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OCI Link vs the OCI Passport Details Update — which do I need?

If you already hold an OCI card and something has changed — a new passport, a new name, or a lost card — you may be unsure whether you need OCI Link or the OCI Passport Details Update. They are two different services — OCI Link is online within the 90-day window, while the OCI Passport Details Update is online within the window and is also the route for any case past it, completed through a VFS appointment we book — and choosing the right one first saves time. This page explains the difference in plain English. Matrix Solutions is independent UK preparation support; the final decision sits with the relevant Indian authority.

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Quick answer

OCI Link (£100) is for a straightforward passport-number change — same name, valid card — within around 90 days of the new passport's issue date. It is fully online, with no VFS visit and nothing payable at VFS. If your OCI was obtained through your spouse, OCI Link generally still applies within the window — Matrix provides the special declaration forms required. The OCI Passport Details Update (£125, e-OCI included) is the route for a name change, nationality change, lost or damaged card, facial appearance change, ex-spouse name removal, or address change on OCI — online within the 90-day window. Past around 90 days, any case — including a simple passport-number change — goes through our OCI Passport Details Update service: our fee is £125 (e-OCI included) and it is completed through a VFS appointment we book, with £52.78 payable at VFS (£20 Government of India fee + £3 ICWF + £29.78 VFS service fee). Key advice: link as soon as the passport arrives; the roughly 90-day counter runs from the passport issue date, so starting early keeps things simplest and online.

At a glance

 OCI LinkOCI Passport Details Update
What it isAn online update linking your existing OCI to your current passportAn online update to your OCI passport details, with an e-OCI included
Typically used forA passport-number change (renewed passport, same name) within around 90 days of the new passport — including OCI obtained through a spouseName/nationality change, lost or damaged card, facial appearance change, ex-spouse name removal, address change, or wrong-details correction — and any case past around 90 days, including a simple passport-number change
e-OCI included?Your existing card stays; details are linked onlineYes — an e-OCI reflecting the updated details is included
VFS visitNo VFS visit — online within 90 days only. Past 90 days, the case moves to the OCI Passport Details Update (£125) through a VFS appointment we bookOnline (no VFS visit) within 90 days; a VFS appointment we book if past the window
TimingWithin around 90 days of the new passport — link as soon as it arrives (fully online). Past that window it is no longer an OCI Link: it moves to the OCI Passport Details Update (£125, e-OCI included) through a VFS appointment we book, with £52.78 payable at VFS (£20 Government of India fee + £3 ICWF + £29.78 VFS service fee).When the listed changes occur (online within 90 days), or for any case past around 90 days (a VFS appointment we book).
Fee£100 — Matrix Solutions flat fee, within 90 days only (any government fees separate)£125 — Matrix Solutions flat fee, e-OCI included; also our fee for any case past 90 days (government and VFS fees separate)

Fees are shown on each service page; any government or VFS amount, such as the £52.78 payable at VFS (£20 Government of India fee + £3 ICWF + £29.78 VFS service fee) when a passport is past the roughly 90-day window, is separate.

Choose OCI Link if…

Your passport number has changed (renewed or replaced), your name and all details are the same as on your OCI, and you are within around 90 days of the new passport's issue date. If your OCI was obtained through your spouse, OCI Link also applies — Matrix provides the special declaration forms needed. Important: link as soon as the passport arrives. The roughly 90-day window runs from the issue date, not from when you start the process. Past 90 days, our fee is £125 (the OCI Passport Details Update, e-OCI included) and it is completed through a VFS appointment we book, with £52.78 payable at VFS (£20 Government of India fee + £3 ICWF + £29.78 VFS service fee) — so starting early keeps things simplest and online.

OCI Link service →Past 90 days? OCI Passport Details Update →Check your route →

Choose the OCI Passport Details Update if…

Any of the following generally uses the OCI Passport Details Update (£125, e-OCI included; online within the 90-day window, or through a VFS appointment we book if past it): a name change (marriage, last name); nationality change (e.g. Australian → British — Indian origin proof is not needed again for a nationality transfer); lost, stolen or damaged card; major change in facial appearance; ex-spouse name removal from OCI; address change on OCI; or wrong details on OCI (DOB or citizenship). Past around 90 days, any case — including a simple passport-number change — also uses the OCI Passport Details Update, with £52.78 payable at VFS (£20 Government of India fee + £3 ICWF + £29.78 VFS service fee).

