5 Things OCI Card Holders Cannot Do in India

25 Apr 2026 · 1 min

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This content was created by Pratibha Sharma. This content was uploaded by Pratibha Sharma. This is a YouTube video titled "5 Things OCI Card Holders Cannot Do in India" (uploaded 2026-04-25). It's an informational/reel-style clip with a single presenter addressing OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cardholders and listing five legal limitations: (1) no voting in national, state, or local elections, (2) no government/public service jobs (with rare exceptions like IITs, IIMs, AIIMS), (3) cannot purchase agricultural land/farmland/farmhouses (inheritance allowed), (4) special permits required for protected areas/activities such as journalism or mountaineering, and (5) OCI cards can be cancelled for criminal sentences, fraud, or security threats. The speaker stresses that OCI is a lifelong visa, not citizenship, and urges viewers (NRIs) to share the information.

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If you are an OCI cardholder, stop right there. There are 5 things you cannot legally do in India with an OCI card, and number 3 is going to shock everyone of it. Number 1, you cannot vote. Not in national, state, or even local elections voting is allowed for OCI cardholders. OCI is not a citizenship. Point number 2, no government jobs for our OCI cardholders. Public service posts are off the limit. Rare exceptions are IITs, IIMs, AIIMS, and that's it. Number 3, and this is the big one, you cannot buy agricultural land, farmland, or a farmhouse with your OCI card. Although residential and commercial properties are there, buy as many as you want, but agricultures are banned under FEMA for OCI cards. However, if you've inherited the banned properties from your parents or grandparents, that's okay, but the fresh purchases are not allowed. Number 4, you need special permits for protected areas such as journalism or mountaineering. Number 5, your OCI card can be cancelled. Over 190 OCI cards has been revoked since 2014. 2 years criminal sentence, fraud, or security threats, and that's gone forever. OCI is a lifelong visa and not a citizenship. So save this reel, follow us, and send it to every NRI you know.