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By Vipul Jain | 13 Nov, 2025
An OCI card is very important for people of Indian origin living in Australia. It can provide them with multiple free entries in India with no visa requirements. The application process of the OCI card can be complicated, as is the OCI application timeline. There are multiple steps involved in the OCI timeline Australia.
It includes document submission, payment, biometric, processing, etc. In this blog, we have explained the whole OCI application timeline in Australia. It also contains case studies for different cities in Australia for a better understanding.
Here are things that you can expect at the VFS Global Center in Australia:
After completing your online OCI application, it is important to book an appointment at the VFS Global Center for the biometrics and physical submission of the printed copies of your documents.
Here is the list of documents that you need to carry with you for your physical appointment at VFS Global:
Once you submit the OCI application in Australia, you need to provide your fingerprints and photographs at the center for biometrics.
While applying for the OCI card, if you haven't paid for it online, then you can pay the required fee at the VFS Center along with their additional charges.
After completing the biometric and submitting the documents, you have to wait until your OCI application gets approved by the High Commission of India. Generally, the OCI card processing time in Australia is 4 to 6 weeks.
You will also get an application reference number at the center, which you can use to check the current OCI status and track your OCI application.
You will receive the email updates about the status of your OCI card application. Once your application gets approved, you can collect it by visiting the center again.
One thing to keep in mind is that there are many factors that can affect the OCI card processing time, such as the volume of OCI applications, additional documents required, individual circumstances, etc.
The current timeline of OCI card application in the different cities of Australia is given below:
Here is the timeline for the OCI application in the Melbourne VFS Center:
| Date | Status / Action |
|---|---|
| 05 Jan 2025 |
Online OCI application submitted on official OCI Services portal
|
| 10 Jan 2025 |
Documents submitted at VFS Global Australia (Melbourne)
|
| 12 Jan 2025 |
Application acknowledged by the Indian Mission / Consulate in Australia
|
| 05 Feb 2025 |
OCI under process at Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi
|
| 18 Feb 2025 |
OCI processed and OCI number assigned
|
| 22 Feb 2025 |
Message from DX Delivery / VFS Global regarding OCI dispatch
|
| 25 Feb 2025 | OCI booklet received at local VFS centre |
| 26 Feb 2025 |
OCI card collected / delivered to applicant
|
| Date | Status / Action |
|---|---|
| 03 Jan 2025 |
OCI application form completed and submitted online via OCI Services portal
|
| 6 Jan 2025 |
Appointment booked with VFS Global, Melbourne
|
| 9 Jan 2025 |
passport, photos, and supporting documents submitted at VFS
|
| 11 Jan 2025 |
Email confirmation received from VFS – “Application forwarded to Consulate General of India, Melbourne”
|
| 5 Feb 2025 |
Status updated to “Under process” on OCI portal
|
| 19 Feb 2025 |
OCI booklet printed and dispatched from India to Sydney
|
| 23 Feb 2025 |
VFS notified applicant – “OCI card received and ready for delivery”
|
| 24 Feb 2025 |
OCI card delivered to applicant via DX courier
|
Here is the table representation of the OCI application timeline in the Sydney VFS Center:
| Date | Status / Action |
|---|---|
| 04 Mar 2025 |
Online OCI application submitted on the official OCI portal
|
| 7 Mar 2025 |
Appointment booked and confirmed with VFS Global, Sydney
|
| 10 Mar 2025 |
Documents and original passport submitted at VFS Sydney centre
|
| 12 Apr 2025 |
OCI processed and number assigned by MHA
|
| 16 Apr 2025 |
OCI card printed and dispatched to Sydney Mission
|
| 19 Apr 2025 |
VFS Sydney received OCI booklet from Consulate
|
| 22 Apr 2025 | Applicant received SMS from Courier |
| 23 Apr 2025 |
OCI card successfully delivered to applicant
|
| Date | Status / Action |
|---|---|
| 08 Apr 2025 |
Online OCI application submitted on official OCI portal
|
| 11 Apr 2025 |
