New rules for OCI card holders: Check fees, requirements, application process and other details

Under the revised rules, the fee for a fresh OCI application is set at USD 275. This amount must be paid in Indian Rupees or local currency, depending on where the application is submitted.

Applicants submitting their OCI application within India must pay a fee of Rs 15,000. The payment must be made through a demand draft drawn in favour of ‘Pay and Accounts Officer (Secretariat), Ministry of Home Affairs’, payable at New Delhi.

For applications submitted outside India, the fee remains USD 275 per application. Payment methods may vary by Indian mission or post, and applicants should check the official website of the respective mission for exact payment details in the local currency.

The updated fee structure includes:
● Fresh application for OCI: $275
● Reissuance of OCI with change of personal particulars: $25
● Reissuance of OCI when cardholder completes 20 years of age: $25
● Reissuance in case of loss of OCI card: $100
● Updation of passport details needs to be done within 3 months of issuance of a new passport and if it is done after that, a late fee of $25 is attracted
● Renunciation of OCI card: $25

OCI cardholders must update their new passport details within 3 months of the issuance of a new passport on the official OCI portal. This requirement applies to all OCI holders. If passport details are not updated within the 3-month deadline, a late fee of $25 will be charged.

To update passport details, applicants need to:
● Register on ociservices.gov.in
● Log in and access Online Registration
● Select OCI Miscellaneous Services
● Fill in and upload the requisite details including your photograph & signatures
● Submit the application
Applicants should verify applicable fees, exchange rates, and local rules with the concerned Indian mission or post before applying.