How to Apply

Apply Here: (https://ociservices.gov.in/)
OCI cardholders, please visit OCI Cardholders Information Update

General Instructions:

Please note that it is mandatory for applicants applying for OCI Card to upload his/her image and signature image in jpeg or jpg format, specifications are given in succeeding paragraphs. Kindly be ready with both images before starting the registration process.
The applicants have to submit the application form online. Please log on to OCI Services and upload all the requisite documents (self-attested) in a PDF file, photograph and signature (in case of minors who cannot sign, left hand thumb impression in black or blue ink) along with the application.
After submission of the complete online application, the applicant is required to take a print out of the application and submit the same along with the originals and self-attested copies of the required documents and fee at the Embassy. The originals are returned to the applicants after verification in about 2 weeks.
Specifications of the photograph: Photograph to be affixed on the application should be of square shape of size not less than 51x51 mm (the image must be in jpg or jpeg with max size 200 KB - minimum dimension 200 pixels (width) x 200 pixels (height); maximum dimension 900 pixels (width) x 900 pixels (height) with 80% coverage of face) in matte finish as is given for the passport. It should have plain/white background without the border with front view of person’s head and shoulders showing the full face in the middle of the photograph. It should not be stapled and should not have any signature. Note: Photographs that do not conform to the above standards will be rejected and may cause delay in processing of the applications.
Applicant’s signature / thumb impression of minor who cannot sign: The height and the width of the signature photo must have the aspect ratio 1:3. The minimum dimensions are 200 pixels (width) x 67 pixels (height). The maximum dimensions are 900 pixels (width) x 300 pixels (height).
Documents uploading instructions: Document-upload section of online registration has 4 categories. Scanned copy of self-attested documents relevant to your application has to be uploaded under relevant heading in pdf file with maximum size of 500 KB.
Affidavit: All personal particulars of the applicants such as name, DOB, place of birth, parent’s names, appearance, etc. must be the same as in their Indian passports. In case there is a change in name, an affidavit is required to be submitted.
Processing time: The processing time for fresh OCI applications is around 6-8 weeks from the date of submission of papers at the Embassy. The applicant can submit the OCI application on any working day from 09 to 12 hrs. without any prior appointment.

Documents to be submitted with application:

• Proof of present citizenship – copy of current passport with a validity of minimum 6 months at the time of submission of application.
• Dominican Republic/ Haiti Citizenship Certificate or status in the country as applicable.
• Documents supporting proof of immigration.
• Evidence of address of the place of application - copy of electricity bill/ telephone bill in own/parents/ grandparents / spouse name. Lease License in case of tenants. If residing with relatives, an undertaking from relatives is required.
• Evidence of self or parents or grandparents or great grandparents being citizens of India at the time of, or at any time after the commencement of the Constitution i.e. 26.01.1950; or being eligible to become citizen of India; belonging to a territory that became part of India after 15.08.1947. These could be – Indian Passport (first and last page and observation, if any to be uploaded online) or Nativity Certificate or Domicile Certificate issued from the concerned District Administration (First Class Magistrate/District Magistrate) or OCI Card/ PIO Card of parents / spouse or certificate of residence or place of birth of self/ parents/ grandparents from First Class/ District Magistrate (DM) of the concerned place.
• Evidence of relationship as parents/grandparents/great grandparents, if their Indian origin is claimed as basis for registration as OCI cardholders – the document of relationship could be “birth certificate” issued from competent authority mentioning both parents’ name. In case the birth certificate is issued by a foreign authority, it is to be Apostilled or endorsed by the concerned Diplomatic Mission and thereafter by the Indian Mission abroad. Birth Certificate from the Birth Registrar to be supported by i) education documents, if any and ii) Documents of inherited land/property, if any.
• Surrender Certificate issued by the Indian Consulate/High Commission/Embassy stating that you have surrendered Indian passport upon acquiring foreign citizenship (OCI applicants, if surrendering their Indian passport now, can apply for OCI and Surrender Certificate simultaneously).
• Applicant can provide his/her latest Indian passport that was held prior to acquiring Foreign citizenship. (Hope you have surrendered your Indian passport on acquiring the foreign citizenship, if not please do it immediately).
• Marital Status: In case of married applicants, if the name of the spouse is not mentioned in Indian Passport, they have to provide marriage certificate issued by the Registrar of Marriages or District Administration. Please note that the Embassy does not recognize marriage certificates issued by Village Panchayats, Wakf Boards, Gurudwara and Churches in India unless these are attested/authenticated by the concerned District Administration and the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi.
• Divorcee applicants are required to submit their divorce certificate. Please note that in normal circumstances if marriage is solemnized in India, the divorce should also be taken in India (not in Dominican republic or Haiti), however, if both applicants who are seeking divorce have acquired foreign citizenship, can obtain divorce in Dominican Republic or Haiti as applicable, provided the decision is with mutual consent and not ex-parte. Ex-parte divorce certificate will not be accepted. Divorce certificate if issued by a court in a foreign country, the same should be attested by the Indian Mission in that country.
• Widow/widower applicants are required to submit death certificate in respect of his/her spouse from the Municipality or Registrar in India if death has taken place in India. In case the death of spouse has taken place in Dominican Republic or Haiti, the certificate from concerned Government will be needed.
• Applicant whose spouse is of Pakistan origin is also required to submit an affidavit attested by the Embassy of Pakistan stating that, he/she has not acquired Pakistani citizenship nor does he/she possess a valid Pakistani passport.
• All the Documents (mentioned at S. No. 1-6 above) of the spouse in case of married applicant will also be required.
• All the documents mentioned above for fresh OCI along with OCI card or Indian passport of the spouse and registered marriage certificate issued by the Registrar of Marriages from the concerned Indian State Government. If the Marriage Certificate is issued by the Authorities in Dominican Republic or Haiti (as applicable), it should be first Apostilled by the local Foreign Office and thereafter by the Embassy of India in  Santo Domingo. In case of Marriage Certificate issued by other Foreign Governments, it should be first Apostilled/authenticated by the concerned Diplomatic Mission and thereafter by the Embassy of India in Santo Domingo. After the attestation is over, it should be uploaded online with other documents.
• A written declaration that in the event of dissolution of marriage or death of the Indian spouse, the applicant shall notify and return the OCI card forthwith to the nearest Indian Mission.
• Applicable Fee.

