On 30 April 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs notified the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2026 to amend the Citizenship Rules, 2009. The provisions came into effect on 30-4-2026.
Key highlights of the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2026:
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The provision relating to Registration as Overseas Citizen of India cardholder and maintenance of register of persons under Section 7-A of the Citizenship Act, 1955 has been revised:
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Now, every person registered as an Overseas Citizen of India (‘OCI’) cardholder will be given an OCI card, either in physical form or as an electronic OCI (‘e–OCI’), with details in Form XXIX.
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The issuing authority will have to keep an electronic record of all registered OCI cardholders in Form XXX.
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The revised provisions relating to Declaration of renunciation of Overseas Citizen of India Card:
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A person who wants to give up their OCI card will have to submit a declaration in Form XXXI online through the portal https://ociservices.gov.in to the Indian Mission/Post or the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (‘FRRO’) concerned.
If the OCI card was issued in physical form, the original card should also be handed over to the same authority. -
After receiving the declaration and the physical OCI card, the authority concerned will issue an electronic acknowledgment in Form XXXII through the same online portal and delete the person’s name from the electronic OCI register.
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The provisions relating to Cancellation of registration as Overseas Citizen of India cardholder has also been revised as:
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If a person’s registration as an OCI cardholder is cancelled, that person, or anyone holding their physical OCI card, will have to submit the original card to the authority named by the Central Government, within the time stated in the written notice.
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Even the card is submitted or not it will be cancelled.
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If the person holds an electronic OCI (‘e-OCI’), the Central Government can order that the e-OCI registration be treated as cancelled.
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The issuing authority will have to record the cancellation in the electronic OCI register.
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The provisions relating to Authority for revision of an order made under the Act has been revised as under:
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If a person applies for revision against an order related to their citizenship application, the revision will be decided by an authority one rank higher than the authority that handled the original application.
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If a person applies for revision against an order passed by an Indian Mission/Post or the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer regarding:
✓ registration as an OCI cardholder, or
✓ cancellation of OCI registration, the revision will be decided by an authority specified by the Central Government
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New provision relating Application of review of order made under the Act has been introduced whereby if a person applies for a review under Section 15-A, the Central Government will decide the application after giving the person a fair chance to present their case.
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Forms revised:
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Form XXIX relating to “Details to be incorporated in the Overseas Citizen of India card to be issued to the Applicant either in physical form or as e-OCI Registration”;
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Form XXX relating to “Register of persons registered as Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder under Section 7-A, renounced under Section 7-C and cancelled under Section 7-D of the Citizenship Act, 1955;
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Form XXXI relating to “Declaration of the Renunciation of the Card registered as an Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder/ e- OCI Registration under Section 7-C(1) of the Citizenship Act, 1955, made by an Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder;
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Form XXXII relating to “Acknowledgment”.
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Also Read:
Born in India = Citizen by Birth: Delhi High Court grants Passport Relief to Tibetan-origin woman
[Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2026, dt. 30 April 2026]
