Everything you need to know about applying for an Overseas Citizen of India card from the United Kingdom. Documents, fees, photo specs, VFS appointment and timeline.
Last updated: March 2026 · 10 min read
An OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card is essentially a lifelong multiple-entry visa to India. If you're a British citizen of Indian origin — or your parents or grandparents were Indian — you're likely eligible. It lets you travel to India without applying for a visa each time, stay as long as you want, and enjoy most rights that Indian citizens have (except voting, government jobs, and buying agricultural land).
This guide covers the complete OCI application process from the UK, based on our experience helping 200+ families through VFS Global.
Quick summary: Fill the application on ociservices.gov.in → upload documents and photos → book a VFS appointment (London, Birmingham, or Edinburgh) → attend with originals → receive your OCI card in 6-8 weeks.
You can apply for OCI if you fall into any of these categories:
⚠️ Not eligible: Anyone whose parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents were citizens of Pakistan or Bangladesh. Also, if you currently hold Indian citizenship (even if just registered as a baby via Form I), you must first surrender/renounce that citizenship before applying for OCI.
The single biggest cause of OCI application rejection is the photo. The portal at ociservices.gov.in has extremely specific requirements that differ from standard UK passport photos:
Most high street photo shops don't offer 51×51mm photos. You can take your own photo against a white wall and resize it using free tools, but the portal is unforgiving — even slightly wrong dimensions cause rejection. Sorted handles photo resizing to exact specs as part of our service.
Select "New OCI Registration." Choose your place of submission as UK, and select the mission (London, Birmingham, or Edinburgh) closest to you.
Enter all details exactly as per your current British passport. The form has sections for personal details, passport details, and family details. Use BLOCK CAPITALS. Any mismatch between what you enter and your documents will cause rejection.
Upload your 51×51mm photo, signature scan, and all supporting documents. The portal can be slow and may time out — save your application reference number so you can resume if needed.
Pay the government fee online (currently around £215 for adults). Print the completed application form — it will have a barcode. Make sure the barcode prints clearly.
Book an appointment at your nearest VFS Global centre. Centres are in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, and other cities. Appointments can be booked online on the VFS website. Availability varies — book early, especially before holiday seasons.
Bring your printed application, all original documents, plus one set of photocopies. Adults (18+) must attend in person. Children under 18 don't need to attend — a parent can submit on their behalf. Pay the VFS service fee (approximately £7.44) plus optional courier fee at the counter.
Your application goes to the Indian High Commission for processing. You can track status online. Once approved, the OCI card is dispatched by post or available for collection. The card is a sticker placed in your passport plus a separate booklet.
These are government and VFS fees paid directly by you. If using an agent like Sorted, our service fee is separate and covers the application preparation, photo resizing, document checking, and appointment guidance.
This is one of the most common scenarios for NRI families. If your child was born in the UK and you want them to have OCI, the process depends on whether the child's birth was registered with India:
💡 Pro tip: Many families register the birth (Form I), get the Indian passport for early trips to India, and then later surrender and apply for OCI when the child needs a British passport. Our New Baby Complete bundle (£279) handles all three stages.
If you're under 20 and get a new passport, or if you've already done one re-issue after age 20, you just need to update your passport details online through the OCI portal's "Miscellaneous Services." This is free and takes 5-6 weeks to process. You can still travel to India while it's processing — carry both your old and new passports plus the OCI card.
Required once after you get a new passport after turning 20. This involves a VFS appointment and a new OCI sticker in your new passport. After this first re-issue post-20, future passport renewals only need the free online update.
If your OCI card is lost, stolen, or damaged. You'll need a police report for lost/stolen cards.
Typically 6-8 weeks from VFS submission. Clean applications with no errors are processed faster. Peak periods (summer, Diwali season) may take longer.
No. Your old Indian passport (if surrendered) is no longer valid, and the OCI hasn't been issued yet. You would need to apply for a tourist e-visa if you must travel urgently.
If your OCI card was linked to an old passport and you haven't updated it to your new passport yet, carry both passports plus the OCI card when travelling to India.
Yes, if you've been married for at least 2 years and the marriage is registered. The spouse will need an interview at the Indian High Commission before submitting the VFS application. We offer a dedicated OCI for Spouse service (£129).
PIO (Person of Indian Origin) cards were discontinued in 2015. All PIO cards are now deemed to be OCI cards, but it's recommended to convert them officially. We offer PIO to OCI conversion for £99.
Complete OCI application — form filling on ociservices.gov.in, 51×51mm photo resizing, document preparation, and VFS appointment guidance. 98% first-time approval rate.
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