Documents required to be submitted at the time of making application either at the OCI Counter, High Commission of India, London or BY Post:

(i) Application Form: OCI being an Internet-based process. All applicants have to apply by online registration through Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India website http://mha.nic.in/uniquepage.asp?Id_Pk=553.
Important steps:

• Once you fill up Part-A online, Save, and give Print command. Part-A with online registration number (GBRLI....., not GBRLone) will be printed along with Part-B blank form.
  
  
• Part-B can be written by hand in BLOCK LETTERS or printed.
  
  
• For each family application Part-B is common to all applicants of the family up to a maximum of four. Separate applications are required for any other additional members.

In case the space provided is not sufficient, additional sheets may be used for providing requisite details.

(ii) Photograph

One photograph (51x51mm with 80% coverage of face) should be pasted on the application form. Photograph should be of light colour background (not white) with front pose, both shoulders and both ears visible.

(iii) Photocopies of the first page, photo page, all observation pages of valid British/Foreign Passport and ID card are also required.

(iv) Copy of Naturalization /Registration Certificate

(v) Indian Origin Proof

(a) For a person born in India

Surrender Certificate

OCI applicants should surrender their Indian Passports in one of the VFS centres (http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/surenderind_pass.html) and submit copy of Surrender Certificate along with the OCI application.        

Applicants who have ever held an Indian Passport but are unable to produce the same for surrender for any reason (loss/misplacement/submitted to UK Home Office long time back) are required to furnish a notarised affidavit in original (if Passport is already expired) and also a Police Report (in cases where Indian Passport was still valid). Also a Police Report (in cases where Indian Passport was still valid)

PLUS

• Photocopy of the first page, photo page, last page and other pages having any observations of valid/cancelled Indian Passport of parents/grandparents
                                      OR

• Copy of Surrender Certificate of Indian passport of self/parents/grandparents

                                              OR

• NATIVITY CERTIFICATE

                                              OR

• Birth certificate from Indian Municipality/Panchayat with stamp/seal

                                              OR

• Copy of school certificate (along with other supporting documents) by which eligibility may be reasonably ascertained. A copy of authorised English translation of the certificate, if it is not in English/Hindi should accompany such documents. Plus Documentary evidence of relationship with parents/grandparents, if Indian origin is being claimed on their basis.

All documents must be self-attested by the applicant. For minors a parent must self-attest the photocopies. When signing on the photocopies of the documents please mention "Self Attested" and sign with name & date.

(b) For a person born outside India

Full Version birth certificate mentioning parents name with parent’s Indian origin proof such as Indian passport copy or birth certificate from India.

These documents are required to connect relationship/clarification (where applicable)

• Marriage Certificate.
  
  
• Change of name/appearance affidavit by Consular Section of High Commission of India, London/Notary Public/Oath Commissioner.
  
  
• Birth Certificate from Indian Municipality or Panchayat. For applicants born in UK, full version Birth Certificate from Registrar of Births/Local Borough. For any other foreign-born applicant Birth Certificate must be in full version and it has to be translated in Hindi/English by a reputed and registered translation authority.
  
  
• Recently issued birth Certificate from Municipality/Panchayat etc., invariably certified by the Indian First Class Magistrate of the area with name, stamp, seal and contact telephone numbers with area code for verification.
  
  
• School Leaving Certificate, at least Secondary School onwards from required Board. Post dated School Certificate/School Leaving Certificate from India should be authenticated by Director of Education/First Class Magistrate of the area with name, stamp, seal and contact telephone numbers with area code for verification.
  
  
• If the applicant is making application on the basis of documents of parents or grandparents, documentary relationship proof must be provided. In case of documents of parents/grandparents being used, only Indian Passport copies or Indian Birth Certificate copies are acceptable.
  
  
• Domicile Certificate of the applicant or of his/her parents/grandparents issued from concerned Competent Authority in India i.e. District Magistrate/Collectors/Sub Divisional Magistrate of the District/Sub Divisions, may also be accepted as a proof of Indian Origin.

NOTE: All original documents should be kept ready for verification on  demand, at the time of submission of OCI application.

Full signature in the box should be provided in case of major. Thumb impression (left hand thumb for male & right hand thumb for female) or signature should be provided in case of minor.

