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By Vipul Jain | 21 May, 2025
Having an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card is essential for people of Indian origin living in the UK. It provides several benefits, such as visiting India without applying for a visa and the right to property ownership. However, the application process for an OCI card is quite lengthy, as is its timeline. It includes filling out the OCI application form, submission of requested documents, scheduling a biometric appointment at VFS, and then waiting for the completion of the OCI card processing time, which generally takes 5-6 weeks. This time may also vary and take longer to process, especially in the case of a foreign spouse. Are you also applying for an OCI card and thinking about the OCI processing time in the UK? If yes, then you are at the right place. Here, this blog consists of all the information about the OCI timeline in the UK. So read on and get your answers.
At the OCI Center in the UK, you can expect the following things:
After filling out the OCI application form and online document submission, you need to book an appointment at VFS for your biometrics and physical submission of the application and requested documents. Here is the list of documents that you need to carry during the physical submission of your OCI application in the UK:
After the submission of your OCI application, you need to provide your photographs and fingerprints at the centre for biometrics.
If you not paid the OCI application fee during your online OCI application, you likely to pay the fee at the VFS centre along with the VFS Global charges.
Once you give your biometrics and physically submit the application along with the requested documents, patiently wait for the application to be processed by the High Commission of India. Generally, within 5-6 weeks, you get your OCI card in the UK. With this, with the application number, you can track OCI application and know the current OCI status online.
After your OCI application is processed further, VFS Global will inform you of your current OCI status by sending an email notification. If your OCI application gets approved, you can collect your passport and OCI card from the VFS Global Application Centre.
These things are included in the application process and impact your OCI card processing time. However, the given processing time for the OCI card may vary due to several factors such as increased volume of OCI applications, individual circumstances, and the requirement of additional documents.
Moving ahead, let's know the OCI application timeline in the different parts of the UK.
To provide you with an idea, here is the current OCI application timeline in the different cities of the UK:
The table below represents the OCI application timeline in the Birmingham VFS Center
| Date | Status/Action |
|---|---|
| 5 Sep 2024 | Online application submitted |
| 7 Sep 2024 | Documents submitted |
| 09 Sep 2024 | Application acknowledged |
| 04 Nov 2024 | OCI processed and OCI number assigned |
| — | (No message from MEA dispatch) |
| 10 Nov 2024 | Message from DX delivery |
| 11 Nov 2024 | OCI card received |
| Date | Status/Action |
|---|---|
| 25 Oct 2024 | Online application submitted |
| 27 Oct 2024 | Documents submitted |
| 31 Oct 2024 | Application acknowledged |
| 20 Jan 2025 | OCI processed and OCI number assigned |
| 25 Jan 2025 | Message from DX delivery |
| 26 Jan 2025 | OCI card received |
The OCI application timeline in the Edinburgh VFS Center is as follows:
| Date | Status/Action |
|---|---|
| 18 Jan 2025 | Online application submitted |
| 31 Jan 2025 | Documents submitted |
| 01 Feb 2025 | Application acknowledged |
| 02 Feb 2025 | Message from DX delivery about original documents return |
| 03 Feb 2025 | Original documents received |
| 24 Feb 2025 | OCI processed and OCI number assigned |
| 27 Feb 2025 | Dispatched from MEA (OCI), New Delhi |
| 03 Mar 2025 | Document received at Edinburgh |
| 03 Mar 2025 | Message from DX delivery |
| 06 Mar 2025 | OCI card received |
| Date | Status/Action |
|---|---|
| 3 Mar 2025 | Application submitted |
| 7 Mar 2025 | Application acknowledged |
| 10 Mar 2025 | Original documents received back |
| 05 Apr 2025 | Documents printing status updated |
| 6 Apr 2025 | Dispatched from New Delhi |
| 13 Apr 2025 | OCI card received |
Here is the breakdown of the OCI application timeline in the Leicester VFS Center
| Date | Status/Action |
|---|---|
| 10 Sep 2024 | Online application submitted |
| 12 Sep 2024 | Documents submitted |
| 16 Sep 2024 | Application acknowledged |
| 20 Sep 2024 | Message from DX delivery about original documents return |
| 21 Sep 2024 | Original documents received |
| 15 Nov 2024 | OCI processed and OCI number assigned |
| 18 Nov 2024 | Dispatched from MEA (OCI), New Delhi |
| 22 Nov 2024 | Document received at VFS Leicester |
| 22 Nov 2024 | Message from DX delivery |
| 25 Nov 2024 | OCI card received |
The table below represents the OCI application timeline in the Hounslow VFS Center
| Date | Status/Action |
|---|---|
| 03 December 2024 | Online application submitted |
| 20 December 2024 | Documents submitted |
| 23 December 2024 | Application acknowledged |
| 26 December 2024 | Original documents received |
| 13 January 2025 | Status updated to processed (OCI number assigned) |
| 15 January 2025 | Message from DX delivery |
| 16 January 2025 | OCI card received |
| Date | Status/Action |
|---|---|
| 18 Nov 2024 | Online application submitted |
| 20 Nov 2024 | Documents submitted |
| 21 Nov 2024 | Application acknowledged |
| 22 Nov 2024 | Message from DX delivery about original documents return |
| 23 Nov 2024 | Original documents received |
| 14 Dec 2024 | OCI processed and OCI number assigned |
| 17 Dec 2024 | Dispatched from MEA (OCI), New Delhi |
| 21 Dec 2024 | Document received at Hounslow |
| 21 Dec 2024 | Message from DX delivery |
