Maldivians of Indian origin and their children can get OCI card

Mr. Dnyaneshwar M. Mulay, High Commissioner of India, Republic of Maldives handed over, on 16^th June 2011, the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Card to Mrs. Mumthaz Syed Ahmed and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) Card to her husband Mr Hassan Maniku, Managing Director, Alcyon Bakery. 

Mrs. Mumthaz was an Indian citizen till recently and had been married to Mr. Maniku for the last two decades.  High Commissioner congratulated the couple for becoming the bridge of friendship between the two Countries. Under a beneficial Scheme of Government of India, the Persons of Indian Origin and their children could get the OCI card and their spouses could get PIO card, without surrendering their respective passport.  The High Commissioner urged the eligible Maldivian Nationals to avail this facility as that would provide them long term Visa (15 years to life time) to India.

 OCI card holders are entitled to the following benefits: 1) A multiple entry, multipurpose visa for visiting India. It is having life time validity.  2) No separate Business/Employment/Student visa will be required, 3) Exemption from registration with local police authorities for any length of stay in India,   4) Special Counters of Immigration, for speedy Immigration Clearance, 5) Parity with Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in economic, financial and educational fields except for acquisition of agricultural land and Political rights, 6) OCI card can be used as an Identity Proof for opening Bank Account in India.

PIO card holders are entitled to all the benefits of OCI card except that its validity is 15 years and have the exemption from registration with local police authorities for continuous stay up to 180 days in India.