• Applicant will be responsible for any correction/omission
  
  
• Full Version birth certificate needed for link between parents.
  
  
• Laminated document will not be accepted
  
  
• GBRB (Birmingham) application/s will not be accepted in HCI, London.
  
  
• Non-UK passport holder should give residential address in respective country and such cases require more processing time.
  
  
• OCI cannot be applied on the basis of spouse's Indian origin.
  
  
• At the time of filling of application please fill London station.
  
  
• If you are sending more than one application, please send one detailed letter with details of all applications (with amount & GBRLI nos.)
  
  
• Please do not send the original UK Passport with the application.
  
  
• If the supporting documents are not satisfactory applicant will be asked to provide more Documentary evidence.

It is an offence to knowingly furnish false information or to suppress material information when applying for OCI.

Status Report: Applicants are expected to track the progress of the OCI application at https://passport.gov.in/oci/OnlineOCIenquiry.jsp  after 3-4 weeks of submission of application (to check the online status you have to mention your passport number along with Online Registration number or Reference / Acknowledgement number.

Applicants should obtain a token at token counter at the High Commission at the time of collection of OCI Card/visa. The following documents may be submitted at the token counter on a working day between 0830 to 1200 hrs only:

a) Print out of on-line status report

b) British, or Foreign Passport

c) PIO card (If holding)/ OCI card [Where transfer to new passport is involved]

d) Applicants for miscellaneous OCI services should submit old OCI Card and old Passport for cancellation at the time of collection of new OCI documents.

OCI cards/visa will be ready for collection same day between 4.30pm and 5.00pm only. If the applicants are unable to collect OCI documents in person, they can receive them by post. Couriers/Agents are not allowed to submit/collect documents at the OCI counter.

BY POST: For collecting OCI Certificate by Post, the applicant must send documents at (a), (b), (c), & (d) above, along with Special Delivery Self Addressed/stamped Envelope. When sending please address it to OCI Section by Special Delivery Post. High Commission will not be responsible for loss of documents sent by Post.

• £172.00 (£170+£2) for each OCI (fresh) application including minors
  
  
• £18.00 (£16+£2) for ADULT & £92.00 (£90+£2) for Minor or Minor to adult PIO card holders. 
  
  
• £18.00 (£16+£2) for changing any details in the card and transferring visa to the New Passport. [Procedure: online through Miscellaneous registration]
  
  
• £64.00 (£62+£2) for lost/damaged OCI documents/stickers.
  
  
• £9.00 (£7+£2) for Observation

Note: The above is inclusive of an additional fee of £ 2.00 per application, which is collected as 'Consular Surcharge' for all OCI services. The additional fee is duly reflected in the receipts issued to the applicant.

• Applicants who are not found fit for OCI will be refunded £130/- after deducting the administrative costs.

• Applicants by Post may pay only through crossed postal orders in favour of 'High Commission of India, London'. [The online registration no. (GBRLI.....not GBRLone) of each application should be written on the reverse side of postal orders.]  

• Cheques/Drafts/Cash by Post are not accepted. High Commission will not be responsible for any Cash sent by Post.

Issue of Tokens for submission of OCI applications	1230 – 1430 hrs
Opening of Counters & submission of OCI application	1300 – 1600 hrs
Issue of OCI tokens for collection & submission of Passport	0830 – 1200 hrs
Collection of OCI Cards / Visa	1630 – 1700 hrs

• Registration is to be done through online registration at MHA website (http://mha.nic.in/ uniquepage.asp?Id_Pk=553).
  
  
• New Passport Number is to be given for transfer of OCI Card to new Passport or in case of loss/damage.

• Applicants have to show their old Passport and old OCI Card at the time of submission of application in the counter.
  
  
• Applicants applying from previous nationality to another nationality have to cancel the previous OCI Sticker and OCI Card at the time of submission of their new application for Miscellaneous OCI Services.
  
  
• Applicants should fill up new Passport number not the old Passport number to avoid problems.
  
  
• OCI card will be printed & pasted on the Passport whose details are given/filled in the application form.
  
  
• Applicants should enclose old OCI Sticker page photocopy of Passport and old OCI Card copy along with copy of new Passport.

Given below are answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). In case you still have a query, please send an email to att.oci@hcilondon.in

1. Do I have to fill all columns when filling up the application online?
   
   Yes. It is mandatory that no column is left unanswered.
   
