A Malaysian citizen is eligible for OCI under section 7A of the Citizenship Act 1955 if a parent, grandparent or great-grandparent was an Indian citizen on or after 26 January 1950, or was eligible to become one, or if married to an Indian citizen or OCI for at least two years. Ancestry from before 1947 alone is usually not sufficient. Applications are filed online and processed through the High Commission of India in Kuala Lumpur.
- Document route
- Malaysian notary public, then Wisma Putra authentication and attestation by the High Commission of India, Kuala Lumpur
- Time difference
- Malaysia is 2h30 ahead of IST all year
- Law
- Citizenship Act 1955, sections 7A to 7D
- Spouse route
- Marriage registered, 2 years subsisting
OCI Card Issues from Malaysia: how it works
We start by reviewing the family documents: old Indian passports, birth or school certificates, land records naming ancestors, and Malaysian citizenship or birth records linking the generations. If a parent or grandparent held an Indian passport after 1950, the case is usually straightforward. Where the link is older, we look for evidence that the ancestor was eligible for Indian citizenship in 1950, which is difficult when the family has been in Malaysia since colonial times. Affidavits explaining the family tree are notarised in Malaysia and attested through Wisma Putra and the High Commission where needed.
Once the application is filed, the High Commission may ask for more documents or an interview. If it is refused, we review the reasons and advise whether a fresh application with better evidence or a legal challenge is appropriate. For existing cardholders, we advise on reissue after a new passport, on the activities OCI holders can undertake, and on responding to show cause notices or cancellation under section 7D. Cancellation affects property rights and travel, so it needs a prompt response.
What clients in Malaysia should know
- Malaysia does not allow dual citizenship, and OCI is not citizenship, so holding an OCI card does not affect Malaysian nationality.
- Applicants whose parents or grandparents were ever citizens of Pakistan or Bangladesh are excluded from OCI, which occasionally affects families with mixed histories.
- OCI cardholders can inherit any property in India, including agricultural land, but cannot buy agricultural land, plantations or farmhouses.
Step by step from Malaysia
Video consultation
A call at a time that suits Malaysia, after we have read your documents.
Documents signed in Malaysia
Malaysian notary public, then Wisma Putra authentication and attestation by the High Commission of India, Kuala Lumpur
Work in India
Our team files, appears and follows up in India, and shares scans of everything filed.
Result and handover
Certified copies and originals are couriered to you in Malaysia where needed.
The full guide
This page covers what changes when you are in Malaysia. For the law, the documents and the step-by-step procedure, read our main page on OCI Card Issues, or see all services for clients in Malaysia and the Cross-Border Family Law practice area.
Questions from clients in Malaysia
My family has been in Malaysia since 1920. Can I get OCI?
Probably not under the main rule, unless you can show that an ancestor was an Indian citizen or eligible to be one on or after 26 January 1950. We review the evidence before you apply.
Can my Malaysian spouse get OCI?
Yes, if you are an Indian citizen or OCI cardholder and your registered marriage has subsisted for two years or more. The spouse applies in their own right and must clear the usual security checks.
What documents prove my Indian origin?
An old Indian passport, Indian birth certificate or other official document showing Indian citizenship of a parent or grandparent after 1950 is the strongest evidence.