NRI Voter ID Card: Eligibility & Application Steps

The eligibility criteria to apply as an NRI voter ID are as follows: 

1. The applicant should be an Indian citizen and should not have taken citizenship of any other country. 

1. The applicant should be at least 18 years old. 

1. The applicant should have a valid Indian residential address. 

1. The applicant should have a valid Indian passport. 

1. The passport page containing the identity and address details needs to be attested by a competent officer of the Indian Mission in the country of residence. 

1. The applicant should not be enrolled as a voter in any other Indian constituency. 

Documents required to apply for an NRI Voter ID

The below-listed documents are required to apply for an NRI voter ID: 

1. Multiple copies of recently clicked passport-sized photographs. 

1. Valid Indian passport. 

1. Self-attested copy of your Indian passport. 

1. Original and copy of visa permit. 

1. Form 6A 

1. Proof of Indian residence. 

Do note that the above-listed documents are in general, and you may be requested additional documents when applying for a voter ID. Additionally, all the documents will have to be submitted as photocopies of the original records. If you are an NRI applicant sending the documents by post, then ensure that they are duly attested by authorised officials of the Indian Mission or Embassy in the country of residence. 

NRI Voter ID Online Procedure

The procedure is quite simple to apply for an NRI Voter ID. To apply online, follow these simple steps:Step 1: Visit the ECI website, and go to your state election commission of India division by choosing your state or union territory. 

Step 2: Select Form 6A and download it. 

Step 3: Print the form and fill it in. 

Step 4: You will need to fill in your details as mentioned in your documents and passport. 

Step 5: Your passport needs to be attested by a competent office of the Indian Mission in the country in which you are currently residing. 

Step 6: Scan your filled- in form, along with a copy of your attested passport and other documents.

Step 7: If online registration is available for your area, you can create a login ID and password. This will allow you to complete the form, upload scanned documents, and submit your application entirely online. 

Step 8: If you do not have this option, you can send these soft copies to the email of the State Election website. 

Applying for NRI Voter ID Offline

If you wish to apply for your NRI Voter ID offline, you need to visit an Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) in India, fill out the form, submit your documents and make the application. If you wish to make the application from outside of India, some amount of online activity is required. You can download and print the form from the ECI website. Fill it in, and then scan it. Scan all the documents required and then post it to the address on the website.

How do NRIs cast their vote during Indian Elections?

At present, the Indian government allows NRI to cast their vote only in person. If you are an NRI, holding a voter ID, then you will have to travel to the constituency you are registered in, to cast your vote. 

Points to remember when applying for an NRI voter ID

The below-listed are some of the points which you should make a note of when applying for an NRI voter ID: 

1. It is important to ensure that you are eligible to apply for an NRI voter ID. You should be a citizen of India, residing outside for business, education, employment or any other valid reasons and must not have acquired foreign citizenship. 

1. You should apply through a valid form. You need to submit form 6A if you need an NRI voter ID. 

1. You should ensure that you have a valid Indian passport, and it should be attested by a competent officer of the Indian Mission in the country of residence. 

1. You should not be registered as voter in any other constituency of India. 

1. You should have multiple copies of recently clicked passport-sized photographs.