Application by minor applicants

• Process will be the same as mentioned above. Documents required are as follows:
• Copy of applicant’s birth certificate (statement of live birth certificate) issued by the Foreign Authority; in case the applicant is born in India, then birth certificate issued by the Registry of Birth or Municipality concerned.
• Copies of Indian passports of both parents or copy of Indian passport of one parent and foreign passport of other parent along with copy of birth certificate of the latter.
• Marriage Certificate of parents issued in India, Dominican Republic/ Haiti or any other foreign country;
• Joint self-declaration signed by both parents with their photographs, mobile numbers and email IDs mentioned on it, expressing their no objection to acquire OCI card for their minor child except in cases where parents are divorced.
• Parental Authorization for Minors form
• Application by foreign spouse of Indian citizen or OCI cardholder
• A spouse of a citizen of India or OCI cardholder whose marriage has been registered and subsisted for a continuous period of two years at the time of submitting application is eligible for registration of his/her OCI application under the spousal category.

Important instructions for renewal of OCI Card
The existing requirement to re-issue an OCI card each time a new passport is issued to a foreigner up to 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age is dispensed with.
However, an OCI cardholder shall have to get the OCI card re-issued once when a new passport is issued after completing 20 years of age so as to capture his/her facial features on attaining adulthood. For this purpose, the OCI cardholder shall submit an online application under OCI Miscellaneous Services with a fee of USD 25 or an amount equivalent in local currency. After submission of application, uploading of requisite documents, the applicant will have to visit the Indian Mission/Post/FRRO concerned along with original documents for verification of documents. Once application is accepted, a fee receipt will be issued to the applicant. Once payment is confirmed, the application will thereafter be processed by the Indian Mission/Post/FRRO concerned as per existing procedure.

An OCI cardholder may upload a copy of the new passport containing the photo of the passport holder and also a latest photo on the online system at the link https://ociservices.gov.in/ under OCI Miscellaneous Services each time a new passport is issued up to 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age. These documents may be uploaded by the OCI cardholder within three months of receipt of the new passport. This service will be provided on gratis basis.

In the case of those who have been registered as OCI cardholder as spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign origin of an OCI cardholder under section 7A( 1)(d) of The Citizenship Act, 1955, the OCI cardholder shall upload a copy of the new passport containing the photo of the passport holder and also a latest photo on the online system under OCI Miscellaneous Services each time a new passport is issued. In such cases, the OCI cardholder and his/her Indian spouse or OCI cardholder spouse will have to give a declaration that their marriage is still subsisting. Copy of the Indian passport of the Indian spouse, passport and OCI card of the OCI cardholder spouse shall also be uploaded in such cases. These documents may be uploaded by the OCI cardholder foreigner spouse within three months of receipt of his/her new passport. This service will be provided on gratis basis.

Immediately on uploading of the documents mentioned in (iii) and (iv) above, an email will be auto sent by the system to the OCI cardholder confirming that the documents have been successfully uploaded. An acknowledgment through e-mail will also be automatically sent to the OCI cardholder informing that the updated details have been taken on record.

There will be no restriction on the OCI cardholder to travel to/from India during the period from the date of issue of new passport till the date of final acknowledgment of his/her documents in the online system.

Lost/Damaged OCI Card: In case of loss of OCI, the applicant is required to follow the same process as above except that he/she needs to also submit an FIR from the local Police Authority mentioning the loss of OCI card with its number mentioned on the FIR and a notarized Affidavit with same details. For damaged OCI, an affidavit with OCI details is required to be submitted. The fee charged for this service is on the Fee Structure.

Change of address/occupation: In this case no new OCI documents shall be issued and accordingly, payment of fee does not arise. Applicant may update the details online at the link https://ociservices.gov.in/ under miscellaneous services. Data shall be captured and new address/occupation shall be printed by the applicant which may be kept in the OCI booklet for record purpose.