Indian government expands OCI card eligibility to 5th, 6th, and 7th generations of South African descendants

THE Indian government has extended the application for an Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card to the descendants of the fifth, sixth and seventh generations of people of Indian origin who arrived in South Africa as migrants, indentured labourers and traders from India.

This initiative expands the scope that previously limited OCI applications to the fourth generation.

The OCI card allows the cardholders multi-entry to India, along with benefits such as being able to own real estate and make other investments in the country.

In an effort to assist potential applicants, Selvan Naidoo of the 1860 Heritage Centre in Durban, will host an online workshop on Tuesday, November 25, from 6.30pm to 7.30pm to explain how to trace indentured roots in South Africa and ways to find the indentured ship's number for the OCI application.

According to the office of the High Commission of India in Pretoria, the applicant has to prepare the complete family tree establishing lineage to the Indian ancestors. This involves sourcing supporting documents from South African archives in Durban and Pietermaritzburg that maintain digitised ship lists and original records, which are certified by the South African authorities.

Applications will be accepted from December 1.

SUNDAY TRIBUNE