India implements revised OCI fee structure and application rules; check fees, process, key requirements

The Bureau of Immigration of India has implemented a revised fee structure for Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) services. A fresh OCI application now costs $275, payable in the equivalent of Indian Rupees. For applications submitted within India, a fee of Rs 15,000 must be paid via Demand Draft in favour of “Pay and Accounts Officer (Secretariat), Ministry of Home Affairs” payable at New Delhi.

For applications submitted outside India, a Demand Draft of $275 per applicant or the equivalent in local currency is required. This arrangement will remain in place until an online payment system is introduced.

Charges for reissuance and updates

Reissuance of an OCI card costs $25, whether due to changes in personal details or when the cardholder turns 20 years of age. In cases of lost OCI cards, the reissuance fee is $100.

Applicants must update passport details within 3 months of receiving a new passport. Updates made after this period will incur a late fee of $25. Renunciation of the OCI card also carries a fee of $25.

If an OCI registration is refused, $250 or its equivalent will be refunded. The remaining $25 is a non-refundable processing fee. For applications submitted in India, Rs.1,400 will be retained as a non-refundable processing charge.

Required documents for application

Applicants must submit proof of present citizenship along with evidence of eligibility based on Indian origin. This may include proof that the applicant or their parents or grandparents were eligible to become citizens of India at the commencement of the Constitution, belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15th August, 1947, or were citizens of India on or after 26th January, 1950.

Supporting documents may include a passport copy, domicile certificate, or other proof such as residence certificates, birth certificates, school records, or agricultural land ownership documents. Applicants must also provide evidence of relationship to parents or grandparents if claiming Indian origin through them.

PIO card holders are required to submit a copy of their PIO card along with the application and the applicable Demand Draft fee.

Application submission process

Applications must be sent by Speed Post or Registered Post only and not through courier services to the relevant Indian Mission or Post in the applicant’s country of citizenship. If the applicant resides in another country, the application should be sent to the Indian Mission or Post of that country.

Applicants in India must submit their applications to the designated FRRO offices, including Amritsar, Bangalore, Kozhikode, Chennai, Kochi, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Mumbai, Kolkota, and Thiruvanathapuram, depending on jurisdiction.

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, immigration, or tax advice.