OCI Card Application
- Processing Time: 5-6 Weeks
- Government Fees: $ 176
- Visament Fee: $ 100
- Validity: Lifelong
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An Apostille certificate is one of the key requirements for an overseas citizen of India (OCI) living in the UK, US, Canada, or any other foreign country, when applying for an OCI and possessing a birth or marriage certificate from that country. It is a simplified form of international documentation accepted by countries that are part of the Hague Convention to avoid unauthorized foreign papers. With this certificate, you do not need to follow further legalisation of public documents. Are you also interested in applying for an OCI card and looking for someone who can assist you in obtaining an apostille certificate? Then do not need to visit other websites as you are at the right place. At Visament, we offer professional apostille services for OCI-related applications to individuals worldwide. It includes gathering documents from PAN India and other foreign countries, getting the apostille stamp from the issuing authorities, to delivering them back to you. Still confused why an apostille is vital for OCI and why we are the right choice for your apostille services? Read on and you will get your answers.
An apostille is a way of checking the authenticity of the documents you provided to another country from your home country. For example, an apostille stamp validates the designations and sealants of officials on public forms, such as documents provided after marriage and birth to you by the government or validated by a foreign diplomat. It becomes more important when a foreign citizen of Indian origin applies for an OCI card who has a birth or marriage certificate issued by a foreign authority. Having an apostille stamp on your documents proves that:
This is why, during an OCI application, you need an apostille birth certificate or marriage certificate. Also, the apostille stamp should be provided by the country where it was originally issued. For instance, if you are born in Canada and have a Canadian birth certificate, then before applying for the OCI card, you need to get the stamp from the issuing authority of Canada.
Still not convinced? Moving further, let's know the role of the apostille birth certificate and the apostille marriage certificate in the OCI application.
If you have a foreign birth certificate issued in the UK, the US, or Canada, before Applying for an OCI Application, you need to get it apostilled. As mentioned above, having an apostille stamp on the documents issued by the foreign authority serves as proof of the authenticity of that document. Like India, Canada, the US, and the UK, these countries are also part of the Hague Convention.
So, being an OCI, if you are applying for an OCI card based on the Indian origin of your parents or grandparents, and using your birth certificate issued in any of the above-mentioned foreign countries, then first you need to get it apostilled. Furthermore, here is why you need an apostilled birth certificate during your OCI application:
If you are applying for an OCI card based on your spouse's status, you must provide your marriage certificate during the OCI application process. Additionally, if the marriage certificate is issued in other country other than India, then before applying for the card, first you need to get an apostille stamp on it. The key reason to have an apostilled marriage certificate by your side is that it serves as proof that you and your partner have a spousal relationship. Another reason to have an apostilled marriage certificate is the fact that it is one of the requirements of an OCI application to have the name of your spouse if you are applying for the card on the basis of marriage. This makes it important to provide proof of the relationship you share with him/her.
So, in simple words, an apostilled marriage certificate for OCI application certifies that the provided document is issued by a reliable authority of the country that is part of the Hague Convention and can be used when applying for an OCI card.
This is all about the role of both the apostilled birth and marriage certificates for the OCI application. Now, let's know the documents required when applying for the apostille stamp.
The documents needed to get an apostille certificate when applying for an OCI card depend on two things. First, on your OCI application type, i.e., whether you are applying for the card on your parents' basis or marriage basis. Secondly, depends on whether Indian officials or foreign officials issue the documents. If Indian officials issue the documents, then you do not need an apostille stamp on them. Moving ahead, let's know the required documents based on your OCI application type:
These are the documents based on your OCI application type that you need to get an apostille stamp if issued by any foreign authority. Additionally, you cannot get an apostille stamp on a marriage certificate issued by any religious body or on a birth certificate given by any hospital. To get the apostille stamp on your document, the document must be issued by a reliable government official of that country.
Moving ahead, let's know who issues the apostille stamp in different foreign countries.
The Hague Convention states that only the competent authorities designated by the member countries can issue the apostille certificate. Considering this, from country to country, the issuing authority of the apostille certificate varies. In many foreign nations, the authority to provide the apostille stamp is given to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or similar bodies. In India, the competent official for issuing the apostille certificate is the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Moving further, let's know in the UK, the US, and Canada who issues the apostille certificate to people.
