OCI Services

Everything You Need to Know About the OCI Application in NZ

autohr img By Vipul Jain | 12 May, 2025
Everything You Need to Know About the OCI Application in NZ

For many people of Indian origin living in New Zealand, applying for an OCI card India opens the door to endless opportunities. The Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card enables you to enjoy multiple benefits, like visa-free travel to India, property rights ownership, and access to various economic and educational prospects.

Whether you have just moved out to NZ or are a long-term resident there, you can still apply for an OCI card from the comfort of your home.

This blog guide will take you through the whole OCI application NZ procedure, from the documents required to eligibility criteria and checking OCI card status.

How to Get Started With the OCI Application NZ

Thanks to the digitization of services, the procedure for OCI card application NZ has become simpler. So, to easily apply for an OCI card, you can go to the official OCI Services page on Visament, and there you will get the complete OCI card application from NZ. Visament is a team of experts that will help throughout the process, ensuring everything goes right. From fast approvals to handling all the documentation, we have got you covered.

Key Documents Required to File an OCI Application in NZ:

  • Your foreign passport copy
  • Documents that showcase you are an Indian citizen
  • Recent passport-size picture
  • Copy of your complete online application
  • Current residency proof of New Zealand
  • If you have a taxable income source in India, a PAN card for OCI citizens is also helpful to have.

Note: If you are applying for an OCI card for minors, the documents of both parents of the child are required, including the passport and proof of relationship with the child.

Eligibility Criteria to Apply for an OCI Card

People who want to apply for an OCI card must be:

  • Former Indian citizens
  • Descendants of Former Indian Citizens
  • The applicant should not be a citizen of Bangladesh or Pakistan or any other country designated by the Government of India.
  • Family Ties (Spouses of Indian citizens or OCI card holders are eligible give a fact that their marriage is registered and subsisting for a minimum of two years before applying)

Important Note: To know in detail about the eligibility criteria of OCI cardholders, go through the Ministry of Home Affairs

How to Track Your OCI Application Status

If you want to track your OCI application status, all you need to do is go to the OCI service website from where you applied, and then you can click on the "Status Enquiry." Once you click on a status inquiry, you need to enter your online file reference number and your passport number to track the application.

What are OCI Miscellaneous Services?

The OCI Miscellaneous Services are granted to the OCI cardholders for issuance or re-issuance of the duplicate OCI documents in a particular situation.

These Situations Include:

  • Change in personal details like name, address, or nationality.
  • Re-issuance of the Overseas Service of India card after renewal of the passport.
  • Damage and Lost of OCI card.

OCI Card Validity

The OCI card is somehow a lifelong visa for India, leaving you with various benefits like multiple entry and exit privileges. The OCI card does not expire and is valid for the holder's lifetime. However, there will be certain circumstances where you will have to renew your card.

So, if you are an OCI cardholder between the ages of 20 and 49, then you are not required to renew your OCI card India while obtaining a new passport. However, individuals who are aged 50 and above have to renew their OCI card once after obtaining a new passport.

OCI Card Application Processing Time

The new OCI application process time is somewhere around 5-6 weeks from the date of registration. Whereas the re-issuance or the updating of OCI cards can approximately take up to six to seven weeks, it is better to apply for your OCI card well in advance.

Moreover, OCI cards are not permitted to be processed on an emergency basis or expected, so if you have to travel to India under emergency, it is advised to apply for the appropriate visa.

OCI Application NZ Fees

New OCI Application NZ for Minor/adult

Approx US $275

Reissuance/Duplicate OCI 

Approx US $25

Duplicate OCI (Lost or Damage)

Approx US $100

Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF)

Approx US $3

Note: The charges are subject to change, so it is advised to check with the Indian consulate or embassy in your country for up-to-date information. 

Conclusion

The process of applying for an OCI card from New Zealand seems overwhelming while juggling those documents and a lengthy procedure. Well, Visament is here to help you escape all those hassles. Whether you are applying for an OCI card India for the first time or want to avail miscellaneous services, we are here to guide you at every step possible. Our experts are here to help with your OCI application in NZ. Visament provides end-to-end support from filing your application to checking the documents and following up; we have got you all covered.

Apply today with Visament to avoid rejection, delays, and errors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, as an NRI you can get an Aadhaar card, but it’s conditional. The Aadhaar card for NRI OCI can only be allocated if the person has stayed in India for at least 182 days in the last 12 months.

To start with, the process for OCI card renewal for a minor in India will require certain documents. Starting with you will need an old OCI card, a fresh passport copy, and a recent passport photo. To do so, you can use Visament's OCI Miscellaneous Services portal.

To upload the signature in the OCI application form, you need to upload it in the JPEG format. The size of the JPEG file should be less than 200 kB, and the pixels of the file must be under 200 KB.

You can track your OCI card status by going to the portal and entering your passport details and your file number to check the real-time status.

OCI miscellaneous services generally take up to 45 working days. However, the processing time also depends on the accuracy of your application form and the documents.

The fee for OCI applications in NZ generally varies between NZD 420 and 480 for new applications. Keep in mind to check the fees on the government portals, as they are subject to change at times.

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