The mandatory requirement of Renunciation Certificate for processing of OCI application has been withdrawn.

Guidelines for re-issuance of OCI card

• Travel for OCI Card holders/Other Foreign Nationals to India/Registration OCI card needs to be re-issued each time a new passport is acquired by the cardholder up to the age of 20 years

• OCI card is required to be re-issued mandatorily only onceafter completing 50 years of age irrespective of the fact whether the cardholder has obtained a new passport or not.

• Re-issuance of OCI card is not required each time a passport is issued to a cardholder between 21 and 50 years of age. There is no mandatory requirement of carrying the old passport but may be advisable to carry as part of abundant precaution.

• Re-issuance of OCI card is strongly advisable in case of change of Nationality of the applicant from the last issued OCI. If the current nationality is Pakistan or Bangladesh, applicant should surrender his OCI to the nearest Indian Embassy /Consulate.

For further and latest guidelines please visit www.ociservices.gov.in

Travel for OCI Card holders/Other Foreign Nationals to India/Registration

Following categories of foreign nationals are permitted to enter India by water routes or by flights including those under the Vande Bharat Mission or 'air bubble' (bilateral air travel arrangements) scheme or by any non-scheduled commercial flights as allowed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation:-

a) All Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders and PIO card holders holding passport of any country.

b) All foreign nationals intending to visit India for any purpose (including their dependents on appropriate category of dependent visa) except those on Tourist Visa.

"All existing visas, except electronic visas (e-visas), Tourist visa and Medical visa which remained suspended shall stand restored with immediate effect. If the validity of such visa has expired, the foreign national may obtain a fresh visa of appropriate category/sub-category from the High Commission".

"Nationals of Nepal and Bhutan are permitted to come to India from any country (including any third country)".

FOREIGN NATIONAL COVERD UNDER ABOVE MENTIONED POINTS MAY KINDLY FILL UP THE EMERGENCY VISA APPLICATION FORM FOLLOWING THE LINK www.indianvisaonline.gov.in AND SEND IT TO visa.london@mea.gov.in.

Such OCI card holders covered under above points, do not need visa to travel to India. However, they are requested to register themselves at the following link:

FOREIGN SPOUSE CASES - PERSONAL INTERVIEW

Important information regarding submission of OCI application applying on ‘Foreign spouse’ category.

As per new OCI guidelines, it is now mandatory to have an initial verification interview of the applicants (foreign spouses) who are applying for OCI Card on the basis of Indian origin spouse. A personal interview shall be conducted by the Indian Mission/Post/FRRO concerned at the time of document verification and the application shall be acknowledged on the online system only after the personal interview and establishing the suitability of the applicant for registration as OCI card holder. The applicant and his / her spouse can visit the Consulate General of India, Birmingham, with prior appointment. The appointment can be sought on oci.birmingham@mea.gov.in

PIO Card

Important Information for valid PIO card holders

Extension of timeline for handwritten travel document/PIO cards

1. Application(s) for conversion of PIO card to OCI card are welcome until 31st December, 2021.

1. Handwritten travel document/PIO cards will be accepted as valid travel document along with valid foreign passport at all Indian Immigration Check Post(s) till 31st December, 2021.

1. All PIO cards will be considered valid for exit from/entry into India till 31st December, 2021, as last and final opportunity.

This extension of timeline is subject to the condition that if in the meantime any deadline is notified by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), hand written PIO cards will be invalid, and PIO cardholders may have to obtain appropriate visa from Indian Missions/Posts.

PIO Card holders were advised, from time to time, to convert PIO Card to OCI Card. PIO Card holders can apply online for conversion at http://passport.gov.in/oci/ and submit print of application, passport, specified photos, documentation, fees etc at the VFS Centre www.vfsglobal.com/India/UK ).The charges for conversion of PIO to OCI are £ 82/- plus VFS service charges.

OCI Card

Overseas Card of India (OCI) Brief

• If you have Indian passport of your own and have a surrender Certificate OR you have your Parents’ or Grand Parents’ Indian passport and can establish your relation with them , you can apply ;
• Also if your spouse is/was Indian Passport OR OCI holder , you can apply on his/her basis provided you have marriage registered not less than 02 years ;
• Minor children with single parent if they have custody papers from court and if the other parent is not Pakistani or Bangladeshi ;
• If you have noneof the above documents, you can still apply with a Nativity Certificate, issued by the State Gov. by District Collector/District Magistrate ;

• WHO CAN’T APPLY!!

• Military/Defence/Law personnel serving or retired cant apply ;
• If you, your parent, grandparent on whose basis OCI applied is/had been ever a citizen of Bangladesh or Pakistan then you can’t apply for OCI ;

Fill the online form, upload clear/professional and decent photo with signature, upload all documents of your eligibility/basis and take print, sign the application and submit to the nearest VFS centre (Bradford, Leicester, Birmingham, Liverpool or Manchester, whichever suits you!)

Fresh application: £ 218; PIO to OCI : £82; Miscellaneous Service( passport change/Address change /renunciation of OCI etc ) : £ 23 ; Lost OCI : £82; These are basic fees, VFS service charges not included.

Fees will be taken at VFS centre at the time of submission of application;

• For Fresh application –i.e First time OCI : 04-12 weeks ;
• For Misc OCI : 40 days ;

• CAN’T AVOID TRAVEL TO INDIA –ANY URGENCY??

• Apply for e-visa here:https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html

This one you will get online and will receive online( on email) within 72 working hours ; OR

• Apply for Emergency Visa here :https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/

Fill the form , take print and come to the Indian Consulate b/w 10am-12 noon any day with cash fee of £ 200/- and get your visa in an hour ; OR

• Drop us an email at inf.birmingham@mea.gov.in : Write your OCI file no( GBRB*****) and travel date in subject line ;

*** We make all the possible efforts to serve you the Best .Keep Patience, OCI is a Life-time Visa to India with numerous benefits ***

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  Consulate General of India
  2, Darnley Road,
  Birmingham B16 8TE