OCI Information
OCI Types
You should submit your OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) application at the VFS India Consular Application Centre.
Important Notes:
- Read the information available on all the tabs thoroughly before applying.
- If you have ever held Indian Citizenship, then it is mandatory to complete Renunciation of Indian Citizenship or Surrender of Indian Passport/ is the first step to complete before applying for OCI Visa. If you have not yet renounced your Indian Citizenship, then you must apply for Renunciation before applying for the OCI.
- Once application is submitted to the Embassy/ for processing , please track the progress on GOI link https://ociservices.gov.in/statusEnqury . VFS team cannot offer any additional update on status till the OCI card is received back at our office from the Embassy
Select the visa type that is right for you to see important information on visa fees, documents required, forms, photo specifications and processing times.
New OCI Registration
-
Overview
Who is eligible to apply for OCI?
A foreign national, who was eligible to become a citizen of India on 26 January 1950 or was a citizen of India on or any time after 26 January 1950 or belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15 August 1947 and his/her children and grandchildren, provided their country of citizenship allows dual citizenship in some form or the other under the local laws, is eligible for registration as an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI). Minor children of such a person are also eligible for OCI. However, if the applicant had ever been a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh, he/she will not be eligible for OCI.
Can the spouse of the eligible person apply for OCI?
A spouse of eligible person can apply if he/she is eligible in his/ her own capacity. Further, spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign origin of an Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder registered under section 7A of the Citizenship Act, 1955 and whose marriage has been registered and subsisted for a continuous period of not less than two years immediately preceding the presentation of the application can apply.
Can children of parents, wherein one of the parents is eligible for OCI, Can apply for OCI?
Yes. Children can apply on the basis of the parent/s who is/are eligible for OCI. OCI Card should not be granted to a minor child whose one parent is eligible for OCI and the other parent is or was ever a Pakistani or Bangladeshi national.
What documents would qualify for "Any other proof" for evidence of self or parents or grandparents being eligible for grant of OCI?
Any documentary evidence by which the Officer equivalent to Under Secretary to the Government of India in the Indian Mission/Post can diligently arrive at the decision. Documents may vary from person to person depending on the personal circumstances.
-
- Check your eligibility before you start your registration.
- If you are already an OCI Card Holder, kindly use OCI Miscellaneous Services.
- If you are a PIO Card Holder, kindly register through OCI Registration (In Lieu Of Valid PIO-Card).
- If you are a PIO Card Holder and card is in lost state, kindly register through OCI Registration (In Lieu Of Lost PIO-Card).
- To reprint your already registered application, kindly use 'Re-Print Submitted Application' service.
- In case of urgent travel, applicants may apply for appropriate visa.
-
- After submission of online application, a copy of the application form will be printed with an Online Registration Number.
- Application form, complete in all respects, along with all relevant enclosures and requisite fee should be paid at the VFS India Consular Application Centre
-
Incomplete application: If the application is not completed within 20 calendar days, then VFS will return your application unprocessed. In this scenario, the Consular and ICWF fee will be refunded. Photocopy documents received after 20 days will be shredded and originals if any received will be returned to the Embassy of India. Applicants should contact the Embassy of India directly to receive their original documents, once VFS returns the original documents to the Embassy of India. In this scenario, only the Consular and ICWF fee will be refunded.
-
Additional documents: If the additional documents are not completed within 07 calendar days then Embassy may stop processing your application. In this scenario, no fees will be refunded.
-
-
OCI Fees & Documents Required
Fees and Charges
A New OCI Card Fees $275 B ICWF – Indian Community Welfare Fund $3 C VFS Service Fee $3.2 per application
Documents Required
Processing Times
Processing time if 6 weeks from the date application reaches to the Embassy/ Consulate.
OCI Registration (In Lieu of Valid PIO card)
-
Overview
-
- Check your eligibility before you start your registration.
- If you are already an OCI Card Holder, kindly use OCI Miscellaneous Services.
- If you are an PIO Card Holder, kindly register through OCI Registration (In Lieu Of Valid PIO-Card).
- If you are an PIO Card Holder and card is in lost state, kindly register through OCI Registration (In Lieu Of Lost PIO-Card).
