Some OCI services updates and new OCI Card 2026 rules took effect starting April 1, alongside the reduced customs duty on international arrivals’ foreign imports to India. The Government of India has stopped accepting the PIO Card as a valid travel document. OCI Cardholders must obtain a Digital e-Arrival Card before boarding flights to India, as the physical disembarkation form has been discontinued permanently. Also, the OCI service portal has been revamped for a more seamless user experience.
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)
Check out our simplified take on the OCI guidelines regarding when to renew your OCI Card for a fee and when to update it online for free. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter for international travel news, visa updates, diaspora stories, Indian Eagle deals, and flight discount offers.
Latest updates for OCI Cardholders in 2026
- When a new passport update is pending, OCI Card holders can travel to and from India given the previous OCI Card was valid.
- OCI applicants among children may not need to visit the VFS Global center for an appointment. Parents can attend with proper authorization.
- Foreign spouses of OCI Cardholders and Indian citizens must upload their latest photo, new passport, and a marriage declaration online after every passport renewal.
Very Informative and very good
Guidelines.
Hi Ramesh! Alongside offering unbeatable flight deals for US-India travel, we strive to provide the latest information that makes a difference to our customers and community members.
Really good information
Why is that an Australian citizen having issues when the same documents accepted and OCI granted for a family member from Malaysia but not for an Australian
Why does india always make things difficult and cumbersome. We are in a digital world and things like making applications etc shoukd be made easy. Now for some weird reason they want new OCI applicants to come personally for submitting applications.
We used to have applications submitted by post now since April they want it to be submitted in person. Indians have to take days off from work, loose time and money . Modi wants to simplify process and as usual we Indians move one step forward and 2 backwards. Jai ho Bharat msta ki jai.
Very well said , I fully agree
Yes yes yes
May I have some more information about OCI card, I M 72,
Hi Sir! You can write your question here or email to us at share@indianeagle.com.
I am a Norwegian citizen of Indian origin.shifted to UAE an year back. Where can I get my OCI card applied in UAE?
Also where to apply for digital e-arrival?
Hi Shams! You can check our our Instagram video on how to apply for Digital e-Arrival Card for India.
Hi, I hold an OCI card since 2015. I thought OCI cards are for life.
I renewed my US passport in January 2025. What do I need to do with regard to my OCI card?
Hi Stephania! You need to update your new passport details on the OCI portal. Since you got late, you need to pay a late fee of $25.
.I am surprised that in today’s digital age Indian OCI application process asking for birth and marriage certificates of foreign born children and spouse need to be apostles. This need lot of unnecessary effort time and money. Please abolish this requirement
This looks great but whenever we go to Embassy office or so called their brokers VFS they treat their customers like making hostility behaviour, I haven’t been issued any OCI since 20 Years living in UK, every time I go there, they don’t have any printed forms which should be available at their office for walk in customers. But they need Online application filled appointment, despite Online application or appointment you can’t get unless you have list of documents. If you haven’t any little spelling mistakes or some of information not correct they will not accept application. I was born and brought up in India. I don’t have my Indian passport with me. As I have traveled to UK with EEU Passport. Now they are saying that your Birth certificate needed to be restamped from India and all the Marriage Certificate as well with all other documents. Which makes a lot more hassle for me. Despite of i provided my Degree certificate which they didn’t accept. Now my wife and children they got all their British Passports and their OCI card but I get denied on various occasions because they have their Indian Plus American passport. I am still struggling to get OCI. In my own country I need to apply visa in emergency. When all other 180 countries ì get visa on arrival.
Sounds fair , good information
Hi Chandrakant! Thank you for the appreciation! We strive to keep our customers and community members up to date.
Hi
Is there any way if we can check current status of OCI ?
Daughter in law Born in Pakistan, Naturalised Indian Citizen since 2004, Swedish Citizen since 2021.
Grandson born in India to naturalised Indian Citizen Mother and Maternal Grand mother ( ex pak citizen), swedish Citizen since 2021. Are they eligible for OCI Card?
Can I apply if I was born in Mauritius
You can apply for OCM, NOT OCI
Hello I am srilankan nationality’ married to Indian nationality for 15 years ( punjabi ) and i am holding OCI life long citizenship card. I have daughter 13 years old’ her document is clear. we came to India 2024/05/19 I am living in India punjab ferozepur.
i apply for my ardadr card and it get rejected twice. I just need to be clear that srilankan nationality holding OCI Indian life long citizenship card can apply for ARDAR ID or no.
Perhaps it is due to the amount of fraud by unscrupulous elements to get OCI cards.
Can someone help us in India to apply for OCI and surrender cert.
thanks 🙏
Inder
Im a Malaysian and my parents were from India and both passed away years back. I dont have of their document to say that they were Indian citizen
Can I apply for OCI
Even in india one needs to pay USD 275 I just did today amounting to RS 25696/-
Hello,
I just read your article about OCI rules for 2026.
I’m curious about applying for the OCI in New Delhi as I’ll be there for a few months in October this year.
Being 72 and disabled, does your office assist in the application and securing the OCI in india or Canada?
Originally from India, currently I’m a Canadian Citizen
Hi,
My daughter is born in Toronto Canada,
How can I get the Appostile on birth certificate as we are in India since couple months.
I do have birth certificate issued from Ontario ministry of Birth certificate long and short certificates.
Can I apply for OCI on evisa or I have to be on X-visa in order to apply for OCI?
Hi Shekar! In our knowledge, it can be an e-visa to India.
India government all ways change rules for NRI
In taxation to investment
After some years Changes
We are Malaysian me and spouse holding life time OCI . Please advise me whether after our Malaysian passport next renewal 2027 are we need to update OCI card? On few occasions travel to India no issues at immigration.
My wife born in Tranzania. How can I apply OCI for her
My daughter is US citizen and we got married in the US. Do we need to get our marriage certificate apostilled along with her birth certificate too?
Indian Eagle refers to Reissuance of OCI incorrectly calling it Renewal !!! Passports have Expiry date therefore requires RENEWAL, however, OCI is Lifelong with NO Expiry date and, so, either requires UPDATE (that’s thankfully free & Online for changes to Passport, address & occupation) OR requires REISSUANCE (fee applies) and after application submitted to FRRO or VFS, the holder is issued a fresh OCI book with revised details and old OCI is returned cancelled.
Finally, everyone in travel & banking trades MUST stop referring to OCI holders as NRI; that’s not only ridiculous but illogical, because NRI are Citizens of India whereas OCI are foreign citizens of India Origin (lawfully, India doesn’t allow dual citizenship).
Thank you.
Hi Mr Jeetendra! We made the correction following your suggestion. Unlike others, we know OCI and NRI are two different categories. We try our best not to mix up them. Thank you for following Indian Eagle!
Good info
Rules are brought in, but how the incompetent babus at the airport interpret them and unnecessarily cause inconvenience is another topic.