| 24 Dec 2024 | OCI card received |
With the table below, go through the OCI application timeline in the London Goswell VFS Center
| Date | Status/Action |
|---|---|
| 13 December 2024 | Document submission |
| 14 December 2024 | Acknowledgment |
| 21 December 2024 | Original documents received |
| 8 January 2025 | OCI application status updated: Document printing / Processed / OCI number displayed |
| 15 January 2025 | OCI cards received |
| Date | Status/Action |
|---|---|
| 09 February 2025 | Online application submitted |
| 21 March 2025 | Documents submitted |
| 22 March 2025 | Application acknowledged |
| 24 March 2025 | Original documents received |
| 14 May 2025 | Status updated to processed (OCI number assigned) |
| 17 May 2025 | OCI card received |
| Date | Status/Action |
|---|---|
| 06 March 2025 | Documents submitted |
| 07 March 2025 | Application acknowledged |
| 10 March 2025 | Original documents received |
| 28 March 2025 | Status updated to processed |
| 31 March 2025 | OCI card received (via DX delivery) |
The following table represents the OCI application timeline in Cardiff VFS Center
| Date | Status/Action |
|---|---|
| 03 Aug 2024 | Application documents submitted at VFS Cardiff |
| 07 Aug 2024 | The application was acknowledged by the authorities |
| 24 Aug 2024 | Original documents returned to the applicant |
| 28 Aug 2024 | OCI application processed and OCI number generated |
| 03 Sep 2024 | OCI card successfully delivered |
| Date | Status/Action |
|---|---|
| 9 Sep 2024 | Documents submitted |
| 13 Sep 2024 | Application acknowledged |
| 30 Sep 2024 | Original documents received |
| 04 Oct 2024 | OCI application status: Processed |
| 9 Oct 2024 | OCI card delivered |
| Date | Status/Action |
|---|---|
| 15 Nov 2024 | Application documents submitted at VFS Cardiff |
| 19 Nov 2024 | Application acknowledged and under initial review |
| 25 Nov 2024 | File forwarded to the Indian High Commission for processing |
| 06 Dec 2024 | Original documents returned to the applicant |
| 10 Dec 2024 | Application processed and OCI number assigned |
| 15 Dec 2024 | OCI card delivered to the applicant via courier |
| Date | Status/Action |
|---|---|
| 05 Mar 2025 | Documents submitted for a minor applicant |
| 09 Mar 2025 | Application acknowledged by the Consulate |
| 15 Mar 2025 | Forwarded to the Ministry for processing |
| 26 Mar 2025 | Original documents returned to parents |
| 30 Mar 2025 | Application approved and OCI number generated |
| 04 Apr 2025 | OCI card delivered via secure courier service |
Here, is what the OCI application timeline in Bradford VFS Center looks like:
| Date | Status/Action |
|---|---|
| 28 Feb 2025 | Documents submitted at VFS Bradford (Birmingham jurisdiction) |
| 03 Mar 2025 | Acknowledgement issued by the Indian Mission |
| 8 Mar 2025 | Original documents received back |
| 12 Apr 2025 | OCI application processed, and document sent for printing |
| 19 Apr 2025 | OCI card received |
| Date | Status/Action |
|---|---|
| 05 Nov 2024 | Appointment booked for OCI card |
| 02 May 2025 | Appointment attended at Bradford VFS center |
| 06 May 2025 | Acknowledgement received from the Indian Mission |
| 10 May 2025 | Application under initial verification |
| 15 May 2025 | Documents sent for further processing |
| 20 May 2025 | Application status updated to ‘Processed’ |
| 27 May 2025 | OCI card printing and final processing completed |
| 03 Jun 2025 | OCI card received by the applicant |
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Yes, you can travel to India while your OCI application is in process, but for this, you need to apply for an appropriate Indian visa. In case you already have an OCI card and are waiting for its update, you can use it and your passport to visit India.
The OCI application based on the adverse information and the foreign spouse takes longer to process in the UK, compared to standard OCI applications. The processing time of a standard OCI application is typically 5-6 weeks. However, these applications may face delays due to the requirement for additional investigations and checks.
Yes, the OCI application of minors takes more time to process than that of adults because of the requirement for additional information. Generally, the OCI application of minors takes 30 days if there are no issues. However, it may take 120 days to process if any adverse detail is found.
The OCI renewal in the UK generally takes 5-6 weeks to process after the submission of the application. However, the given OCI card processing time may vary depending on the circumstances of the individual, the requirement of additional documents, especially for spouses of foreign countries.
No, you cannot speed up your OCI application processing time in the UK. The standard OCI application process time is typically 5-6 weeks from the application submission date. While delays may happen in the application but there is no way you can fast-track the standard OCI processing time.
Yes, police verification is required for OCI card applications, specifically for citizens of a foreign country who are applying for the OCI card. One can obtain the Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) or the local police in the applicant's residence place in India.
The spouse OCI application takes longer to process in the UK because of the mandatory interview conducted by the Indian Post/Mission/FRRO to verify the documents and assess the suitability of the applicant. In addition to this, on the online system, the OCI applications are acknowledged only after the determination of suitability and interview.
Yes, delays can happen even if you submitted all the OCI documents correctly. It may happen as there are other factors as well that impact the processing time, such as increased volume of OCI applications, high workload, verification process, and individual circumstances.
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