OCI Card Key 2026 Rules & Updates
The Bureau of Immigration India has revised OCI service fees and officially removed the 6-month stay requirement for applicants in India. The OCI Card 2026 rules also include clearer documentation rules, simplified passport update norms, and stricter compliance for specific categories like children and foreign spouses.
India removes 6-month stay rule for OCI Applicants
The OCI Card rules in 2026 include no 6-month stay requirement for OCI applicants applying from India. Earlier, applicants applying for an OCI Card in India often faced confusion around proving “ordinary residence,” which was commonly interpreted as a six-month stay. This led to delays and uncertainty.
Effective 8 April 2026, the Bureau of Immigration India has officially clarified that eligible foreign nationals can apply for OCI without completing six months of stay in India. As long as you have a valid visa and required documents, you can submit your application soon after arrival in India.
Revised fees for OCI Card services
The revised fee structure for OCI Card services is effective starting 1 April 2026. The new OCI application fee continues to be fixed at USD 275 (same as before) or its equivalent amount in local currencies outside India. If you file a fresh application in the UAE, you need to pay approximately AED 1,010 (equivalent to USD 275) other than an additional service charge. The OCI application fee in Singapore is SGD 349. The new OCI registration in Canada costs CAD 376, effective April 2026.
Rs 15,000 is the standard fee for fresh OCI Card applications submitted within India. The fee must be paid through a demand draft drawn in favor of “Pay and Accounts Officer (secretariat), Ministry of Home Affairs”, payable at New Delhi.
- USD 275: Fresh OCI application abroad
- Rs 15,000: Fresh OCI application in India
- USD 25: OCI Card reissuance with change in personal details
- USD 100: Duplicate OCI Card issuance (lost or damaged)
- USD 25: OCI Card reissuance after 20 years of the cardholder’s age
- USD 25: OCI Card renunciation
- USD 25: A late fee for updation of passport details after 3 months of a new passport issued
OCI Card 2026 rules for children and foreign spouses
The OCI Card latest updates also include clearer requirements for specific categories of applicants. For children, the apostille of birth certificates has become an important step in the fresh OCI application process.
For foreign spouses of Indian citizens or OCI cardholders, stricter compliance is required. Applicants must provide updated passport details along with a declaration confirming that the marriage is still valid. In some cases, children may not need to be physically present at centers like VFS Global if both parents provide consent.
List of documents required for OCI Card in India (2026)
- Foreign passport (with sufficient validity)
- Foreign citizenship proof (naturalization certificate, if applicable)
- Proof of Indian origin (old Indian passport, surrender certificate, or relevant documents)
- Recent passport-size photograph (as per OCI specifications)
- Signature (for online application upload)
- Valid Indian visa or residence permit
- Address proof in India (rent agreement, utility bill, or declaration)
- Marriage certificate (for spouse-based OCI applications)
- Birth certificate (mandatory for child applicants; must be apostilled if issued outside India)
- Registration Certificate/Residential Permit (required only if your visa mandates FRRO registration)