- To reprint your already registered application, kindly use 'Re-Print Submitted Application' service.
- Bureau of Immigration (BoI) was accepting PIO cards as valid travel document till 30th September, 2019 along with valid foreign passport. PIO cards are no longer valid to travel. You must apply for OCI.
- In case of urgent travel, applicants may apply for appropriate visa.
-
- After submission of online application, a copy of the application form will be printed with an Online Registration Number.
- Application form, complete in all respects, along with all relevant enclosures and requisite fee should be paid at the VFS India Consular Application Centre
-
- Incomplete application: If the application is not completed within 20 calendar days, then VFS will return your application unprocessed. In this scenario, the Consular and ICWF fee will be refunded post deduction of applicable postal charges (if applicable). Photocopy documents received after 20 days will be shredded and originals if any received will be returned to the Embassy of India. Applicants should contact the Embassy of India directly to receive their original documents, once VFS returns the original documents to the Embassy of India. In this scenario, only the Consular and ICWF fee will be refunded post deduction of applicable postal charges (if applies).
-
Additional documents: If the additional documents are not completed within 07 calendar days then Embassy may stop processing your application. In this scenario, no fees will be refunded.
-
-
OCI Fees & Documents Required
Fees and Charges
A OCI Registration (In lieu-of valid PIO card) Fees Adult - $ 25
Minor – $ 145B ICWF – Indian Community Welfare Fund $3 C VFS Service Fee $3.2 per application
Documents Required
Processing Times
Processing time if 6 weeks from the date application reaches to the Embassy/ Consulate.
OCI Registration (In lieu of LOST/Damaged PIO card)
-
Overview
-
- Kindly register through OCI Registration (In Lieu Of Valid PIO-Card).
- If you are an PIO Card Holder and card is in lost state, kindly register through OCI Registration (In Lieu Of Lost PIO-Card).
- To reprint your already registered application, kindly use 'Re-Print Submitted Application' service.
- Bureau of Immigration (BoI) was accepting PIO cards as valid travel document till 30th September, 2019 along with valid foreign passport. PIO cards are no longer valid to travel. You must apply for OCI.
- In case of urgent travel, applicants may apply for appropriate visa.
-
- After submission of online application, a copy of the application form will be printed with an Online Registration Number.
- Application form, complete in all respects, along with all relevant enclosures and requisite fee should be paid at the VFS India Consular Application Centre
-
- Incomplete application: If the application is not completed within 20 calendar days, then VFS will return your application unprocessed. In this scenario, the Consular and ICWF fee will be refunded post deduction of applicable postal charges (if applicable). Photocopy documents received after 20 days will be shredded and originals if any received will be returned to the Embassy of India. Applicants should contact the Embassy of India directly to receive their original documents, once VFS returns the original documents to the Embassy of India. In this scenario, only the Consular and ICWF fee will be refunded.
-
Additional documents: If the additional documents are not completed within 07 calendar days then Embassy may stop processing your application. In this scenario, no fees will be refunded.
-
-
OCI Fees & Documents Required
Fees and Charges
A OCI Registration ( In lieu-of LOST/Damaged PIO card) Fees $200 category B ICWF – Indian Community Welfare Fund $3 C VFS Service Fee $3.2 per application
Documents Required
Processing Times
Processing time if 6 weeks from the date application reaches to the Embassy/ Consulate.
OCI Miscellaneous services
OCI Card Reissue Guidelines
Please refer the advisory - OCI Card Re-issue Guidelines
-
Overview
-
- Check your eligibility before you start your registration.
- To avail Miscellaneous Service, you must be an existing OCI Card Holder
- This service can be availed for re-issuance / issuance of duplicate OCI documents in the following category of cases:
- In case of issuance of new passport.
- In case of change of personal particulars viz. name, father’sname, nationality etc.
- In case of change of address/occupation
- In case of urgent travel, applicants may apply for appropriate visa. In case of urgent travel, applicants may apply for appropriate visa.
-
- After submission of online application, a copy of the application form will be printed with an Online Registration Number.
