Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a new version of the OCI portal, improving convenience and security for over 5 million cardholders
On 19th May 2025, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, launched the revamped Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Portal in New Delhi. The launch event was attended by the Union Home Secretary, Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), and other senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The new portal, accessible via the existing URL https://ociservices.gov.in, aims to provide a seamless, secure, and user-friendly experience for over 5 million existing OCI cardholders and new applicants. Shri Amit Shah noted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Indian government is committed to offering world-class immigration facilities to OCI citizens.
Given the growing Indian diaspora and technological advancements over the past decade, the updated platform introduces numerous features such as auto-filled forms, integrated payment gateways, a user dashboard, and responsive design optimised for multiple devices. It also incorporates advanced security protocols, including multi-factor authentication and regular penetration testing.
The OCI scheme, originally introduced in 2005 through an amendment to the Citizenship Act, 1955, facilitates the registration of persons of Indian origin as Overseas Citizens. The previous version of the portal, launched in 2013, operated across over 180 Indian missions and 12 Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROs). The newly launched version addresses feedback from cardholders and updates the system with modern infrastructure and cybersecurity enhancements.
This initiative reflects India’s ongoing efforts to ensure that Indian-origin citizens residing abroad face minimal inconvenience when visiting or residing in India.
Source: Indian Ministry of Home Affairs
