Indian Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah officially unveiled a redesigned version of the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) services portal on May 19 in New Delhi. Shah emphasized that the enhanced platform is expected to significantly improve the experience for over five million OCI cardholders across the globe and will help make the registration process for overseas citizens more seamless.
The inauguration event took place in the National Capital and was attended by senior officials, including the Union Home Secretary and the Director of the Intelligence Bureau. The updated portal, which maintains the existing URL at https://ociservices.gov.in, introduces a modernized interface and added features that are aimed at simplifying the registration and application procedures for OCI cardholders.
Speaking at the launch, Shah stated, “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is continuously striving to provide world-class immigration facilities to its OCI cardholder citizens.” He further noted, “A revamped OCI portal with an updated user interface has been launched to simplify the registration process for Overseas Citizens.”
Reiterating the government’s dedication to supporting the Indian diaspora, Shah highlighted that people of Indian origin living abroad should not encounter any difficulty when they travel to or stay in India. “Many Indian-origin citizens reside in various countries worldwide, and we must ensure they face no inconvenience when visiting or staying in India,” he said.
The OCI scheme, which was introduced via a 2005 amendment to the Citizenship Act of 1955, provides an opportunity for individuals of Indian origin to register as Overseas Citizens of India. This eligibility extends to those who were citizens of India on or after January 26, 1950, or were eligible to become citizens on that date. However, those with ancestry linked to Pakistan or Bangladesh are excluded from the program.
The original OCI services portal, which was launched in 2013, currently handles around 2,000 applications per day. It is active in more than 180 Indian diplomatic missions worldwide and 12 Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROs) within India. According to officials, the need for the updated portal stemmed from both advancements in digital technology over the last ten years and the feedback collected from users seeking improvements.
The redesigned platform brings a host of new features that are intended to enhance usability and overall efficiency. These improvements include a more streamlined sign-up and registration process, automatic population of user details in forms, a personalized dashboard for tracking application progress, and an integrated online payment option for those submitting through FRROs.
Additionally, the portal allows users to edit their application forms anytime before the final submission. Applicants also benefit from automatic reminders prompting them to verify their information. Furthermore, the portal features in-built frequently asked questions (FAQs) and document submission guidelines specific to each application category. To assist with document submissions, there’s a built-in tool that enables users to crop and upload photographs and signatures directly on the platform.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged the development as a substantial improvement in India’s digital public service delivery. Sharing his views on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), he said the overhaul of the portal represents meaningful progress in enhancing digital governance for citizens. “With enhanced features and improved functionality, the new OCI Portal marks a major step forward in boosting citizen friendly digital governance,” Modi posted.
The government’s initiative to revamp the portal is in line with its broader push for digital transformation in public services, especially those serving the global Indian community. By addressing long-standing user concerns and streamlining the end-to-end experience, the new system reflects India’s commitment to remain connected with its diaspora and offer them world-class digital infrastructure.
Officials stressed that the changes are not merely cosmetic but reflect substantive improvements in service delivery. The portal has been redesigned with a focus on convenience, speed, and transparency, all while maintaining high standards of security and data integrity.
With these updates now in place, both new applicants and existing OCI cardholders can look forward to an easier, more accessible, and user-friendly digital platform. It is expected that these upgrades will result in faster application turnaround times, better communication with users, and increased satisfaction across the board.
Overall, the revamped OCI services portal stands as a testament to India’s ongoing efforts to simplify and modernize government processes for its global citizens. The launch marks a significant milestone in India’s digital public service journey, especially for those of Indian origin seeking to maintain strong ties with their heritage and homeland.