OCI Card Reissue Guidelines

OCI Card Reissue Guidelines

OCI Card Reissue Guidelines

OCI CARD RE-ISSUE GUIDELINES

(1) WHEN TO APPLY FOR RE-ISSUE OF OCI CARD:

  1. If the OCI cardholder acquired OCI card before attaining the age of 20 years and has obtained new passport after attaining the age of 20 years.
  2. If the OCI card is lost or damaged.
  3. If there is change in name for whatever reasons, including change in name after marriage.
  4. If there is change in nationality, provided the new nationality is not that of Pakistan or Bangladesh.
  5. If there are any errors in the existing OCI card. The OCI cardholder needs to provide suitable proof for carrying out necessary correction.

Note : The OCI miscellaneous application may be sent to VFS Global. Applicants may refer to https://services.vfsglobal.com/usa/en/ind/apply-oci-services for the process. The fee for this service is as under:

(2) WHEN RE-ISSUE OF OCI CARD IS NOT NEEDED / ONLINE UPDATION IS SUFFICIENT:

  1. OCI cardholder is required to upload ONLINE a copy of the new passport and a recent photo each time a new passport is issued up to 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age. The uploading of these documents may be done within three months of receipt of new passport.
  2. Foreign spouse of an Indian citizen or spouse of foreign origin of an OCI cardholder is required to upload a copy of the new passport and a recent photo ONLINE each time a new passport is issued, along with a declaration on subsisting of marriage, copy of the Indian passport of the Indian spouse / passport and OCI card of the OCI cardholder spouse.
  3. Similar exercise may be done in case of change in address or occupation. However, if an OCI cardholder joins foreign Military/Police service, he/she must renounce the OCI card to the nearest Indian Embassy/Consulate or to the jurisdictional FRRO, if the OCI cardholder is in India.

Note: Please visit https://ociservices.gov.in/welcome and select the option ‘OCI Miscellaneous Services (Passport Particulars Updation)’ for uploading copy of the passport, recent photograph and other documents. This does not involve any submission of documents through the Outsourcing Service Provider or the Embassy. The service will be gratis.

https://services.vfsglobal.com/usa/en/ind/apply-oci-services for the process). The fees for this is US$ 25 and US$ 3 for Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF). You also need to pay US$ 15.90 to the Outsourcing Agency as service charge, and a fee for any Optional Services used like Shipping Labels;

(iii) OCI cardholder is required to upload ONLINE a copy of the new passport and a recent photo each time a new passport is issued up to 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age. The uploading of these documents may be done within three months of receipt of the new passport;

(iv) Foreign spouse of an Indian Citizen or spouse of foreign origin of an OCI cardholder is required to upload a copy of the new passport and a recent photo ONLINE each time a new passport is issued, along with a declaration on subsisting of marriage, copy of the Indian passport of the Indian spouse/passport and OCI card of the OCI cardholder spouse.

[In case of (iii) and (iv), please visit https://ociservices.gov.in/welcome and select the option ‘OCI Miscellaneous Services’ for uploading copy of the passport, recent photograph and other documents. This does not involve any submission of documents through the Outsourcing Service Provider or the Embassy and will be Gratis].

2. Further, on account of ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, in order to avoid inconvenience to OCI cardholders who are required to get their OCI cards reissued, it has been decided by Government of India to extend the timeline for re-issuance of OCI card from December 31, 2021 till December 31, 2022.

3. The requirement of carrying old and new passports, along with the OCI card, has been done away with. Henceforth, an OCI cardholder traveling on the strength of existing OCI card bearing old passport number is not required to carry the old passport. However, carrying the new (current) passport is mandatory.