Consular Services
Overseas Citizen of India Card (OCI Card)
The Constitution of India does not allow holding Indian citizenship and citizenship of a foreign country simultaneously. Based on the recommendation of the High-Level committee on Indian Diaspora, the Government of India decided to grant Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI). The Scheme of OCI in operational since December 2005.
As per section 7A of The Citizenship Act, 1955 (57 of 1955), following categories of foreign nationals are eligible for registration as Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Cardholder:
Any person of full age and capacity:
who is a citizen of another country, but was a citizen of India at the time of, or at any time after the commencement of the Constitution i.e. 26.01.1950; or
who is a citizen of another country, but was eligible to become a citizen of India at the time of the commencement of the Constitution i.e. on 26.01.1950; or
who is a citizen of another country, but belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15.08.1947; or
who is a child or a grandchild or a great grandchild of such a citizen; or
Note: No person, who or either of whose parents; or grandparents or great grandparents is or had been a citizen of Pakistan, Bangladesh or such other country as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify, shall be eligible for registration as an Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder.
Note: 'ordinarily resident' will mean a person staying in a particular country or in India for a continuous period of 6 months.
Applications for registration as OCI Cardholder is to be submitted only on the online system. For this purpose, please log on to https://ociservices.gov.in
Effective 30 June 2026, the Government of India has replaced the physical OCI booklet with an electronic Overseas Citizen of India (e-OCI) card, for both new applicants and existing OCI holders. Holders will no longer need to carry the physical OCI booklet for immigration clearance or other services, reducing the risk of loss, damage, duplication, or forgery.
Register or log in to the OCI portal (https://ociservices.gov.in)
Select “Apply for New OCI Application” and complete the online form, uploading the required documents.
Submit the duly filled application form at the Embassy along with the original documents for verification.
Pay the fee and complete biometric enrolment at the Embassy.
Once the OCI application is granted, the applicant will be notified by registered email/SMS that e-OCI card is ready for download.
Download the e-OCI card from the OCI portal.
Only the digital e-OCI card will be issued to all new applicants.
Log in to the OCI portal using your existing credentials.
Download your e-OCI card registration.
Physical OCI booklets shall remain valid for immigration clearance and other associated services.
After the launch of e-OCI card, the requirement of re-issuance OCI card on obtaining new passport after attaining age of 20 years has been dispensed with. Now OCI card holders shall be required to update their passport particulars on the OCI portal under “Apply for Miscellaneous Services” and give their biometrics to the Embassy or at the immigration in India at the time of first entry of departure, as the case may be, after such updation of the details. Upon updation of the details an automated notification will be send to the applicant’s registered email/SMS and updated e-OCI card can be downloaded from the portal. OCI card holders must update their passport details at the portal within three months of issuance of new passport. If the passport details are not updated within three months a fee will be charged.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR OCI CARD
Applicants who have formerly held Indian passport or who are of Indian origin are required to submit the following documents:
Hard copy/printout of duly filled in online Application form (https://www.ociservices.gov.in./)
Self-attested copy of the Estonian Passport
Photocopy of Surrender Certificate and cancelled Indian passport (If an Indian passport held previously).
If never had an Indian passport: Proof of your Indian origin (eg. photocopies of parents’ or grandparents’ Indian passports or OCI card, Nativity Certificate from competent authority in India and the proof of relationship thereof). The proof of relationship certificate can be obtained from Estonian authority.
Two recent photos. For more information of photo specification, please Click here (photo spec passport pdf)
current passport (Mandatory)
Proof of transfer of application fee (bank transfer receipt).
Bio-metric enrolment is mandatory
Copies of current valid passport and cancelled Indian passport of applicant/Indian origin proof of parents must be uploaded while filling the online application form on the portal.
Original Estonian passport or current valid passport must be presented at the Embassy at the time of submission of the application.
Note: Applicants are advised to read the instructions carefully on the online OCI portal before submitting the application. It is mandatory to upload all the relevant/supporting documents while filling the online application (failing which might delay the process) and submit copies of the same at the time of submission of printed/hard copy of application at the Embassy. Applicants may visit the OCI portal (https://ociservices.gov.in/) for latest guidelines and more details.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR OCI CARD ON THE BASIS OF INDIAN SPOUSE
Hard copy/printout of duly filled in online Application form (https://www.ociservices.gov.in./)
Self-attested copy of the Estonian Passport
Original Marriage Certificate with Apostile from the country of issue of Marriage Certificate (Please note that OCI card can only be applied after two years of marriage. If you get a divorce, you must have your OCI card cancelled)
Spouse’s original Indian passport/OCI card and copies thereof
Two recent photos. For more information of photo specification, please Click here (photo spec passport pdf)
Proof of transfer of application fee (bank transfer receipt).
Bio-metric enrolment is mandatory
All applicants who are applying for OCI card on spouse basis under section 7A(1)(d) of Citizenship Act, 1955 need to come to the Embassy for personal interview.
Copies of current valid passport, Indian passport/OCI card of spouse, Notarized/Apostilled Marriage Certificate must be uploaded while filling the online application form on the portal.
Original Estonian passport or current valid passport must be presented at the Embassy at the time of submission of the application.
Note: Applicants are advised to read the instructions carefully on the online OCI portal before submitting the application. It is mandatory to upload all the relevant/supporting documents while filling the online application (failing which might delay the process) and submit copies of the same at the time of submission of printed/hard copy of application at the Embassy. Applicants may visit the OCI portal (https://ociservices.gov.in/) for latest guidelines and more details.
OCI Misc services (change of particular, lost/damage OCI card, updation of new passport etc.) can be availed by all registered OCIs at: https://ociservices.gov.in/.
The applicants are required to submit the hard copy/printout of the duly filled online application form along with the relevant documents in person to Indian Embassy between 9-12 AM on working days. After scrutinizing the documents by the Embassy, mandatory biometric enrolment of the applicant will be taken, after which the application would be processed.
The processing time takes approximately five-six weeks for issue of New (Fresh) OCI card/renewal of OCI card/conversion of PIO card to OCI card. The applicants who are applying for OCI cards on the basis of their spouse (Foreign Spouse Application), the processing time may be much longer than usual.
Application fee for OCI card is mentioned below:
· First Application – Euro 254
· OCI card in lieu of lost/damaged OCI card – Euro 95
· Conversion of PIO Card to OCI card – Euro 95
The fee must be transferred to the Embassy’s bank account.
Embassy's bank details:
Recipient: India Vabariigi Suursaatkond
Account number: EE752200221078480334
Swift: HABA22X
Message: Applicants’ full name and the service applied for
