The Indian government has launched a revamped Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) portal, marking a significant step towards modernizing services for the Indian diaspora. Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the new portal in New Delhi on May 19, 2025, emphasizing the government's commitment to providing world-class immigration facilities to OCI cardholders. The new portal, accessible at ociservices.gov.in, aims to simplify the registration process and enhance the overall user experience for millions of OCI cardholders and new applicants.

The OCI scheme, introduced in 2005 through an amendment to the Citizenship Act of 1955, allows Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) who have obtained citizenship in other countries to register as Overseas Citizens of India. This provides them with lifelong visa-free travel to India and certain economic and educational rights. However, those who are or have been citizens of Pakistan or Bangladesh, or whose parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents are or had been citizens of those countries, are not eligible.

The existing OCI services portal, developed in 2013, was operational in over 180 Indian missions and 12 Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROs), processing approximately 2,000 applications daily. Recognizing the significant technological advancements and feedback from OCI cardholders over the past decade, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) developed the revamped portal to address existing limitations and improve user experience.

The new portal boasts enhanced functionality, advanced security features, and a user-friendly interface. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the initiative, stating that the new OCI portal marks a major step forward in boosting citizen-friendly digital governance with enhanced features and improved functionality.

The revamped OCI portal includes several user-friendly features designed to streamline the application process. These include:

• User Sign-up and Segregation of Registration Menu: Simplifies the initial steps for new users.
• Auto-fill of User Profile Details: Automatically populates registration forms, saving applicants time and effort.
• Integrated Online Payment Gateway: Facilitates seamless payment processing.
• Eligibility Criteria and Categorization of Documents: Provides clear guidance on required documents based on application type.
• Dashboard: Displays details of completed and partially filled applications.
• In-built Image Cropping Tool: Allows applicants to easily upload photos and signatures.
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Offers guidance to applicants, including those registering for the first time, those with discontinued PIO cards, and those with lost PIO cards.
• Edit Functionality: Enables applicants to edit information before final submission.

In addition to user-friendly features, the refurbished OCI platform includes upgrades to the software and platform, along with enhanced security protocols, including encryption to ensure data privacy. New cyber-security enhancements include multi-factor authorization.

Amit Shah emphasized that the government is committed to ensuring that Indian-origin citizens residing in various countries worldwide face no inconvenience when visiting or staying in India. The revamped OCI portal reflects this commitment by addressing existing limitations and enhancing the user experience through technological advancements and user feedback. The launch of the new OCI portal represents a significant leap forward in providing efficient and accessible services to the Indian diaspora, reinforcing the government's commitment to digital empowerment and citizen-centric governance.