Revised rules for OCI cardholders and minor children holding two passports: Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2026 notified

May 2, 2026

Synopsis
New Citizenship Rules for 2026 are here. Minor children cannot hold two passports. OCI registration is now digital, with e-OCI cards. Applying for OCI is fully online. Renouncing or cancelling OCI cards has clear electronic procedures. Biometric data can be used for fast immigration. These changes simplify processes and enhance digital record-keeping for citizenship matters.

The government has notified the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2026, and has introduced a set of changes related to the existing Citizenship Rules, 2009. The new rules came into force on April 30, 2026, the date they were published in the official gazette.

The new rules mainly highlight provisions related to minor children holding two passports, introduction of electronic OCI registration, Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card surrender, renunciation, cancellation and the simplification of forms and procedures for citizenship.

Let’s see which rules have changed in Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2026

Strict rule for minor children holding Indian passports

As per a major policy clarification added in Rule 3, a minor child simultaneously cannot hold a passport of another country while also holding an Indian passport.

As per the Ministry of Home Affairs notification, “Provided that the applicant in such cases shall note that the minor child cannot at any time hold the passport of any other country while also holding the Indian passport.”

Introduction of e-OCI and digital records

Registered OCI cardholders will be issued an OCI card in physical form or as electronic (e-OCI) registration, which will contain details as in Form XXIX. The issuing authority must maintain a record of OCI cardholders in electronic form, says the notification.

OCI applications to be fully online

The government has streamlined the process of applying for an OCI card. Services like OCI application registration, OCI card renunciation declarations, issuance of acknowledgements and electronic record maintenance will be available online.

The gazettee said that Application Form XXVIII must be submitted electronically on the official website, https://ociservices.gov.in, in order to register as an OCI cardholder under Section 7A.

Clear process for OCI card renunciation

As per the new rules, renunciation of an OCI card must be filed electronically on the portal. If someone already has an OCI card in the physical form, the cardholder must submit it. Authorities will issue an electronic acknowledgement after the submission of such a card and the applicant’s name will be removed from official records.

Updated rules for cancellation of OCI registration

If the government passes the order to cancel the OCI card, the cardholder needs to surrender the card in its physical form. They need to deliver the physical card to the government for cancellation.

The OCI card will be cancelled upon the delivery to authorities. However, if it is not delivered, the central government may direct that it should be treated as cancelled.

In case of an e-OCI card, if the government passes an order to cancel it, the registration will be considered cancelled. Authorities will update the cancellation of the card in its electronic records.

Appeals and review mechanism added

If a person files an appeal with reference to their citizenship, such an application will be disposed of by an authority one rank higher than the authority specified for the disposal of the citizenship application.

If a person files an appeal against the order related to their registration or cancellation of the OCI card, a central government-specified authority will dispose of the application.

However, authorities can dispose of such applications only after giving a reasonable opportunity to the affected person to present their case.

Biometric consent

Individuals need to give their consent to share biometric information captured for OCI card registration for their registration under the Fast Track Immigration Programme whenever they submit their application to avail such a programme.

People should also give content to consider their automatic registration under the Fast Track Immigration Programme using their such biometric data.

List of revised rules under Citizenship Amendment Rules, 2026 

[The Economic Times]