Matrix Solutions — Indian documentation support

Compare OCI services

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, both handled online, 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.

Confirm my route on WhatsAppCheck OCI eligibility →

Quick answer

OCI Link (£100) is for a straightforward passport-number change — same name, valid card — whether within around 90 days or past it. Within the window it is fully online, with no VFS visit; past the window it is completed through a VFS appointment we book. This applies at any age, including 50+ and 60+. If your OCI was obtained through your spouse, OCI Link generally still applies — Matrix provides the special declaration forms required. The OCI Passport Details Update (£125, fully online, 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. It is handled online too — no VFS visit. If more than around 90 days have passed since the new passport was issued, OCI Link is still the route (£100), completed at a VFS appointment, and £52.78 is payable in person at VFS (£20 Government of India fee + £3 ICWF + £29.78 VFS service fee) in that case. A first passport after turning 20, where the OCI was issued under 20, is a one-time OCI re-issue; we confirm the exact route and cost for that case. 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) — including OCI obtained through a spouse, at any age (50+, 60+), within around 90 days or past itName/nationality change, lost or damaged card, facial appearance change, ex-spouse name removal, address change, or wrong-details correction
e-OCI included?Your existing card stays; details are linked onlineYes — an e-OCI reflecting the updated details is included
VFS visitOnline (no VFS visit) within 90 days; a VFS appointment we book if past the windowHandled online; no VFS visit
TimingBest done within around 90 days of the new passport — link as soon as it arrives (fully online). Past that window it is still OCI Link but via a VFS appointment we book; £52.78 is payable at VFS (£20 Government of India fee + £3 ICWF + £29.78 VFS service fee).When the listed changes occur.
Fee£100 — Matrix Solutions flat fee (any government fees separate)£125 — Matrix Solutions flat fee, e-OCI included (any government 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) and your name and all details are the same as on your OCI — ideally within around 90 days of the new passport's issue date, though it is still an OCI Link if that window has passed (completed at a VFS appointment we book). Linking applies at any age; there is no upper cut-off (50+, 60+ all use OCI Link). If your OCI was obtained through your spouse, OCI Link also applies — Matrix provides the special declaration forms needed. For OCI holders under 20 with a new passport, OCI Link is also the correct route. 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, so starting early keeps things simplest and online, and avoids the VFS appointment and the £52.78 payable in person at VFS (£20 Government of India fee + £3 ICWF + £29.78 VFS service fee) if the window has passed.

OCI Link service →Check your route →

Choose the OCI Passport Details Update if…

Any of the following generally uses the OCI Passport Details Update — a fully online update with an e-OCI included: 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). For a first passport after turning 20, where the OCI was originally issued under 20, a one-time OCI re-issue applies — we confirm the exact route and cost for that case, and future passport changes then go back to OCI Link.

OCI Passport Details Update service →

The age cases (often misunderstood)

  • Under 20: a new passport is generally handled by online OCI Link — no VFS visit at this age.
  • First passport after turning 20 (when the OCI was originally issued under 20): a one-time OCI re-issue applies; we confirm the exact route and cost, and after that normal OCI Link applies again for future passports.
  • Turning 50 on its own does not trigger any re-issue — that is a common myth. Adults of any age simply link each new passport online.

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, and avoids 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, and nothing else has changed, OCI Link is still the route (£100) — but past the window it is completed through a VFS appointment we book, and you attend VFS in person. In that case £52.78 is payable in person at VFS (£20 Government of India fee + £3 ICWF + £29.78 VFS service fee), in addition to the £100 Matrix Solutions flat fee. Contact Matrix Solutions on WhatsApp to confirm next steps.

Full OCI renewal & linking guide →

Travelling to India — physical OCI booklet

Your physical OCI booklet is required for travel to India. There are social media posts suggesting that a digital or mobile OCI card is accepted — there is no official update from the Indian government to support this. Until an official announcement is made, carry the physical OCI booklet when travelling. 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 → generally OCI Link.
  • Under 20, new passport, same name → generally OCI Link (within around 90 days).
  • Changed surname on the new passport after marriage → OCI Passport Details Update.
  • OCI issued at 16, now 21 and getting the first adult passport → a one-time OCI re-issue; we confirm the exact route and cost, then OCI Link for later passports.
  • OCI card lost or damaged → OCI Passport Details Update.
  • Passport renewed at 58 or 65, same name → OCI Link (age alone changes nothing).
  • 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 Link (£100) 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 → 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, whether within around 90 days or past it (online within the window, or via a VFS appointment we book if past it). The OCI Passport Details Update (£125, fully online, e-OCI included) 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. A first passport after turning 20, where the OCI was issued under 20, is a one-time OCI re-issue — we confirm the exact route and cost.
Is OCI Link the same as the OCI Passport Details Update?
No. OCI Link is a simple online passport-number link (£100, no VFS visit). The OCI Passport Details Update is a separate online service (£125, e-OCI included, no VFS visit) for wider changes such as a name or nationality change, or a lost or damaged card. They are different services for different situations, and both are handled online.
I renewed my passport — which one do I need?
For a renewed passport with the same name and a valid card — OCI Link, whether within around 90 days or past it. 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, OCI Link is still the route — completed at 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, online, with an e-OCI included. Send your details to confirm.
I'm under 20 — what do I need for a new passport?
Under 20, a new passport is handled by OCI Link, online, ideally within around 90 days. A one-time OCI re-issue applies at the first passport after turning 20 (if the OCI was issued under 20) — we confirm the exact route and cost then.
Do I need anything special for my OCI at 50?
Not for age alone. Turning 50 does not trigger any re-issue. A new passport is simply linked again via OCI Link, online — at any age, for life.
I got OCI through my spouse — Link or the details update?
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. 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 and nothing else has changed, the route is still OCI Link (£100) — but past the window it is completed through a VFS appointment we book, and 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) in that case, alongside the £100 Matrix Solutions flat 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, 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, 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, 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, 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?
Yes. The physical OCI booklet is required for travel to India. There are social media posts about a digital or mobile OCI card — there is no official Indian government update confirming this is accepted. Until an official announcement, carry the physical booklet.
Are biometrics required for the OCI Passport Details Update?
The OCI Passport Details Update is handled online, with no VFS visit, so it does not involve an in-person biometric appointment. OCI Link is online too, with no VFS visit. If your wider circumstances ever call for an in-person step, we flag it and confirm what applies to your specific case.
How much does each one cost?
OCI Link is £100 (Matrix Solutions flat fee); the OCI Passport Details Update is £125 (Matrix Solutions flat fee, e-OCI included). 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. 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.

Message Matrix SolutionsCheck OCI eligibility →