OCI card application guide for UK residents

New OCI rules for 2026 (UK)

• There is no OCI renewal and no age-based re-issue. What changes is the passport, and the OCI record is updated to match it.
• The 90-day window runs from the new passport's issue date. Inside it, a straightforward passport-number change is an OCI Link at £100, completed online with no visa centre visit.
• Past 90 days the case becomes the OCI Passport Details Update at £125 with the e-OCI included and the late-update penalty is waived for updates received by 31 December 2026.
• Who attends depends on the card. Where only the passport or address changes, your update is handled online and you do not attend. A name or other particulars change goes through a visa centre appointment we book.
• The e-OCI is accepted at immigration and by airlines, so a replacement booklet is not issued for a passport change. Where your passport has not changed at all, the 90-day window does not apply.

Who is eligible for an OCI card

There are three common routes. (1) Former Indian citizens who acquired British (or other foreign) nationality — usually after surrendering the Indian passport and obtaining a renunciation/surrender certificate. (2) People of Indian descent, generally up to the third generation, evidenced through a parent's or grandparent's Indian passport and linking birth certificates. (3) Spouses of an Indian citizen or OCI holder, with the marriage certificate and the spouse's Indian passport/OCI. Under current rules, applications connected to certain nationalities (for example Pakistan or Bangladesh origin) are assessed differently — check with us before applying.

Document checklist (typical)

Current foreign passport; proof of Indian origin appropriate to your route; a birth certificate showing parents' names; an OCI-specification photograph and signature; UK address proof; and the completed, signed OCI application. Spouse-based applications also need the marriage certificate. Your exact checklist depends on your case — we confirm it after a short review.

How the application works

The application is completed on the official Government of India OCI system, with the photo and signature uploaded to specification. For the former-citizen and Indian-descent routes, fees are paid online and at the VFS centre, and the application is submitted in person at a VFS Global UK centre by appointment. Spouse-based applications are different: the appointment is at the High Commission by invitation, both spouses attend the interview, and the £218 government fee is paid to the High Commission with no visa centre fee. The new OCI is returned by post/courier. Government and VFS fees are paid directly to those bodies and are separate from our preparation fee.

What is included

• Plain-English eligibility explanation for your route
• A document checklist tailored after a short review
• Signposting to the correct Matrix service for your case
• WhatsApp triage before you commit to anything

Documents you may need

We tailor the exact list after we understand your case on WhatsApp or email. The following are typical starting points only.

• Current foreign passport (biodata page)
• Proof of Indian origin appropriate to your route
• Birth certificate showing parents' names
• OCI-specification photograph and signature
• UK address proof

Our process

1. 1

   Check eligibility

   Message us your situation; we confirm the route that applies.

2. 2

   Prepare documents

   We build the checklist and format your photo and signature to portal spec.

3. 3

   Submit at VFS

   You attend VFS once with a prepared file; we stay available on WhatsApp.

Processing time

Government processing is typically a few weeks from submission and is outside our control. We confirm current expectations when you book.

Frequently asked questions

What are the new OCI rules for 2026?+

There is no renewal and no age-based re-issue. A passport change is linked within 90 days by OCI Link at £100 online, or past 90 days by the £125 Passport Details Update, with the late-update penalty waived for updates received by 31 December 2026. The e-OCI is accepted, so no booklet is reissued.

How can I apply for an OCI card from the UK?+

Apply on the official OCI portal, then submit in person at a VFS Global centre in the UK. Matrix Solutions prepares the file, formats your photo and signature, checks the documents and guides the appointment. Our fee is £125 per applicant.

How long does it take to get an OCI?+

Processing is typically 25 to 40 days on the official system once the file is submitted, with card or e-OCI issue after that. Busy seasons run longer. We prepare and submit within 24 to 48 hours of receiving your documents.

What documents do you need for OCI?+

Generally your current foreign passport, proof of Indian origin such as an old Indian passport or a parent's, your birth certificate, a recent photograph and signature to specification, and a renunciation certificate where an Indian passport was held. We confirm the list for your case.

Do I have to surrender my Indian passport first?+

If you became a foreign citizen while holding an Indian passport, surrender and a renunciation certificate are usually required before Fresh OCI. We confirm the order for your case.

Where do I apply for the OCI itself?+

On the official OCI portal, with in-person submission at a VFS Global UK centre. We prepare the file and guide you through it.