OCI Card, Aadhaar & PAN: The Complete Guide for UK & US Citizens of Indian Origin

For the millions of people of Indian origin living in the UK and US, three documents define your legal and financial relationship with India: the OCI card, Aadhaar, and the PAN card. Getting these right transforms your relationship with India — from tourist to near-resident, able to travel visa-free, open bank accounts, hold property, and engage fully with the country of your heritage.

Here is a complete, plain-English guide to all three.

OCI Card (Overseas Citizen of India)

What is it?

Despite the name, the OCI card does not grant Indian citizenship. It is a lifelong, multiple-entry travel document that gives holders near-permanent residency rights in India. Think of it as a permanent visa that never expires and never needs renewing.

Who qualifies?

You may be eligible for OCI if:

• You were an Indian citizen at any point after 26 January 1950
• Either of your parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents was an Indian citizen
• You are the spouse of an Indian citizen or existing OCI cardholder

British and US citizens can apply, with one key exception: citizens of Pakistan and Bangladesh are ineligible regardless of Indian heritage.

What does an OCI card give you?

• Lifelong, multiple-entry visa — no visa required, no limit on length of stay, no need to register with local police for any duration
• Right to work in India (with some restrictions — see below)
• Right to study in India on par with Indian nationals for most courses
• Right to open bank accounts, invest, and conduct financial transactions
• Right to buy non-agricultural property in India (agricultural land, plantation property, and farmhouses cannot be purchased)
• Parity with Indian nationals for domestic airfares, heritage entry fees, and many government services
• No income tax liability in India on foreign earnings (only Indian-sourced income is taxable)

What an OCI card does NOT give you

• The right to vote in Indian elections
• The right to hold certain government positions (civil service, defence)
• The right to purchase agricultural land or farmhouses
• Indian citizenship or an Indian passport

How to apply for an OCI card (UK applicants)

1. Apply online at the OCI portal: ociservices.gov.in
2. Complete the online application form and upload required documents
3. Pay the fee (currently around £285 for UK applicants via the Indian Visa and Consular Services portal)
4. Book an appointment at your nearest Indian High Commission or authorised Visa Application Centre (VFS Global handles OCI applications in the UK)
5. Submit original documents at your appointment
6. Allow 8–12 weeks for processing (it can be faster; it can take longer)

Documents required:

• Current foreign passport
• All previous passports (or a sworn affidavit if unavailable)
• Proof of Indian origin (parent's/grandparent's Indian passport, birth certificate, or naturalisation certificate)
• Proof of renunciation of Indian citizenship (your renunciation certificate, if applicable)
• Two recent passport-size photos (white background)

How to apply (US applicants)

The process mirrors the UK — apply through the OCI portal then attend an appointment at your nearest Indian Consulate or through a BLS International or Cox & Kings centre. The fee is approximately $275. Processing timelines are similar.

Aadhaar Card

What is it?

Aadhaar is India's national biometric identity system — a 12-digit unique identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). It links your fingerprints and iris scan to a permanent identity record and is used for everything from opening bank accounts to getting mobile SIM cards to accessing government services.

Can UK and US citizens get Aadhaar?

Yes — OCI cardholders who have been resident in India for 182 days or more in the preceding 12 months are eligible to enrol for Aadhaar. As of 2024, OCI holders are eligible to apply for Aadhaar on arrival — the 182-day residency requirement was amended specifically to extend access to the diaspora. However, the rules around eligibility continue to evolve — check the UIDAI website (uidai.gov.in) for the most current position.

Non-OCI foreign nationals are generally not eligible for Aadhaar.

Why would a UK or US OCI holder want Aadhaar?

• SIM card registration: Airtel and Jio require Aadhaar or passport for SIM biometric registration. Having Aadhaar makes this seamless.
• Bank accounts: Opening an Indian bank account (NRO or NRE account) is easier with Aadhaar as one of the KYC documents
• Property and legal transactions: Some property registrations, utility connections, and financial services in India require Aadhaar
• UPI payments: India's instant payment system is Aadhaar-linked for some verification flows
• Healthcare: Some hospitals and government health schemes are Aadhaar-linked

How to enrol

Visit an Aadhaar Seva Kendra (enrolment centre) in India — these are located at post offices, banks, and government buildings. Biometric data (fingerprints, iris scan, photograph) is collected at the centre. You will need your OCI card and foreign passport as identity proof.

PAN Card (Permanent Account Number)

What is it?

A PAN card is a 10-character alphanumeric tax identifier issued by the Indian Income Tax Department. Every individual who earns income in India, conducts financial transactions above certain thresholds, or files an Indian tax return requires a PAN.

Who needs one?

UK or US citizens (including OCI holders) need a PAN card if they:

• Have income from Indian sources (rent, salary from an Indian employer, business income, dividends)
• Buy or sell property in India (PAN is mandatory for property transactions above ₹50 lakh)
• Open certain types of Indian investment accounts
• Make cash transactions above ₹50,000 at a time
• File an Indian tax return

How to apply

Online: Apply via the NSDL portal (tin.tin.nsdl.com) or UTITSL (utiitsl.com). Foreign nationals select "Form 49AA" (rather than 49A, which is for Indian citizens). You will need:

• Passport as proof of identity and address
• OCI card (if applicable) as supporting identity document
• Proof of Indian address (if you have one — otherwise foreign address is accepted)
• A passport-size photograph

The application can be submitted online with documents uploaded, or you can use Form 49AA physically at a PAN application centre in India.

Processing time: 15–20 working days for the physical card; the PAN number is often allotted within 48 hours of application.

Fee: Approximately ₹107 (online) for delivery to an Indian address; ₹1,017 for delivery to a foreign address.

NRE and NRO Bank Accounts

If you have Indian income, a PAN card is the key to opening an NRO account (Non-Resident Ordinary — receives Indian income, subject to Indian tax) or an NRE account (Non-Resident External — holds foreign earnings, freely repatriable, tax-free in India). Major Indian banks including HDFC, ICICI, SBI, and Axis all offer these accounts to the diaspora.

Summary: Which Do You Need?

For most UK and US citizens of Indian origin planning regular visits, the OCI card is the single highest-impact document to obtain. Apply for it once, carry it alongside your passport, and India becomes home again — every time you land.