   
2. What are the eligibility criteria for minor applicants to get OCI?
   
   One of the parents should be eligible for OCI.
   
   
3. Are laminated documents accepted for submission?
   
   No.
   
   
4. Are Birth Certificates issued by one of the African countries wherein the Nationality of parent is mentioned as Indian accepted?
   
   Yes, provided it is authenticated by the Indian Mission/Post in that African country on production of sufficient proof in this regard.
   
   
5. Are Foreign Passports issued in African countries, in respect of parents, wherein the place of birth of holder is mentioned as India accepted as a proof of Indian Origin?
   
   Yes, if they are authenticated by the Indian Mission/Post in that country.
   
   
6. Are 'Empire of India' Passports issued by the British authorities in India prior to Indian Independence accepted as a proof of Indian Origin?
   
   No, if they state the National Status of the holder as British subject by birth. Yes, if they state the National Status of the holder as person of British Protectorate, originally a citizen of a place in India.
   
   
7. Are letters issued by the Indian Mission/Post in an African country in respect of parents/grandparents etc. stating that the applicant was once a citizen of India accepted as proof of Indian Origin?
   
   Yes.
   
   
8. Can I submit my OCI application through an agent?
   
   No. For security reasons, OCI applications are accepted at the Counter from the applicants only and not through third party. Those who cannot come may send applications by post along with self-addressed envelope for sending back documents if required. Passport submitted through agents would be confiscated.
   
   
9. Is there an emergency service for OCI?
   
   No. If you are travelling in the near future and have an emergency, please apply for visa.
   
   
10. What is the processing time of application?
    
    Around 5-6 weeks . Applicants are required to check the status on MHA website at the following link: http://mha.nic.in/uniquepage.asp? Id_Pk=553. No separate intimation will be sent to the applicant about the status of their application.  Once the status shows "Documents received at London" with date, applicants should take action to collect the documents as per collection procedure.
    
    
11. How long will it take for my OCI card to be ready?
    
    We expect the OCI cards to be ready for collection at High Commission of India, London in approximately 5-6 weeks. No enquiry would be entertained before 6 weeks from date of submission of application.
    
    
12. I am an OCI holder. What documents should I carry while travelling to India?
    
    OCI holders should carry both (a) the Passport bearing 'LIFE LONG' Visa Sticker and (b) the OCI booklet. In case this Passport has expired, there is no need to transfer 'LIFE LONG' Visa to the new Passport, but the new Passport is to be carried along with items (a) & (b). Applicants are welcome to apply for transfer, but it will take the same 5-6 weeks as in the case of fresh applications.
    
    
13. The status of my OCI document in the online status enquiry is ‘Granted’ and but has not been printed even after a week. What is the problem?
    
    This means that the photograph uploaded could not be printed in Delhi. To rectify this, please take a copy of the status report and paste a fresh photograph (51x51mm with 80% coverage of face) on the left hand below the status report copy & sign (thumb impression in case of infants) on the right hand side opposite to the photo and submit it at token counter of High Commission or send by post. This will be scanned and uploaded again. This process is likely to take a further period of up to two weeks and the progress can be watched through status enquiry
    
    


14. Facing problems relating to access to online registration for fresh application or transfer through miscellaneous registration. What should I do?
    
    Please read all instructions contained in Ministry of Home Affairs Website: (http://mha.nic.in/uniquepage.asp? Id_Pk=553) with special attention to items: BROCHURE, F.A.Q. & F.A.Q.OCI MISCELLANEOUS, etc, therein. If problems persist, please contact Dr. B. N. Shetty by email shettybn@nic.in to sort out problems faced. The High Commission is an end-user like any other applicant and cannot assist in this regard.
    
    
15. Can OCI applications be made in India?
    
    Yes. Any applicant wishing to apply in India may see details at Item no.6 at the Ministry of Home Affairs website https://passport.gov.in/oci/OnlineOCIenquiry.jsp
    
    
16. What is the Postal address for OCI applications to be sent by Post to the High Commission?
    
    OCI Section, High Commission of India, Aldwych, London, WC2B 4NA, Postal applications may take two weeks to be acknowledged though efforts will be made to process all postal cases within the overall time of 6 weeks. No telephone calls to get acknowledgement would be entertained.