Appointment booked and attended at VFS Global Sydney
|
| 14 Apr 2025 |
Documents, photograph, and passport submitted at VFS centre
|
| 16 Apr 2025 | Email confirmation received |
| 23 May 2025 |
VFS Sydney received OCI booklet from Consulate
|
| 26 May 2025 |
OCI card delivered to applicant at registered address
|
The timeline of the OCI application in the Brisbane VFS Center is as follows:
| Date | Status / Action |
|---|---|
| 04 Nov 2024 |
OCI application submitted online via official OCI Services portal
|
| 11 Nov 2024 |
passport, photographs, and documents submitted at VFS centre
|
| 13 Nov 2024 |
Application forwarded to Consulate General of India, Brisbane
|
| 20 Nov 2024 |
Application acknowledged by the MHA, New Delhi
|
| 4 Dec 2024 | OCI under process on OCI portal |
| 20 Dec 2024 |
VFS Brisbane received OCI booklet from Consulate
|
| 24 Dec 2024 |
OCI card delivered to applicant before Christmas holidays
|
| Date | Status / Action |
|---|---|
| 03 Feb 2025 |
Applicant completed the OCI registration and upload all documents
|
| 6 Feb 2025 | Appointment booked |
| 10 Feb 2025 | Submit Documents |
| 12 Feb 2025 |
VFS confirmed receipt and forwarded the file to the Consulate General of India
|
| 4 Mar 2025 | Application status changed |
| 26 Mar 2025 |
OCI card successfully delivered to applicant
|
The table below represents the timeline of the OCI application in the Canberra VFS Center:
| Date | Status / Action |
|---|---|
| 05 May 2025 | Apply online for OCI registration |
| 8 May 2025 | Appointment scheduled with VFS Global |
| 13 June 2025 | OCI approved |
| 17 June 2025 | Printed OCI card dispatched from India |
| 21 June 2025 | VFS Canberra received the OCI booklet |
| 24 June 2025 |
Courier partner picked up the OCI card for final delivery.
|
| 25 June 2025 |
OCI card delivered safely to the applicant in 7 weeks.
|
| Date | Status / Action |
|---|---|
| 05 Aug 2025 |
Applicant completed the OCI online registration
|
| 8 Aug 2025 |
Appointment booked with VFS Global Canberra
|
| 02 Sept 2025 |
Application status changed to Under process
|
| 24 Sept 2025 |
OCI card successfully delivered to applicant
|
Here is the timeline for the OCI application in the Newcastle VFS Center:
| Date | Status / Action |
|---|---|
| 06 Aug 2025 |
OCI online form and uploaded all necessary documents
|
| 9 Aug 2025 | Appointment confirmed at VFS Global |
| 13 Aug 2025 |
Applicant visited the VFS Newcastle office
|
| 15 Aug 2025 | VFS issued confirmation email |
| 11 Sept 2025 |
OCI approved by MHA and queued for printing.
|
| 19 Sept 2025 |
Consulate General of India, received OCI booklet and informed VFS.
|
| 22 Sept 2025 |
VFS updated applicant via SMS and email
|
| 23 Sept 2025 |
OCI card delivered to applicant in Newcastle by Courier.
|
It is not an easy process to apply for the OCI application all by yourself. The smallest of errors can cause delays or rejections in your OCI processing time in Australia. Also, understanding the OCI card timeline is quite complicated. To make the process simple and accurate, you can take expert assistance from Visament. We have a team of experts with years of experience in this field. Our prices are very affordable, and our customer service is available 24/7 for convenience.
The price for the new OCI card in Australia is AUS $414, and for the previous PIO card holders, it is AUS $54.
The OCI card processing time in Australia is approximately 4 to 6 weeks from the date of submission at the OCI application center.
The standard OCI card processing time is 4 to 6 weeks. There is no urgent service available for OCI cards.
You can find out the status of your OCI card by visiting the official OCI services website. Click on Status Inquiry on the website and check its status.
Yes, the OCI can be rejected or denied if the registration is done by any fraud and there is false representation in the application. Under Section 7D of the Citizenship Act, 1955, the individual will be blacklisted and his/her entry will be banned in India.
Under section 7B(2) of The Citizenship Act, 1955, the OCI cardholders are not allowed to vote, be a member of Parliament, Legislative Council, or Legislative Assembly, and cannot hold any constitutional posts in India, such as President, Vice President, Judge of the Supreme or High Court, etc.
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