OCI Passport Details Update service →

The 90-day window — link immediately

Act as soon as the passport arrives

A key piece of advice on this page: link as soon as the passport arrives. The roughly 90-day window is counted from the passport's issue date, not from when you start the process, so starting early keeps things simplest and fully online at £100, and avoids the £125 OCI Passport Details Update, the VFS appointment and the £52.78 payable at VFS that apply past the window. Once you receive the new passport, start the OCI Link process without delay.

If 90 days have already passed

If more than around 90 days have already passed since the new passport was issued — even if nothing else has changed — the case moves to our OCI Passport Details Update service: our fee is £125 (e-OCI included) and it is completed through a VFS appointment we book; you attend VFS in person. £52.78 is payable in person at VFS (£20 Government of India fee + £3 ICWF + £29.78 VFS service fee), separate from our £125 fee. Contact Matrix Solutions on WhatsApp to confirm next steps.

Full OCI renewal & linking guide →OCI Passport Details Update service →

Travelling to India — your OCI at the airport

The Bureau of Immigration advises that the digital e-OCI can be presented at immigration check posts and to airlines. Individual carriers and officers may still run their own checks, so carry your passport and, where possible, your physical OCI card as well. If you have urgent travel within two days and your OCI situation is unresolved, contact Matrix Solutions immediately on WhatsApp.

Worked examples

  • Renewed British passport, same name, valid card, within around 90 days → generally OCI Link.
  • Changed surname on the new passport after marriage → OCI Passport Details Update.
  • OCI card lost or damaged → OCI Passport Details Update.
  • Changed nationality from Australian to British → OCI Passport Details Update; Indian origin proof is not required again.
  • OCI address needs updating → OCI Passport Details Update.
  • Need to remove ex-spouse's name from OCI → OCI Passport Details Update.
  • Wrong DOB on OCI → OCI Passport Details Update; send your card so we confirm the checklist.
  • More than around 90 days since the new passport was issued, nothing else changed → OCI Passport Details Update (£125, e-OCI included) via a VFS appointment we book, with £52.78 payable at VFS (£20 Government of India fee + £3 ICWF + £29.78 VFS service fee).
  • Spouse obtained OCI through marriage, new passport, same name, within around 90 days → OCI Link (Matrix provides declaration forms).

Examples are general guidance; the route for your case is confirmed with your documents.

