OCI APPLICANTS ARE REQUESTED TO SURRENDER THEIR INDIAN PASSPORTS TO PASSPORT SECTION AS PER INSTRUCTIONS CONTAINED ON OUR WEBSITE [“Public notice-NOTICE” ON HOME PAGE] AND SUBMIT COPY OF SURRENDER CERTIFICATE ALONGWITH THEIR OCI APPLICATIONS. THOSE APPLICANTS WHO HAVE EVER HELD INDIAN PASSPORTS AND ARE UNABLE TO PRODUCE THE SAME FOR SURRENDER FOR ANY REASON (LOSS/ MISPLACEMENT/ SUBMITTED TO HOME OFFICE LONG TIME BACK) ARE REQUIRED TO FURNISH A NOTARISED AFFIDAVIT IN ORIGINAL(IF THE PASSPORT IS ALREADY EXPIRED) AND ALSO POLICE REPORT (IN CASES WHERE INDIAN PASSPORT WAS STILL VALID).

[FOR SECURITY REASONS OCI APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED AT THE COUNTER, FROM THE APPLICANTS 0NLY AND NOT THROUGH THIRD PARTY.  THOSE WHO CANNOT COME MAY SEND BY POST WHICH WILL RECEIVE DUE PRIORITY—INCONVENIENCE REGRETTED]

Applications for OCI service can be made at the OCI Services counter at the High Commission between 0915 to 1300 hrs on all working days.   Tokens will be issued to all applicants without limit from 0830-1200 hrs.  at the token counter.  

The application fee of £165/-(in cash/postal order) for each applicant, including minors, can be paid at H C I London.  Applicants by postmay payonly through crossed postal orders in favour of ’High Commission of India, London’.  [The reference number (GBRLI……not GBRL1) of each application should be written on the reverse side of postal orders.] Cheques/drafts are NOT accepted. Postal applications may take 20 to 30 days for us to acknowledge. Though we will try to process all postal cases within the overall time of three months. So please do not telephone to get acknowledgement - inconvenience is regretted.

We expect the OCI cards to be ready for collection at HIGH commission of India, London in approximately  12 weeks and we request that no enquiry should be made before 12 weeks from date of submission of application. THERE IS NO EMERGENCY SERVICE FOR OCI.  Applicants having urgent travel schedule should take visa, otherwise travel only after receiving OCI documents. 

Non-UK passport holders should give residential addresses of respective countries and such cases require more processing time.

SUBMISSION OF OCI APPLICATIONS AT HCI LONDON

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

1. 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. Please click item 8 from top-Online Registration.  Once you fill up part-A online, save, and give print command, part-A with online registration number (GBRLI……, not GBRL1) 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. No column is to be left unanswered. Two separate sets of application forms (each set, complete in all respects along with relevant enclosures), must be submitted at HCI London by applicants themselves OR can be sent to OCI Department by post. 

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

3. Photographs: Two photographs [51x51mm, (WITH 80% COVERAGE BY FACE) should be pasted in the application form.  Photographs should be of light colour background (not white) with front pose, both shoulders and both ears visible.

4. List of enclosures: All documents in 2 separate sets of photocopies and each page self-attested by the applicant. For minors the Parent must self-attest the photocopies.   When signing on the photocopies of the documents please mention as "Self Attested" and sign with name & date.  [All original documents may be kept ready for verification on demand, while processing]. Eligibility for minor applicants: one of the parents should be foreign passport holder.

1. Photocopies of the photo page of valid British Passport. If the applicant is holding any other foreign passport, photocopy of the first page, photo page, all observation pages of the passport and ID card are also required.
   
   
2. Photocopy of the first page, photo page, last page and other pages having any observations of valid/cancelled Indian passport of parents/grand parents OR copy of Surrender Certificate of Indian passport of self/parents or grandparents OR nativity certificate orbirth certificate from Indian Municipality/Panchayat with stamp/seal OR copy of school certificate / land ownership 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.
   
   
3. Naturalization /Registration Certificate
   
   
4. Documentary evidence of relationship as parents/grand parents, if Indian origin is claimed on that basis.

OTHER SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO CONNECT RELATIONSHIP /CLARIFICATION (WHERE APPLICABLE)

• Marriage certificate where required.
  
  
• Change of name / appearance affidavit if required, by Consular Section of High Commission of India, London/Notary Public/Oath Commissioner.
  
  
• Birth certificate from Indian Municipality or from 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 Reputed and Registered translation authority.
  
  
• Post dated birth certificate from Municipality/Panchayat etc., affidavit to this effect should invariably be 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.

• £165.00 for each OCI application including minors
  
  
• £18.00 for ADULT & £95.00 for MINOR PIO card holders. 
  
  
• £18.00 for changing any details in the card and transferring visa to the    New Passport. [Procedure: online through Miscellaneous registration]
  
  
• £. 65.00 for lost/damaged OCI documents/stickers.  [Procedure: online through Miscellaneous registration]  
  
  
• Applicants found not eligible for OCI will be refunded £130/- after deducting the administrative costs. No refund in the case of PIO cardholders.

Note: 1 Miscellaneous registration: to be done through miscellaneous registration below online registration at MHA website (http://mha.nic.in/ uniquepage.asp?Id_Pk=553 , item 17), new ppt. number to be given for transfer to new ppt. or in case of loss/damage.

Note: 2 while travelling to India, it is important for OCI holders to 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 their new passports, but can carry the new passport along with items (a) & (b).  Applicants are welcome to apply for transfer, but it will take the same 12 weeks as in the case of fresh applications.

Note: 3 when the status of an OCI document in the online status enquiry is GRANTED and NOT PRINTED EVEN AFTER A WEEK, please note 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 (upto 1200 hrs. only) or send by post to OCI Department by special delivery.  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.

Note: 4   Applicants facing problems relating to access to online registration for fresh application or transfer through miscellaneous registration are requested to 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, vide shettybn@nic.in. to sort out problems faced. HCI London, being end-user like any other applicant, cannot offer solutions in this regard, but can only advise the applicant to send mail as above, inconvenience regretted.

Addresses of OCI offices in India : Any applicant wishing to apply in India, while in India, may see item no.6 (at the Ministry of Home Affairs website given above), may like to contact them.

Renunciation/Surrender of Indian Passports