OCI cardholders are required to update their passport details on the OCI portal whenever they receive a new or renewed passport. The update is free if completed within 90 days of the issue of the new passport.
If the passport details are updated after 90 days, a late fee becomes payable. The High Commission states that this consists of US$25 (or its equivalent in local currency), plus ICWF and VFS service charges.
For applicants in the UK who have already submitted their passport-update application after the 90-day period, the High Commission has advised that they will receive a payment link and an email from authorised VFS Global email addresses. The applicant must complete the form and make the required payment before the application can be processed.
WARNING: Applicants should be particularly careful when making the payment. The High Commission has warned applicants to check that the payment link comes from the authorised VFS email addresses specified in its notice, as a precaution against cyber fraud.
What happens after payment?
Once the late fee and applicable charges have been paid and the required documents have been submitted, the application will be processed by the High Commission. The updated e-OCI can then be downloaded from the OCI portal once the application has been granted.
The High Commission’s current guidance says that new OCI registrations are now processed as e-OCI applications, with the new e-OCI generated online rather than a physical OCI booklet being issued.
Physical OCI booklets and e-OCI
The introduction of e-OCI represents a significant change to the way OCI status is documented.
New OCI applicants now receive an e-OCI rather than a physical OCI booklet. Existing OCI holders who still have a physical booklet can continue to use it; the High Commission confirms that existing physical OCI cards and e-OCI are valid travel documents. Existing cardholders can also download an e-OCI from the OCI portal.
At present, existing OCI holders are not required simply because of the new system to replace their physical booklet with an e-OCI. However, downloading the e-OCI provides an additional digital record of their OCI status.
Important points for OCI holders
- Update your new passport details within 90 days of the passport being issued to avoid the late fee.
- Updating passport details within the 90-day period is a gratis (free) service.
- After 90 days, a US$25 equivalent late fee, plus applicable ICWF and VFS charges, applies.
- Applicants who have already submitted a late application should look out for the VFS payment email and proforma.
- Check the sender and payment link carefully before making any payment.
- New OCI applications now result in an e-OCI rather than a physical booklet.
- Existing physical OCI booklets remain valid, and existing holders can also download their e-OCI after updation.
Kerala Link advice: OCI holders who have recently renewed their passport should not wait until they need to travel to India. Updating the passport details promptly – preferably within the 90-day period – avoids the additional charge and potential last-minute complications.
Note: The High Commission’s official notice specifies the late charge as US$25 plus ICWF and VFS charges. The exact sterling amount payable in the UK can vary according to the applicable exchange rate and current VFS charges, (currently around £52) so applicants should follow the payment link issued through the authorised VFS process rather than relying on an old fee figure.
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