In the United Kingdom, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is the competent authority that issues an apostille certificate. In the UK, FCDO has the complete authority to legalize all the sourced documents of the UK, after which one can use them in other nations that are part of the Hague Convention.
In the United States of America (USA), there are two government bodies that are given the authority to issue the apostille certificate. In this, the first is the State Secretary who provides the apostille stamp on the documents issued by the state. Additionally, the second is that the U.S. Department of State (USDOS) issued the apostille stamp on the documents issued by the federal government. So, in the USA, the granting of an apostille certificate depends on the issuing authority.
In Canada, depending on where the document was notarized or issued, either Global Affairs Canada (GAC) or a provincial competent authority issues the apostille certificate.
These are apostille issuing authorities in popular countries like the US, UK, and Canada.
Like the issuing authority, the process to get the apostille certificate also varies in different countries that are part of the Hague Convention. To know, read the next section
As stated above, depending on the country and the purpose you need an apostille stamp on your document, the process to get an apostille certificate depends. Considering this, let's know the process to get an apostille certificate in the UK.
Follow the steps below to apply for an apostille certificate in the UK:
Here are the following steps that you need to follow to get an apostille certificate in the USA:
To get an apostille certificate in Canada, follow the steps mentioned below:
This is how, in different nations, one can apply for an apostille certificate when applying for an OCI card. Although the application process is straightforward, however, without a proper understanding, it can be difficult for one to handle. Looking for apostille services for your OCI-related application? Visament offers complete support and guidance, making the process accurate and easy from certified translation to submitting the documents to the correct authority. Visit our site today and contact us so that we can help you get an apostille certificate. Additionally, we can also assist you in applying for an OCI card.
Now, moving ahead, let's know the processing time of getting an apostille certificate in different countries that are part of the Hague Convention.
The processing time for an apostille certificate varies in every country and its issuing authority. In India, within two working days, you get your apostille stamp on your document. Moving further, let's know the time taken by the US, UK, and Canada to issue an apostille certificate.
In the USA, the apostille certificate processing time depends on the authority that issued the document. Usually, the federal government issues the apostille stamp within 6 to 8 weeks, and the state authorities provide the apostille certificate in 4 to 14 business days. However, here the processing time can vary depending on the type of document, applied services, and volume of applications.
The standard processing time taken by Apostille Services in the UK is 20 working days. Apart from his, the courier or postage days are additional in this. Here also, the processing time may vary depending on the applied services, document type, and increased applications.
The estimated processing time of getting an apostille certificate in Canada is 10 to 20 business days, with an extra five days for shipping each way. However, here also, the apostille processing time may take longer because of several factors, such as the method of document submission, the complexity of the submitted document, the requirements of the destination country, and the volume of applications.
This was all about the apostille processing time of different countries that are members of the Hague Convention. So, connect with Visament when applying for apostille services for the OCI application. With us by your side, you do not need to worry about anything as our experts on your behalf handle all the things. Need more reasons to choose us for apostille services? Read below, and you will get your answer.
Obtaining an apostille certificate for your OCI application can be simplified with Visament. Additionally, we can assist with your OCI application. With our apostille services, here is what you get:
So, instead of handling everything alone, choose Visament for apostille services for OCI-related applications and experience a simplified process backed by years of experience and a commitment to provide you with complete assistance.
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Yes, if your birth certificate is issued in a foreign country, then during the OCI application, you need a birth certificate apostille. However, if you have an Indian birth certificate there there is no requirement to get an apostille certificate for your OCI application.
Well, if you are planning to travel overseas for any reason, and like India, that country is part of the Hague Convention, then yes, you need an apostille stamp on your birth certificate.
Yes, you need an apostille stamp on your marriage certificate if you are planning to use it in a foreign nation that is part of the Hague Convention. An apostille stamp authenticates the origin of your certificate so that you can use it in another country.
Yes, if your marriage certificate was issued by any foreign country that is a member of the Hague Convention, then you need a marriage certificate apostille required during your OCI application. However, if the marriage certificate was issued in India, then there is no need to get it apostilled.
An apostille is a certificate that authenticates the origin of a public document, like birth certificates, educational degrees, or marriage certificates, to use during a visa application. It eases the legalization of documents, specifically for countries that are members of the Hague Convention.
An apostille certificate simplifies the authentication of public documents for use globally, especially in countries that are members of the Hague Convention. It verifies that the submitted document is legal and genuine to be used in a foreign nation without any further consular or embassy legalization.
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