- Application form, complete in all respects, along with all relevant enclosures and requisite fee should be sent to the VFS India Consular Application Centre as per the Consular Jurisdiction in whose jurisdiction the applicant is ordinarily residing irrespective of the fact whether the same Indian Mission/Post/Office has issued the original OCI documents or not
-
- Incomplete application: If the application is not completed within 20 calendar days, then VFS will return your application unprocessed. In this scenario, the Consular and ICWF fee will be refunded post deduction of applicable postal charges (if applicable). Photocopy documents received after 20 days will be shredded and originals if any received will be returned to the Embassy of India. Applicants should contact the Embassy of India directly to receive their original documents, once VFS returns the original documents to the Embassy of India. In this scenario, only the Consular and ICWF fee will be refunded post deduction of applicable postal charges (if applies).
-
Additional documents: If the additional documents are not completed within 07 calendar days then Embassy may stop processing your application. In this scenario, no fees will be refunded.
-
-
OCI Fees & Documents Required
Fees and Charges
A OCI Misc. Services Fees $25 B ICWF – Indian Community Welfare Fund $3 C VFS Service Fee $3.2 per application
Documents Required
Processing Times
Processing time if 6 weeks from the date application reaches to the Embassy/ Consulate.
OCI in lieu of Damaged/Lost OCI Card
-
Overview
-
- Check your eligibility before you start your registration.
- To avail OCI in lieu of Damaged/Lost OCI card Service, you must be an existing OCI Card Holder and should select “OCI Miscellaneous services on Govt. Portal
In case of urgent travel, applicants may apply for appropriate visa. In case of urgent travel, applicants may apply for appropriate visa.
-
- After submission of online application, a copy of the application form will be printed with an Online Registration Number.
- Application form, complete in all respects, along with all relevant enclosures and requisite fee should be sent to the VFS India Consular Application Centre as per the Consular Jurisdiction in whose jurisdiction the applicant is ordinarily residing irrespective of the fact whether the same Indian Mission/Post/Office has issued the original OCI documents or not
-
Incomplete application: If the application is not completed within 20 calendar days, then VFS will return your application unprocessed. In this scenario, the Consular and ICWF fee will be refunded post deduction of applicable postal charges (if applicable). Photocopy documents received after 20 days will be shredded and originals if any received will be returned to the Embassy of India. Applicants should contact the Embassy of India directly to receive their original documents, once VFS returns the original documents to the Embassy of India. In this scenario, only the Consular and ICWF fee will be refunded post deduction of applicable postal charges (if applies).
-
Additional documents: If the additional documents are not completed within 07 calendar days then Embassy may stop processing your application. In this scenario, no fees will be refunded.
-
-
OCI Fees & Documents Required
Fees and Charges
OCI In lieu of Damaged/Lost OCI Card
A Duplicate OCI card in case of loss/damage of OCI document $100 B ICWF – Indian Community Welfare Fund $3 C VFS Service Fee $3.2 per application
Documents Required
Processing Times
Processing time if 6 weeks from the date application reaches to the Embassy/ Consulate.
Cancel OCI Card
-
Overview
-
- Check your eligibility before you start your registration.
- To avail Cancel OCI Card service, you must be an existing OCI Card Holder
-
Incomplete application: If the application is not completed within 20 calendar days, then VFS will return your application unprocessed. In this scenario, the Consular and ICWF fee will be refunded post deduction of applicable postal charges (if applicable). Photocopy documents received after 20 days will be shredded and originals if any received will be returned to the Embassy of India. Applicants should contact the Embassy of India directly to receive their original documents, once VFS returns the original documents to the Embassy of India. In this scenario, only the Consular and ICWF fee will be refunded.
-
Additional documents: If the additional documents are not completed within 07 calendar days then Embassy may stop processing your application. In this scenario, no fees will be refunded.
-
-
OCI Fees & Documents Required
Fees and Charges
A OCI Misc. Services Fees $25 B ICWF – Indian Community Welfare Fund $3 C VFS Service Fee $3.2 per application D Optional Fee Courier Service, SMS etc.
Documents Required
Processing Times
Processing time if 6 weeks from the date application reaches to the Embassy/ Consulate.