Common questions

Do I need a full passport-details update, or only a link?
OCI Link (£100) keeps your existing OCI and links it to your new passport — for a straightforward renewal with the same name and a valid card, within around 90 days of the new passport's issue date (fully online). The OCI Passport Details Update (£125, e-OCI included; online within the window, or via a VFS appointment we book if past it) applies for a name or nationality change, lost or damaged card, facial appearance change, ex-spouse name removal, address change, or a wrong-details correction — and for any case past around 90 days, including a simple passport-number change, with £52.78 payable at VFS (£20 Government of India fee + £3 ICWF + £29.78 VFS service fee).
Is OCI Link the same as the OCI Passport Details Update?
No. OCI Link (£100) is a passport-number link within around 90 days of the new passport's issue date, fully online with no VFS visit. The OCI Passport Details Update (£125, e-OCI included) is a separate service for wider changes such as a name or nationality change, or a lost or damaged card — online within the 90-day window. Past the window, any case — including a simple passport-number change — is handled by the OCI Passport Details Update through a VFS appointment we book, with £52.78 payable at VFS (£20 Government of India fee + £3 ICWF + £29.78 VFS service fee).
I renewed my passport — which one do I need?
For a renewed passport with the same name and a valid card, within around 90 days of the new passport's issue date — OCI Link (£100, fully online). If your name or other details changed, the OCI Passport Details Update. If more than around 90 days have passed since the new passport was issued, our fee is £125 (the OCI Passport Details Update, e-OCI included) and it is completed through a VFS appointment we book, with £52.78 payable at VFS (£20 Government of India fee + £3 ICWF + £29.78 VFS service fee).
Does a name change use the OCI Passport Details Update?
Yes — a name change (marriage, last name) is handled by the OCI Passport Details Update (e-OCI included — online within the 90-day window, or via a VFS appointment we book if past it). Send your details to confirm.
I got OCI through my spouse — Link or the details update?
Within around 90 days of the new passport's issue date, OCI Link — the same £100 online route as other OCI holders. You will need a special declaration of subsisting marriage and your spouse's documents. Matrix Solutions provides the declaration forms. Past 90 days, our fee is £125 (the OCI Passport Details Update, e-OCI included), completed through a VFS appointment we book, with £52.78 payable at VFS (£20 Government of India fee + £3 ICWF + £29.78 VFS service fee). If your name changed, the OCI Passport Details Update applies instead.
What if I missed the 90-day window?
If more than around 90 days have passed since the new passport was issued — even if nothing else has changed — our fee is £125 (the OCI Passport Details Update, e-OCI included) and it is completed through a VFS appointment we book; you attend VFS in person. £52.78 is payable in person at VFS (£20 Government of India fee + £3 ICWF + £29.78 VFS service fee), separate from our £125 fee. WhatsApp Matrix Solutions to confirm your next steps.
How do I remove my ex-spouse's name from my OCI?
This is handled by the OCI Passport Details Update (online within the 90-day window, or via a VFS appointment we book if past it), with an e-OCI reflecting the updated details included. Send your documents to confirm the checklist for your case.
My OCI address is outdated — what do I do?
An address change on the OCI is handled through the OCI Passport Details Update (online within the 90-day window, or via a VFS appointment we book if past it), with an e-OCI included. WhatsApp Matrix Solutions with your current OCI to confirm the document checklist.
I changed nationality (e.g. Australian to British) — do I need to prove Indian origin again?
No. A nationality change uses the OCI Passport Details Update (online within the 90-day window, or via a VFS appointment we book if past it), with an e-OCI reflecting the new nationality, but Indian origin proof is not required again for a nationality transfer. Your existing OCI history is sufficient. We confirm the checklist for your specific case.
There is a wrong detail (DOB or citizenship) on my OCI — what do I do?
A wrong detail such as DOB or citizenship is corrected through the OCI Passport Details Update (online within the 90-day window, or via a VFS appointment we book if past it), with an e-OCI reflecting the corrected details included. Contact Matrix Solutions with your OCI card so we confirm the checklist for your case.
Do I need to carry my physical OCI booklet to travel to India?
Not necessarily. The Bureau of Immigration advises that the digital e-OCI can be presented at immigration check posts and to airlines. Individual carriers and officers may still run their own checks, so we recommend carrying your passport and, where possible, your physical card as well.
Are biometrics required for the OCI Passport Details Update?
Within the 90-day window, the OCI Passport Details Update and OCI Link are handled online, with no VFS visit, so they do not involve an in-person biometric appointment. Past the window, any case — including a simple passport-number change — is handled by the OCI Passport Details Update (£125, e-OCI included) through a VFS appointment we book, with £52.78 payable at VFS (£20 Government of India fee + £3 ICWF + £29.78 VFS service fee); we confirm any biometric requirement for your case before you pay.
How much does each one cost?
OCI Link is £100 (Matrix Solutions flat fee) for online linking within around 90 days of the new passport's issue date. The OCI Passport Details Update is £125 (Matrix Solutions flat fee, e-OCI included) — this is also our fee for any case past the 90-day window, including a simple passport-number change. Any government or VFS amount — such as the £52.78 payable at VFS (£20 Government of India fee + £3 ICWF + £29.78 VFS service fee) when a passport is past the roughly 90-day window — is separate and not part of our fee. We confirm what applies to your case before you pay.
Can Matrix Solutions confirm which one I need?
Yes. Send your OCI card and passport details on WhatsApp and we confirm the route before you commit. The final decision sits with the relevant authority.

Still not sure?

The simplest next step is to confirm your case before you book or pay. Our free eligibility checker takes about a minute, or you can send your OCI card and new passport details on WhatsApp and we confirm whether your case is OCI Link or the OCI Passport Details Update.

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