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Quick answer: people of Indian origin in the UK apply for OCI online on the OCI portal, upload their photograph, signature and supporting documents, print the application and attend a VFS Global appointment for biometric enrolment. The government fee for a fresh registration is £215 plus a £3 welfare fee, before VFS charges. London indicates about 5 to 6 weeks for an Indian-origin, minor or lineage application and about 10 to 12 weeks for a foreign-spouse application. Once the application is approved, you access an e-OCI online. OCI is not citizenship, but it gives lifelong multiple entry travel to India.
This is general information, not legal advice. OCI rules changed in 2026, including the introduction of the e-OCI, so check the OCI portal, the High Commission and VFS before you apply. This guide is independent and is not affiliated with any mission or VFS Global.
Who can apply: a short screening table
Not everyone described as being of Indian origin qualifies. The official OCI portal sets the conditions (see the OCI portal). Check each row against your own documents.
| Route | Key conditions |
|---|---|
| Own eligibility | You were eligible to become a citizen of India on 26 January 1950, or belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15 August 1947, and you meet the other conditions. |
| Descendant | You are a child, grandchild or great-grandchild of such a person, subject to the statutory conditions and a documentary chain that proves each link. |
| Minor | A minor whose parents are Indian citizens, or whose parent or grandparent meets the conditions. |
| Spouse of foreign origin | The spouse of an Indian citizen or OCI holder, with a registered marriage that has subsisted continuously for at least two years immediately before the application. |
| Former Indian citizen | You hold a foreign passport and have surrendered the Indian passport, with the applicable surrender evidence. |
- Anyone who has ever been a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh is not eligible. The exclusion also extends to relevant parents, grandparents and great-grandparents, not only to the applicant.
- If you hold a former PIO card, conversion to OCI was discontinued after 31 December 2025. Former PIO holders now need to use New OCI Registration.
Choose your application category
The category decides the documents and the processing time. The four categories used on the High Commission’s checklist are a former Indian passport holder, an applicant relying on ancestry, a minor, and a foreign spouse. Pick the one that matches your main basis for applying, and read the checklist for that category before you start.
Fees
| Service | How to read it |
|---|---|
| New OCI registration | £215 government fee plus £3 welfare fee, plus applicable VFS charges |
| Routine miscellaneous updates | Generally free of charge under the e-OCI system. Check the current High Commission rules for the service you need |
| Passport update after 90 days | £20 government fee, plus the welfare fee and applicable VFS charges |
| Lost physical booklet | You can access your e-OCI online. Do not assume an old replacement booklet fee applies |
- The VFS overview page lists a service charge of £7.44. That is a VFS charge, separate from the government fee and from any optional services.
- Older pages and blogs show different fresh registration amounts, such as £200, £218 or £231, and old miscellaneous fees such as £82 or £73. Use the amounts on the current High Commission fee page.
Documents by category
Every applicant needs UK address evidence, and non British applicants need the applicable UK immigration status evidence. Keep three things apart: the originals you take to the appointment, the files you upload, and the copies you submit. The High Commission’s checklist is the source for the exact list for your category.
| Category | Main evidence to prepare |
|---|---|
| Former Indian passport holder | Your current foreign passport, evidence of naturalization or registration, the former Indian passport and the applicable surrender evidence. The checklist has a specific alternative evidence route for some applicants who acquired foreign nationality before June 2010, so do not assume an identical surrender certificate requirement for every historical case. |
| Applicant relying on ancestry | Evidence of Indian origin, plus birth certificates linking each generation to the person who establishes your eligibility. |
| Minor | The child’s documents, the parents’ documents, birth and relationship evidence, and the applicable consent or custody records. In a single parent case, do not assume that a court order and a notarised consent letter are interchangeable. Follow the checklist. |
| Foreign spouse | Registered marriage evidence, your spouse’s status as an Indian citizen or OCI holder, consent, and supporting identity documents. |
- Foreign birth certificates need an apostille or attestation, and non English documents need translations. Indian marriage certificates come from the Registrar.
- A UK notarised affidavit if your name differs between documents, or a deed for a formal name change.
- Adults need an employer letter, or proof of last employment, or company registration for businessmen.
Photographs and signature
- The physical photograph is 2 by 2 inches (51 by 51 mm), in colour, with a plain light background, head height about 25 to 35 mm, and no glasses.
- The digital upload has its own specification on the portal, so follow the current portal instructions for the image file. A signature or thumb impression on a white background is needed. Under 5 uses a thumb impression and 5 and over a signature.
