India · Spouse visas
India OCI card for a citizen’s spouse
Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card for the foreign spouse of an Indian citizen
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
OCI card for a citizen’s spouse is a spouse visas route for India. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Government fees
- $275
Cost, time and long term
Government fees$275
- $275Application fee per applicant for applications submitted at an Indian mission abroad, or the equivalent in INR for applications in India paid online.
CitizenshipAfter 5 years
An OCI cardholder can apply for citizenship by registration after being registered as an OCI cardholder for 5 years and being ordinarily resident in India for the 12 months before applying.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Not open to passports from Pakistan, Bangladesh
What you'll need
Who can apply4
- The applicant is a spouse of foreign origin of an Indian citizen or of an OCI cardholder registered under section 7A.
- The marriage has been registered and has subsisted continuously for at least two years before the application.
- Only one living spouse meeting the section 7A(1)(d) conditions is registered as an OCI cardholder.
- No applicant is eligible if they or a parent, grandparent or great-grandparent was a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh.
What you must show and pay1
- A fee of $275 · Application fee per applicant for applications submitted at an Indian mission abroad, or the equivalent in INR for applications in India paid online.
Documents3
- Copy of a valid passport with at least six months validity.
- Registered marriage certificate.
- Copy of the Indian spouse's passport, or a domicile or nativity certificate for the Indian spouse.
Steps5
- The application is submitted online.
- Registration happens only after prior clearance of the Ministry of Home Affairs (Foreigners Division).
- Every applicant on the spouse basis has a personal interview at the Indian mission, post or FRRO when the documents are verified.
- Security agencies give clearance on the online system within 21 days of acknowledgement.
- The Ministry of Home Affairs uploads final clearance within 30 days of acknowledgement.
After you arrive1
- An OCI cardholder registered for five years and ordinarily resident in India for twelve months may apply for Indian citizenship.
When you become tax resident
How India decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
- More than 729 days in a preceding seven tax yearsPresence above 729 days (together with residence in two of the ten preceding years) makes an individual ordinarily resident; 729 days or less gives RNOR status
- At least 182 days in a tax year (1 April to 31 March)Resident in India
- At least 60 days in a tax year, together with 365 days or more in the preceding four tax yearsAlternative resident test
- At least 120 days in a tax year, together with 365 days or more in the preceding four tax yearsAlternative test for citizens or persons of Indian origin with Indian income above INR 15 lakh (≈ $15,600)
- Foreign-source income
RNOR relief
A resident individual who is 'not ordinarily resident' in India is taxed on income received or accruing in India, and on foreign-source income only when it comes from a business controlled in or a profession set up in India.
- Special regime
Foreign-source income largely outside tax · Tax relief
All tax rules for India Tax records checked
Full official text
For the foreign spouse of an Indian citizen or OCI cardholder whose marriage has been registered for at least two years. The OCI card is a multiple-entry lifelong visa with exemption from FRRO registration. 1 2 3 4
What you must show and pay
- A fee of $275 · Application fee per applicant for applications submitted at an Indian mission abroad, or the equivalent in INR for applications in India paid online. 4
Requirements
- The applicant is a spouse of foreign origin of an Indian citizen or of an OCI cardholder registered under section 7A. 1 2 3
- The marriage has been registered and has subsisted continuously for at least two years before the application. 1 2 3
- Only one living spouse meeting the section 7A(1)(d) conditions is registered as an OCI cardholder. 1 2 3
- No applicant is eligible if they or a parent, grandparent or great-grandparent was a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh. 1 2 3
- Copy of a valid passport with at least six months validity. 1 2 3
- Registered marriage certificate. 1 2 3
- Copy of the Indian spouse's passport, or a domicile or nativity certificate for the Indian spouse. 1 2 3
- The application is submitted online. 1 2 3
- Registration happens only after prior clearance of the Ministry of Home Affairs (Foreigners Division). 1 2 3
- Every applicant on the spouse basis has a personal interview at the Indian mission, post or FRRO when the documents are verified. 4
- Security agencies give clearance on the online system within 21 days of acknowledgement. 1 2 3
- The Ministry of Home Affairs uploads final clearance within 30 days of acknowledgement. 1 2 3
- An OCI cardholder registered for five years and ordinarily resident in India for twelve months may apply for Indian citizenship. 1 2 3
Stay
- The OCI card is a multiple-entry lifelong visa for any purpose; for a foreign spouse the first card is valid for 5 years. The cardholder is exempt from FRRO registration for any length of stay.
- Visa validity: 60 months. Validity is the window to use the visa, not the length you may stay.
Nationality
Not open to anyone who, or whose parent, grandparent or great-grandparent, is or was a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh. Not open to: Pakistan, Bangladesh.
