OCI Information

You should submit your OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) application at the VFS India Consular Application Centre.

Important Notes:

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

Apply for OCI Services

While applying for an OCI, it is mandatory for former Indian nationals to provide Certificate of Renunciation of Indian citizenship. If you do not have the Renunciation Certificate, please apply for it first and after getting the renunciation certificate, please apply for OCI.

Eligibility for registration as OCI Cardholder:

  1. Following categories of foreign nationals are eligible for registration as Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Cardholder:
    1. Any person of full age and capacity:
      1. who is a citizen of another country, but was a citizen of India at the time of, or at any time after the commencement of the Constitution i.e. 26.01.1950; or
      2. who is a citizen of another country, but was eligible to become a citizen of India at the time of the commencement of the Constitution i.e. on 26.01.1950; or
      3. who is a citizen of another country, but belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15.08.1947; or
      4. who is a child or a grandchild or a great grandchild of such a citizen;
      1. Who or either of whose parents or grandparents or great grandparents is or had been a citizen of Pakistan, Bangladesh or such other country as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify.
      2. Foreign Military/Police personnel either serving or retired.

      Before you start “New OCI Registration” on Govt. Website

      • 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.

      Prerequisites

      • Kindly be ready with Applicant's image and Applicant's signature image (Max size 500kb).
        • The height and width of the Applicant Photo must be equal.
        • The minimum dimensions are 200 pixels (width) x 200 pixels (height).
        • The maximum dimensions are 1500 pixels (width) x 1500 pixels (height).
        • The height and width of the Signature Photo must have aspect ratio 1:3.
        • The minimum dimensions are 200 pixels (width) x 67 pixels (height).
        • The maximum dimensions are 1500 pixels (width) x 500 pixels (height).

        After Registration

        • 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 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.

        Guidelines for Shipping Service & its packaging

        • VFS offered courier service via UPS - points to note
          • You can select and pay for VFS provided courier service at the time of paying the fee online on VFS website.
          • Please enclose only one application per package. Don’t enclose multiple applications in the same package.
          • If used VFS offered courier service via UPS, Max. weight limit per package should be less than 0.5 Lbs & its a signature not required service.
          • Pick-up from home/ office service is not included in the price. If you use any additional service, please ensure you make a separate payment directly with UPS.
          • Only UPS Pak, UPS envelope or or UPS reusable envelope packaging can be used while shipping your application to the VFS Indian Consular Application Centre. Do not use UPS box or tube. Additional charges will apply if any other type of packaging is used which must be paid before your application is processed.
          • Your return shipping address must match with the proof of address submitted as part of your application.
          • VFS won't be responsible for any delays or damages if packages are in transit for inbound or outbound couriers.
          • FedEx pre-paid labels are not acceptable to return your documents.
          • Return address on the shipping label must match the address on the application form. Do not provide shipping address of Courier stores or Hold at Location stations.
          • We don’t accept USPS pre-paid labels having expiry date limitation.
          • Since our agreement of services is with UPS only, we cannot guarantee collection of your shipment by any other service provider from our officeYou are responsible for tracking your package and schedule a pick up from the VFS Consular application Centre once ready.
          • VFS won't be responsible for any delays or damages if packages are in transit for inbound or outbound couriers.

          Policy - Return of incomplete documents after 20 days.

          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 or Consulate General of India. Applicants should contact the Embassy of India or Consulate General of India directly to receive their original documents, once VFS returns the original documents to the Embassy of India or Consulate General of India. In this scenario, only the Consular and ICWF fee will be refunded post deduction of applicable postal charges (if applies).

          Policy – Additional documents after 07 days.

          Additional documents: If the additional documents are not completed within 07 calendar days then Embassy/Consulates 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 $15.90 per application
          D Optional Fee Courier Service, SMS etc.


          Note: Online payment/ Payment by card (s) convenience charges @3.5% will be charged over and over the total payment. We accept Master Card, Visa only If paying by Money order or Banker or Cashier check, then it should be made in favor of “VFS Services (USA) Inc.

          Documents Required

          Mandatory or Non-Mandatory Adult Minor Foreign Spouse
          MANDATORY Document checklist for Foreign national - previously Indian passport holder (adult)
          Document checklist for Foreign national by birth and never held Indian passport (adult)
          		Document Checklist for Foreign national - previously Indian passport holder (minor)
          Document Checklist for Foreign national by birth and never held Indian passport (minor)          		 Document Checklist for Foreign spouse applicant
          MANDATORY - Parental Authorization Sworn Affidavit