OCI Card Renewal & Reissue Application: Complete Guide

An Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card is an important document that provides many benefits for a foreign citizen of Indian origin. 

These benefits include visa-free entries, parity with NRIs in financial, economic, and educational sectors. However, to continue using the benefits, you need to renew the OCI card. 

For OCI renewal, the Indian government has simplified the rules, offering hassle-free updates through its online government portals.

In this blog, we will provide you with all the information about the OCI card reissuance and renewal, with the complete application process, fees, required documents, and other vital information. 

Why Do You Need to Renew Your OCI Card? 

According to the new guidelines, reissuance of the OCI card is not generally important. However, when you get a new passport after turning 20 years, you need to update the information in your OCI card. If your OCI card has any of the following cases, then you need to apply for the OCI renewal application. 

• If you want to change any details in the OCI card, like name, address, or marital status. 
• For any loss or damage to the OCI card. 
• If you have obtained a new passport after turning 20 years old. 

When you need to apply for an Online OCI Update 

Here are some of the points given below when you need to update your OCI card online. 

• If you are over 20 years of age, you need to re-issue your OCI card after getting a new passport. 
• If you have obtained a new passport after the age of 50, then you need to update your passport details. 
• When you need to change any occupation or address in the OCI. However, it is not necessary for the OCI validity.
• For the renewal of passports of foreign spouses. 

You can easily apply for an OCI card renewal through the official OCI Services portal. 

When do you need to apply for OCI Physical Reissuance?

You should apply for a physical Reissuance OCI card when: 

• When you get your new passport at the age of 20 years. 
• If your OCI card gets damaged, stolen, or lost. 
• To change your name. 
• To change your nationality. 

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What is the Process to update your OCI card online? 

Applying for an OCI renewal application is an easy process. Follow the steps given below to smoothly update your OCI without facing any errors or mistakes. 

1. Go to the Official OCI service website. 

You need to visit the OCI services portal and choose the 'OCI miscellaneous Services' option on the homepage. 

2. Fill out the online application and upload documents 

Enter all the details in your OCI renewal application correctly, and attach all the supporting documents for your application. 

3. Register with VFS Global 

You need to go to the VFS Global OCI services and create an account. Then you need to upload the printed OCI application form with all the supporting documents.

4. Pay the Fees 

You need to pay the required fees for the OCI application Renewal. 

5. Submit your application

You need to submit the OCI renewal application with all the supporting documents to the nearest VFS Global center, your embassy, or consulate. 

• Printed application form
• All the necessary documents 
• Payment receipt for OCI application
• Prepared return envelope (If required). 

Then your OCI application will be sent to the Indian consulate in your jurisdiction. 

6. Track your Application 

You can track your OCI application through the VFS tracking number, which helps you to get all the real-time updates for your application. 

You will get the following information about your renewal application through email when: 

•  You have submitted the application, and VFS has received your application
• When Indian authorities acknowledge your documents
• When the process of your OCI card printing in India starts. 
• At the time when your OCI card is ready for dispatch.

7. You will get your new OCI card 

You need to wait for about 4-6 weeks to get your OCI card at your registered address. 

What are the Documents Required for the OCI Card Renewal?

Here is the list of documents that you need to provide at the time of applying for an OCI renewal application. 

• You need to provide your current OCI card with a copy of the front and back. 
• Submit the bio page of the new passport 
• Provide your passport with a minimum of 6 months' validity. 
• Old passport, if available. 
• You need to provide a digital photo with a plain white background. 
• Marriage certificate for name change. 
• For the lost/damaged card, you need to provide police reports. 
• You need to submit proof of address (utility bill, driving license, or lease agreement). 

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What are the OCI Card Renewal Fees? 

If you are applying for an OCI card, then you need to pay the required fees for the OCI renewal application. Here is a table given below through which you can see the fees to apply for the OCI renewal application. 

OCI Card Reissuance Fees for Regular Cases

OCI Card Reissuance for Damaged and Lost Cards

The OCI card fees depend on the country from which you are applying and on its consulates and service providers. Make sure to check the fees from the official government website before applying. 

You can pay the OCI renewal fees through a credit card, debit card, money transfer orders, cashier's check, or banker's check, and pay the fees to the VFS Service in the USA.

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How to Travel to India During the OCI Card Renewal?

If you have applied for an OCI card for miscellaneous services, but you need to attend to some urgent work or meeting, or any emergency, then you can travel to India easily after the submission of your documents. 

• Once you have submitted all the documents, you can travel to India with your old OCI card and with your new passport. If it is valid and not under mandatory reissuance. Follow all the FEMA guidelines, which help you to visit India smoothly and navigate your financial transitions.
• If you have applied for the OCI card reissue, then you can travel to India if:
  • You had an existing OCI card.
  • Your current passport is valid for more than 6 months. 
  • Have an email acknowledgement through the OCI portal.
• Another emergency travel option for you to go to India is:
  • You can apply for a tourist visa, an entry visa, or other visa types according to your needs 
  • Process visa and OCI reissuance separately. 
  • For emergency travel, choose a visa. 

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Common Mistakes that you can Avoid during OCI Renewal 

Here are some of the mistakes that most of the applicants make while filing out their OCI renewal application, which are: 

Photo and Signature errors 

• Using old clicked photos 
• Not using a plain white background for OCI photos 
• Incorrect photo dimension 
• Low-resolution photo 
• Signature does not match the passport
• Wrong signature in the application form 

Incorrect information or documents 

• Not submitting all the supporting documents 
• Enter incorrect information in the OCI re-issue application form 
• Missing marriage certificate for name change application 
• Submitting photocopies of documents without self-attestation. 
• Not providing address proof or address proof of matching with the application address. 

Other Mistakes 

• Not providing all the documents within 3 months of receiving your new passport. 
• Mentioning the wrong application number on the money order 
• Use personal checks to pay the OCI renewal fees. 
• Not submitting the application before the deadline 
• Applying for renewal late. 

Final Thoughts 

An OCI renewal or reissue is a must if your OCI card is lost, stolen, damaged, or needs corrections. The Indian government has introduced many measures to make the process hassle-free for the overseas Indians. 

At the Visament, we provide you with easy and simple OCI services through which you can get your OCI card renewal without facing any errors and rejections. We provide you with a team of experts who know all the processes, documentation, fees, and other essential information that would help you to get your renewed OCI card safely at your registered address. 

For more information, you can visit the Visament website and get all your answers related to the OCI card service from the agents who are ready 24*7 to provide you with real-time help.