Work
Parity with Indian citizens in most economic matters; special permission is needed for research, missionary, tabligh, mountaineering or journalistic activity, and for work or internship in foreign diplomatic missions.
Family
Minor children of eligible persons can also apply for OCI registration; the spouse must have been married to the Indian citizen or OCI cardholder for at least two years.
Official sources
- Brochure: Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Cardholder · Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India · checked 2026-10-11
- Frequently Asked Questions: Overseas Citizen of India registration · Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India · checked 2026-10-11
- Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) Cardholder comparative chart · OCI Services, Ministry of Home Affairs · checked 2026-10-11
- Overseas Citizen of India: frequently asked questions · Ministry of Home Affairs, India · checked 2026-10-12
- The Citizenship Act, 1955 (sections 5, 6 and Third Schedule) · Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India · checked 2026-10-11
OCI card for a citizen’s spouse and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| OCI card for a citizen’s spouse | – | – | – |
| Spouse of a citizen | – | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Spouse of a permanent resident Thailand | – | 3 mo, renewable | – |
| Spouse of a citizen Japan | – | 5 yr, renewable | Yes |
| Spouse of a stay permit holder Indonesia | – | – | No |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the OCI card for a citizen’s spouse?
A fee of $275. Application fee per applicant for applications submitted at an Indian mission abroad, or the equivalent in INR for applications in India paid online.
How long can I stay on the OCI card for a citizen’s spouse?
The OCI card is a multiple-entry lifelong visa for any purpose; for a foreign spouse the first card is valid for 5 years.
Can I work on the OCI card for a citizen’s spouse?
Parity with Indian citizens in most economic matters; special permission is needed for research, missionary, tabligh, mountaineering or journalistic activity, and for work or internship in foreign diplomatic missions.
Can I bring my family on the OCI card for a citizen’s spouse?
Minor children of eligible persons can also apply for OCI registration; the spouse must have been married to the Indian citizen or OCI cardholder for at least two years.
Who can apply for the OCI card for a citizen’s spouse?
Not open to anyone who, or whose parent, grandparent or great-grandparent, is or was a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh. Not open to: Pakistan, Bangladesh.
Is there a tax break for OCI card for a citizen’s spouse holders in India?
Not ordinarily resident (RNOR) status: foreign-source income largely outside tax: A resident individual who is 'not ordinarily resident' in India is taxed on income received or accruing in India, and on foreign-source income only when it comes from a business controlled in or a profession set up in India. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions.
Tax
Special regime
Not ordinarily resident (RNOR) status: foreign-source income largely outside tax
Tax relief
Details
- On: Income received or accruing in India
- Limit: ₹1.5M/yr ≈ $16k
A resident individual who is 'not ordinarily resident' in India is taxed on income received or accruing in India, and on foreign-source income only when it comes from a business controlled in or a profession set up in India.
Taxed on
Income received or accruing in India, plus foreign-source income derived from a business controlled in India or a profession set up in India.
Who it applies to
- Resident in India for the tax year but non-resident in nine of the ten preceding years, or present in India 729 days or less in the seven preceding years.
- Indian citizens or persons of Indian origin who visit India for 120 to 181 days with Indian-source income above INR 15 lakh (≈ $15,600) are treated as not ordinarily resident.
- Indian citizens deemed resident because Indian income exceeds INR 15 lakh (≈ $15,600) and they are liable to tax nowhere else are treated as not ordinarily resident.
- From tax years beginning on or after 1 April 2026 the rule is section 6(13) and section 5 of the Income-tax Act 2025; the criteria match the 1961 Act.
Exclusions
- Ordinarily resident individuals (more than 729 days in the preceding seven years and resident in at least two of the preceding ten years) are taxed on worldwide income.
Limits
- INR 1,500,000 a year (≈ $15,600) · Indian-source income (other than foreign-source) above which a citizen not taxed elsewhere is deemed resident, as RNOR
Days in the country
- More than 729 days in preceding seven tax years · Presence above 729 days (together with residence in two of the ten preceding years) makes an individual ordinarily resident; 729 days or less gives RNOR status
Tax residence
RNOR status is annual and tests look back to years governed by the 1961 Act.
Visas
Visa type is irrelevant; status depends on days of presence and past residence.
Other taxes
Goods and services tax, surcharge and cess apply separately.
Checked against official sources on Change log
More in India
Spouse and partner visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.
How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 5 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Brochure: Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Cardholder · Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India · checked 2026-10-11
- Frequently Asked Questions: Overseas Citizen of India registration · Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India · checked 2026-10-11
- Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) Cardholder comparative chart · OCI Services, Ministry of Home Affairs · checked 2026-10-11
- Overseas Citizen of India: frequently asked questions · Ministry of Home Affairs, India · checked 2026-10-12
- The Citizenship Act, 1955 (sections 5, 6 and Third Schedule) · Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.