At the 3rd Pravasi Bharatiya Divas held in Mumbai from January 7 to 9, 2005, the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, had announced overseas citizenship for Indians living abroad.

A major outcome of the 4th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, 2006, held in Hyderabad was the formal launching of the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) scheme.

Persons of Indian origin (PIOs) of certain categories who migrated from India and acquired citizenship of a foreign country other than Pakistan and Bangladesh, are eligible for grant of OCI as long as their home countries allow dual citizenship in some form or the other under their local laws.

Persons registered as OCI have not been given any voting rights, cannot contest in elections for Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, Legislative Assembly or Council and cannot hold constitutional posts such as President, Vice-President, Judge of Supreme Court or high court.

Registered OCIs shall be entitled to the following benefits:

• Multiple entry, multi-purpose life long visa to visit India.
• Exemption from reporting to the police for any length of stay in India.
• Parity with NRIs in financial, economic and educational fields except in the acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties.