Foreign citizens usually mean OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cardholders. An OCI card is issued to people of Indian origin who currently hold a foreign passport, which means they are citizens of another country. Many people often confuse OCI and NRI. Here’s the difference: NRIs are Indian citizens with an Indian passport who live abroad for work, studies, or other reasons. They are fully Indian citizens, just residing outside India.
In contrast, OCI cardholders are foreign citizens and do not have an Indian passport. They are not Indian citizens but enjoy special rights in India, such as the ability to live, work, and own property (except agricultural land). OCI holders can stay in India as long as they like, don’t need a visa to visit, can work in India, and buy most types of property. So, the question is, can OCI cardholders also get an Aadhaar card in India? Let’s find out.
Can OCI Card Holders Get an Aadhaar Card?
Yes, people holding an OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card can get an Aadhaar card in India. However, they must enroll as Resident Foreign Nationals rather than Indian citizens. According to UIDAI rules, all Resident Foreign Nationals, including OCI holders, who have stayed in India for 182 days or more in the 12 months immediately before submitting their Aadhaar enrollment application are eligible to apply. This ensures that only those who have spent sufficient time in India can get an Aadhaar card.
Documents Required for Enrollment
To enroll for Aadhaar, OCI holders need to submit all the usual documents required for Aadhaar registration. In addition, they must show their valid OCI card along with the passport of the country where they hold citizenship. The authorities may also ask for a document that proves their Indian address, such as a PAN or e-PAN card, driving license, utility bill, or any other officially recognized document. These documents help verify both identity and residence in India before issuing Aadhaar.
Validity of Aadhaar for OCI Holders
While Aadhaar cards issued to Indian citizens are valid for a lifetime, the rules are different for OCI holders. For them, the Aadhaar card is valid for 10 years only. After this period, OCI cardholders will need to reapply for renewal to continue using Aadhaar for official purposes. This distinction ensures that Aadhaar records remain up to date for foreign nationals residing in India.
OCI holders can get an Aadhaar card, but they need to follow specific rules, provide the correct documents, and remember that their Aadhaar has a limited validity of 10 years, unlike Indian citizens.
