to get your OCI card delivered to your doorstep!
10. While your application is in process, you can track your application to know the current stage of your application process. Click Here to track your application online.  

Note:The signature in the application must match the signature in the German passport.

1. Who is eligible to apply for OCI card?
• A foreign national, who was eligible to become a citizen of India on 26.01.1950 or was a citizen of India on or at anytime after 26.01.1950 or belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15.08.1947 and his/her children and grand children, provided his/her country of citizenship allows dual citizenship in some form or other under the local laws, is eligible for registration as an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI). Minor children of such person are also eligible for OCI. However, if the applicant had ever been a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh, he/she will not be eligible for OCI.
2. I am a person of Indian origin as my parents were born in undivided India before partition. After partition, they briefly held Pakistani citizenship before moving to foreign country. Am I eligible for an OCI card?
• No. If the applicant, or his/her parents or grand-parents have ever been a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh, he/she will not be eligible for an OCI card.
3. Is a Renunciation Certificate compulsory before I apply for an OCI Card? What is the procedure to apply for a Renunciation Certificate? How long does it take to issue it?
• Yes, a Renunciation Certificate is compulsory before applying for an OCI card. You can apply for renunciation certificate through the website. Click Here for procedure of Renunciation/Surrender Certificate
4. My spouse is a foreign national of non-Indian origin. I hold an OCI Card. Is my spouse entitled to an OCI Card? What about my children?
• Yes, the spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign origin of an Overseas Citizen of India cardholder registered under section 7A and whose marriage has been registered and subsisted for a continuous period of not less than two years immediately preceding the presentation of the application, can apply for an OCI card. Minor children whose both parents are citizens of India or one of whose parents is a citizen of India are eligible to apply for an OCI Card.
5. Are foreign military personnel of Indian origin eligible for OCI cards?
• No, foreign military personnel either in service or retired are not entitled for grant of OCI. No person who has earlier served in a foreign military organization is eligible for an OCI card.
6. What are the benefits available to an OCI Card holder?
• An OCI card holder gets the following benefits:
• A multiple entry, multi-purpose life-long visa for visiting India.
• Exemption from registration with local police authority for any length of stay in India.
• Parity with Non-resident Indians (NRIs) in respect of economic, financial and educational fields as per the relevant Acts, except in relation to acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties.
• OCI can be used as identity proof for application of PAN Card and driving license as well as for opening a bank account if the OCI card holder is residing in India.
7. What are the benefits to which an OCI card holder is NOT entitled to?
• The OCI Card holder is not entitled:
• 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
• OCI cardholder shall also require Protected Area Permit (PAP) / Restricted Area Permit (RAP) to visit any place which falls within the Protected/Restricted Area notified by the Government as in the case of any other foreigner.
• He/she cannot normally hold employment in the Government to undertake any Missionary work, Mountaineering and Journalism without prior permission of the Govt. of India
• OCI cardholder shall also require Protected Area Permit (PAP) / Restricted Area Permit (RAP) to visit any place which falls within the Protected/Restricted Area notified by the Government as in the case of any other foreigner
8. Can foreign nationals, who are not otherwise eligible for OCI, get OCI if they are married to persons who are eligible for OCI?
• Yes, the spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign origin of an Overseas Citizen of India cardholder registered under section 7A and whose marriage has been registered and subsisted for a continuous period of not less than two years immediately preceding the presentation of the application.
9. Are Minor children eligible for OCI Card?
• Yes, minor children whose both parents are citizens of India or one of the parents is a citizen of India are eligible for OCI Card.
10. Whether civil Govt. servant working in Ministry of Defense as IT engineers/civil contractors entitled for OCI?
• No
11. I have recently acquired a new passport; do I need to re-issue my OCI card?
• OCI Card renewal is only required once after acquiring a new passport after turning 20 years of age.
12. If I do not have to reissue OCI card do I need to register my new passport on OCI portal?
• Yes. Your are required to update the OCI database within 3 months of the issue of a new passport. Once the application has been submitted, you will receive an automated email to your registered email id, confirming that the database has been updated. It normally takes about 4 weeks.
13. I have a valid OCI Card and a valid foreign passport. Is there any minimum validity specified for my foreign passport?
• You will be allowed entry into India if you have a valid OCI Card and a valid foreign passport. You do not need to carry the old passport on which your "U” (OCI) Visa was stamped, if that happens to be different from your current passport.
14. Can an OCI Card holder renounce his OCI status?
• Yes, he/she has to declare their intention of renunciation in Form XXII to the Indian Mission/Post where OCI registration was granted.
15. Can I travel to India with just my OCI Card, or should I also carry the passport which contains the ‘U’ Visa (OCI Visa)?
• No need to carry the passport which contains the U visa, Vide circular No. 26011/06/2015-OCI dated 29th January, 2015 of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has decided that, all immigration authorities in India will not insist on production of the foreign passport containing the 'U' Visa Sticker in the case of OCI Cardholders while they enter/exit India and the immigration clearance will be granted based on production of just the valid OCI card, accompanied by a valid passport (which may not have the U visa sticker).
16. What are the miscellaneous services available to the OCI card holder at Alankit Global Service Centre?
• The following miscellaneous services are available at Alankit Global Service Centre:
• Reissue of OCI card in case of issuance of new passport after completing 20 years of age.
• Reissue of OCI card in lieu of Loss/damaged OCI card
• Reissue of OCI card due to change of personal particulars like Change of name,  viz. name, father's name, nationality etc.
17. Who can avail the OCI Miscellaneous services?
• Only a registered Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card holder can avail the OCI Miscellaneous Services.
18. Under what circumstances can the OCI Miscellaneous services be availed?
• OCI Miscellaneous services can be availed for re-issuance/issuance of duplicate OCI Registration Certificate and Visa in the following category of cases:
• In case of issuance of new passport (refer to the condition according to one’s age)
• In case of change of personal particulars viz. nationality etc.
• In case of loss/damage of OCI registration certificate/visa.
• If wrong personal particular is filled in the online application viz. name, father’s name, date of birth etc.
• In case of manually filled in applications (discontinued now) mistakes have been committed by the Indian Mission/Post/Office while entering the personal particulars.
• In case of change of address/occupation
19. What should be done for issuance of duplicate OCI Card in case of loss of OCI Card?
• In case of loss of OCI documents, file a complaint with the Police authorities. Apply online for reissue of OCI under lost category.
20. What are the consequences of furnishing wrong information or suppressing material information?
• All the applications will be subject to pre or post enquiry depending on whether any adverse information is voluntarily reported in the application or not. If the Government comes to the know that any false information was furnished or material information was suppressed, the registration as OCI already granted shall be cancelled by an order under section 7D of the Citizenship Act, 1955. The persons will also be blacklisted thereby banning his/her entry into India.
21. Can a person registered as an OCI Cardholder travel to protected area/restricted area without permission?
• No. He / she will be required to obtain Protected Area Permit / Restricted Area Permit for such visits.
22. Do the Indian civil / criminal laws apply to persons registered as OCI?
• Yes, for his / her period of stay in India.
23. Can a person registered as an OCI be granted Indian citizenship?
• Yes. As per the provisions of section 5(1) (g) of the Citizenship Act, 1955, a person who is registered as an OCI for 5 years and is residing in India for 1 year out of the above 5 years, is eligible to apply for Indian Citizenship.