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By Vipul Jain | 16 Jun, 2025
Are you acquiring U.S. citizenship and seeking guidance on surrendering your Indian passport in the U.S. for an OCI application? Applying for Renunciation, obtaining an Indian passport surrender certificate, and acquiring an OCI card is a complex process that can be handled alone. If you are facing a similar situation, then there's no need to worry, as Visament is here to assist you.
We have expert team members with years of experience in the passport and immigration field. Additionally, we offer personalized guidance to our clients. From filling out the application form to booking an appointment, our team does everything for you.
To help you understand the process and how we simplify it for you, this blog offers an overview of the Indian passport surrender process, its role in OCI applications, and the steps to obtain an OCI card.
When a person voluntarily opts to surrender their Indian passport, it denotes that they have acquired citizenship status of a foreign country. This decision signifies their choice of selecting foreign citizenship over Indian citizenship. In India, dual citizenship is not permitted.
According to the Indian Passport Act, 1955, an Indian citizen is not permitted to hold two passports of different countries simultaneously. Hence, an Indian citizen who has acquired foreign citizenship must surrender their Indian passport.
Note: Holding an Indian passport in addition to foreign citizenship is an offense and can result in penalties and legal consequences.
However:
The Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) is a status granted by the Indian government to individuals of Indian origin who hold foreign citizenship. It helps them retain strong ties to India and enjoy visa-free, unrestricted access for living or working in the country.
To apply for an OCI card, you must have a renunciation certificate. Here's why:
You cannot apply for the renunciation and OCI card simultaneously. The renunciation certificate is a mandatory document for the OCI application.
To surrender your Indian passport and apply for an OCI card in the U.S., follow the official process:
Steps:
While this process can be done independently, missing even a small step can cause rejection or delays. That’s where Visament helps.
With the guidance of experts, at Visament, we ease the Indian passport surrender certificate process and OCI application for you. We ensure a smooth application process with our streamlined services. Here is how we help you with surrendering your Indian passport and applying for an OCI card in the USA:
This is how, with Visament, you can surrender your Indian passport in the USA and obtain an OCI card. Moving ahead, let's know the required documents for both processes in the USA.
Have questions? Our experts guide you through every step of Indian Passport Surrender – no confusion, no delays.
Consult an Expert TodayWhen surrendering your Indian passport in the USA, you need to provide the following documents to the authorities:
For Indian Passport Surrender:
For minors, additional documents are needed:
Depending on the type of OCI application, the required documents vary in the USA. To give a clear idea of this, here is the list of necessary documents needed during the OCI application in the USA:
| Type of Application | Required Documents |
|---|---|
| New OCI Application | Completed application form, Valid passport, Surrender certificate, Passport-size photo, Address proof, Birth certificate, Indian origin proof, Passport receipt, Marriage certificate (if applicable) |
| OCI Application for Minors | Copy of parents’ passports, Birth certificate, Joint consent affidavit, Marriage certificate of parents |
| OCI Application for Foreign Spouse | Marriage certificate, Indian spouse’s OCI card, or Indian passport |
These are the documents required for surrendering an Indian passport and for applying for an OCI card in the USA. Moving forward, let's examine the processing time and fees for surrendering an Indian passport and obtaining an OCI card in the United States.
Processing Time:
Delays may occur due to document errors or a high volume of applications.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Passport Surrender (Renunciation) | $100 |
| VFS Charges | $20 |
| Renunciation Certificate (if needed) | $30 |
| OCI Application | $293.90 (incl. VFS fees) |
This is about the fees and processing times for Indian passport surrender and OCI applications in the USA. Moving further, let's discuss the mistakes to avoid when applying for a renunciation certificate for an OCI application in the USA to ensure timely processing without any delay.
To ensure smooth processing, avoid these common errors:
Here are some key points to consider when applying for a surrender certificate for your OCI card in the USA. It provides a smooth application process without any hurdles.
By now, you understand the entire process of how to surrender your Indian passport and apply for an OCI card in the USA. If you’re still unsure about managing it yourself, don’t worry — Visament is here to take the burden off your shoulders.
From filling out forms and uploading documents to booking appointments and tracking your status, we handle everything for you. We also offer a guaranteed pass service, providing you with complete peace of mind.
Contact Visament today and let’s begin your OCI application after Indian passport surrender — the easy and expert way.
Helping Lumers streamline their workflow and deliver faster
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Visament passport agents helped me to book an online surrender certificate appointment at the nearest center. As I don't know how to book an online appointment, Visament booked my appointment on my behalf. I want to thank all the Visament team for helping, especially in the Passport surrender application process.
Visament has a simple and easy application process for the Indian passport renunciation. If I want to apply for more online services, then I will only choose the visament website for my application.
Applying through the Visament website makes me stress-free about my application. It has experienced passport experts who help me in the application process and get me a safe and secure surrender certificate delivered to my home.
Visament has the fastest application processing for the surrender of the Indian passport application for the OCI card USA. I have referred this website to all my friends and family for the secure and smooth application process.
Renunciation of Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) means a foreign citizen of Indian origin, who holds an OCI card, formally gives up their OCI status and discontinues to be a registered overseas Indian citizen. It is a voluntary process where an individual declares to no more hold the OCI status and the Indian Central Government registers his/her declaration.
Yes, it is mandatory to surrender your Indian passport before applying for OCI in the USA, as India does not allow dual citizenship to its residents, and the OCI card is provided to foreign citizens of Indian origin. Additionally, the surrender certificate is one of the vital documents needed during the OCI application in the USA. It is used as proof that the applicant no longer holds Indian citizenship.
To get a renunciation certificate for an OCI card in the USA, you need to apply online at the VFS Global center. By visiting the official site, fill out the Indian passport surrender certificate, submit the required documents, pay the fee, and book an appointment at your nearest VFS center for biometric data and physical submission of the documents. If everything goes well, you will get your renunciation certificate within the given processing time.
No, you cannot apply for an OCI card in the USA immediately after renouncing your Indian citizenship. Before applying for the OCI card in the USA, you need to have an Indian citizenship surrender certificate. The renunciation process generally takes 45 days, so till then you have to wait for your certificate, and after getting that, apply for your OCI card.
Yes, you can travel to India while waiting for your OCI card after your Indian passport surrender. However, you need to apply for a valid visa as per your traveling purpose to enter and exit the country. Once you get your OCI card, you can travel to Indian without applying for a visa.
If you apply for an OCI card without surrendering your Indian passport, your application will get rejected by the Indian embassy or consulate. There are two key reasons for this, i.e., India does not allow dual citizenship, so it is mandatory to surrender your Indian passport after acquiring foreign citizenship. Secondly, to get an OCI card, you need to submit the surrender certificate. It is one of the vital documents required during the OCI application process.
Yes, you can use the copy of the surrender certificate for OCI application submission. However, if you get foreign citizenship after May 2010, as per the Ministry of External Affairs, you may be required to submit the original document.
Yes, minors can apply for an OCI card after their parents surrender Indian citizenship. However, the eligibility for the OCI card depends on whether the minor meets the other requirements or not including prior citizenship of India or lineage to an Indian citizen.
If you made a mistake in your OCI or surrender application, you need to contact the appropriate officials or the Indian Mission to correct your errors. Depending on the mistake you made, you might need to provide the supporting documents or reapply for the application.
Yes, if you are an American citizen of Indian origin, you need a surrender certificate to apply for an OCI card in the USA. It is because India does not permit dual citizenship to its residents, and to apply for an OCI card, you need to provide a surrender certificate that serves as proof that you do not hold Indian citizenship.
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