Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) is a lifetime visa-cum-residence status granted to persons of Indian origin under Section 7A of the Citizenship Act 1955. The Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, issues OCI cards with a unique alphanumeric U-number. Indian missions abroad and the OCI Services portal handle fresh applications, miscellaneous services (re-issue on new passport, change of address) and surrender. Banks, employers and immigration authorities verify OCI authenticity by entering the U-number, passport number and date of birth on the portal. Re-issue is mandatory when an OCI cardholder gets a new passport before age 20, between ages 20 and 50, or after age 50.