OCI Card Checklist & Fee Generator

India does not recognize dual citizenship. The official Indian and VFS OCI guidance requires former Indian nationals who acquired foreign citizenship to complete the applicable surrender/renunciation process and provide the required Surrender/Renunciation Certificate before applying for OCI.

The current VFS USA OCI page lists a $275 OCI registration fee, $3 ICWF fee, and $19 VFS service fee, giving a $297 core published fee. A 3.75% online/card payment convenience charge and courier/optional service charges may apply separately.

The current BLS Canada page lists $371 CAD plus a $5 ICWF charge, for a $376 CAD consular-fee total, plus a $1.70 CAD processing fee and applicable courier charges. Applicants should verify the exact current amount on the BLS jurisdictional page before payment.

The official OCI FAQ requires a square photograph of at least 51 × 51 mm with about 80% face coverage, a plain light-colour background (not white), minimum 200 × 200 pixels and maximum 900 × 900 pixels, JPEG/JPG format, and a maximum file size of 200 KB. The signature image must also be JPEG/JPG, with a 1:3 aspect ratio and maximum size of 200 KB.

Biometric capture of fingerprints and facial image, where technically feasible, is mandatory under the OCI rules, with exemptions for applicants above 70 and below 12. Applicants applying abroad may provide biometrics at the application/document-verification stage or, where permitted, at an Immigration Check Post on arrival in India. Canada has an additional current BLS requirement that OCI applications submitted there from 5 April 2026 be submitted in person because biometrics are required.

An OCI Cardholder generally has to get the OCI Card re-issued once when a new passport is issued after completing 20 years of age. For new passports issued up to 20 years of age, and once after completing 50 years of age, the new passport and latest photograph may generally be uploaded online under OCI Miscellaneous Services within three months on a gratis basis. Foreign-spouse OCI cardholders have a separate requirement to upload the new passport and latest photograph each time a new passport is issued.

Yes. A foreign spouse of an Indian citizen or an OCI Cardholder registered under Section 7A may apply when the marriage has been registered and has subsisted continuously for at least two years immediately preceding presentation of the application. Spouse-basis applicants are subject to prior security clearance and mandatory personal interview/verification.