1 Decide if you need to apply eligibility

Confirm eligibility — former Indian citizen, child / grandchild of one, or spouse of an Indian / OCI

Identify which trigger applies — new OCI, after passport renewal (re-issue), turning 20, or lost card

Locate your jurisdiction — VFS Global (US, UK, EU, AU) or CKGS — service provider depends on country

2 Photo & signature — the trap do this first

Photo: 2×2 inches, white background, full face, no shadows, no glasses, no smile

Photo file: JPEG, 200KB-1MB, 600×600 pixels for upload

Signature on plain white paper, black ink only, scanned as JPEG (10-50KB)

For minors under 5 — signature box should be left blank; thumb impression not accepted

3 Documents to gather scan everything

Current foreign passport — bio page + last page (must have 6+ months validity)

Old Indian passport — bio + last + observations pages, OR surrender certificate if naturalised

Proof of foreign address — utility bill, lease, or driver's licence

For minors — both parents' OCI / Indian passports + birth certificate showing both names

For minors — notarised parental consent affidavit from both parents

Marriage certificate (if applying as spouse) + spouse's Indian passport / OCI

4 Online application ociservices.gov.in

Fill Part A + Part B at ociservices.gov.in — names must match passport exactly (including middle initials)

Upload photo + signature (rejection rate is highest here)

Note application reference number — you'll need it for VFS / CKGS booking

5 Submit + receive VFS / CKGS

Print signed application + arrange documents in VFS / CKGS-specified order

Pay fees + courier money order — VFS won't accept personal cheques

Track via VFS / CKGS portal — typical processing: 8-16 weeks

On receipt — verify name, DoB, photo, parents' names. Errors must be reported within 30 days

Carry the OCI card with current passport on every India trip — both checked at immigration

⚠️ Common issues + how to avoid them

The 5 reasons OCI applications get rejected

Photo specs mismatch (60-70% of rejections). Most common: photo edges cropped, glasses on, smile visible, off-white background, file size outside 200KB-1MB. Use a passport-photo studio that knows OCI specs — don't DIY with a phone.
Signature on minors under 5. The signature box must be left blank for children under 5. Thumb impressions are explicitly not accepted and trigger immediate rejection.
Missing surrender certificate. If the applicant naturalised after 1950, the original Indian passport must be surrendered first via VFS / CKGS (separate process, takes 4-6 weeks). OCI cannot be issued without proof of surrender.
Name mismatch. Names across current foreign passport, old Indian passport, and OCI application must match exactly — including middle initials, hyphens, and order. A wife's "maiden name" appearing on old Indian passport but married name on US passport requires a marriage certificate as supporting proof.
Personal cheque payment. VFS / CKGS only accept money order or cashier's check. Personal cheques are returned and the application stalls. Use USPS money order — it's the cheapest accepted form.

If the application is rejected, the fee is forfeited and you re-apply from scratch. Expect another 16 weeks. Get the photo and signature right the first time.

The OCI checklist that won't get rejected.

The 5 reasons OCI applications get rejected

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