Online uploads and submission
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Fill in the form on the OCI portal for the jurisdiction you live in. Forms older than 180 days have to be filled again. |
| 2 | Upload the photograph, the signature or thumb impression and all the supporting documents required for your category. Check the uploads before final submission, then print the completed application and sign the undertaking. VFS says the supporting document uploads are mandatory and that physical copies are still required. |
| 3 | Book your VFS appointment and arrange the fees. |
| 4 | Attend the appointment with the originals and the printed application (see attendance below). |
| 5 | Track the application on the OCI portal. Once it is approved, follow the notification and portal instructions to access your e-OCI. Follow the separate instructions for the return of any original documents. |
Attendance, biometrics and spouse interviews
Applicants aged 12 to 70 should plan to attend for biometric enrolment under the published UK VFS notice, which made enrolment mandatory for OCI applicants in that age range from 18 May 2026. Check the appointment instructions for exemptions or alternative arrangements. Do not assume that every applicant under 18 is exempt from attendance. The general OCI FAQ discusses biometric exemptions and alternative capture arrangements nationally, and those are separate from the UK appointment instructions. No exemption is approved for you until the appointment instructions say so.
For a foreign-spouse application, London describes a separate appointment and an in-person interview with the applicant and the spouse, followed by payment arrangements if the application is eligible. Those are the London instructions, not a UK wide promise, so confirm them with the mission that covers your address.
Processing and tracking
| London application category | Published approximate period |
|---|---|
| Indian-origin, minor or lineage application | 5 to 6 weeks |
| Foreign-spouse application | 10 to 12 weeks |
These are approximate periods from the High Commission London. Incomplete applications take longer. Track the application on the OCI portal and watch your email for notifications.
Accessing your e-OCI and updating your passport later
The Government of India launched an e-OCI on 30 June 2026 for new applicants and existing booklet holders (see the Embassy of India notice). After approval, the High Commission explains how to generate the e-OCI online and notifies you by email. A physical card is not needed for immigration, and existing OCI booklets remain valid.
When you get a new passport, update the particulars through OCI miscellaneous services within 90 days of the new passport’s issue. Later submissions attract the applicable fee. The detailed procedure is in the guide to e-OCI and passport updates.
If you are surrendering an Indian passport first
Former Indian citizens need the applicable surrender evidence before OCI. Use the High Commission’s own surrender instructions (see the High Commission of India, London). The guide to renewing an Indian passport in the UK is for readers who remain Indian citizens and need to renew, not for surrender.
After you have OCI
- OCI is not citizenship. It gives lifelong multiple entry travel to India on your foreign passport. Rules on property and other rights are different, so see the guide to the documents NRIs need for Indian property and the NRI property buying guide.
- If you plan to buy agricultural land, see the guide to OCI holders and agricultural land.
- If you want to settle in India, see the guide to returning to Navi Mumbai.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is an OCI application in the UK?
The government fee for a fresh registration is £215 plus a £3 welfare fee, before VFS charges. The VFS overview lists a £7.44 service charge. Check the current High Commission and VFS pages before you pay.
How long does OCI take from the UK?
London indicates about 5 to 6 weeks for an Indian-origin, minor or lineage application and about 10 to 12 weeks for a foreign-spouse application. Incomplete applications take longer.
Can I apply for OCI after becoming a British citizen?
Yes, if you were an Indian citizen you first surrender the Indian passport and then apply with the applicable surrender evidence. Follow the High Commission’s surrender instructions.
Do I have to attend the VFS centre?
Applicants aged 12 to 70 should plan to attend for biometric enrolment under the published UK VFS notice. Check the appointment instructions for exemptions or alternative arrangements, and do not assume every applicant under 18 is exempt.
What is the e-OCI?
A digital version launched on 30 June 2026. After approval you access it online, and existing OCI booklets stay valid. Update your passport details within 90 days of a new passport being issued to avoid a fee.
Can a spouse of an Indian citizen get OCI?
Yes, where the marriage is registered and has subsisted continuously for at least two years immediately before the application, and the other conditions are met. London describes a separate appointment and an in-person interview with both spouses.
Sources
| Point | Source |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | OCI portal |
| Fees, categories, processing and surrender | High Commission of India, London |
| VFS charge, uploads and appointments | VFS Global UK OCI page |
| e-OCI | Embassy of India notice on OCI updates |
Reviewed on 2 November 2026. OCI rules, fees and procedures change, so check the OCI portal, the High Commission and VFS before you apply.
NaviMumbai.com is an independent information site and is not affiliated with any government body.
