Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI)

I have recently applied for my OCI in VFS Hounslow. Thought I would share the list of documents I have provided.
1. British passport
2. Naturalisation certificate
3. Surrendered Indian passport
4. Passport Surrender certificate
5. Marriage certificate
6. Wife's British passport
7. Letter from employer
8. Address proof
9. Completed application form
10. Appointment letter
11. Indian voter ID declaration

Upload these documents online. Selection of the document type from the drop down need not match with the actual document type.
I would advise to carry self attested copies of all the above documents. For passport, take copies of front and the back pages

***Renunciation is no longer needed.

Hi,


Hope you could help me clarify what needs to be entered for the following fields in the OCI application form:

1. National Identification Number: UK NI number? Is it okay to leave it blank even if you have a NI number?

2. Relation with the root Indian: Self? As I was an Indian citizen previously and held an Indian passport?

3. Father's name: My father's name is spelt wrong in my Indian passport. I did have an issue while surrendering my Indian passport, as I had entered the name as it appears in my father's passport. At VFS they cross checked my father's name in my application form against my passport which was a mismatch and I had to redo the whole application.
For eg:
Father's name : JAYRAM JAGDEESH
Father's name in my passport: JAY RAM JAGDEESH (There is an unwanted space in the first name)

I would like to have the correct spelling in my OCI . Is it possible to do so while applying for my OCI? If yes what are the additional supporting documents required? Or do I just go ahead with the spelling in my passport?

4. Relatives in India: I have provided my parents details. Do I give their latest address or should it match the one in their passport?

5. Would they keep the British passport? or do I need to go to VFS a second time when my application status says PROCESSED? I have travel plans this month and in April and I'm hoping to book my appointment for next week.

Would be really grateful for a response.
Thanks in advance!

Dear All,
I did my OCI > 6 yrs back.
Now want to apply for wife (Indian) Passport.

1. How should I begin? First Surrender Certificate - where to apply website, once I get this, then apply for below
2. VFS OCI?

Also if she wants to travel and OCI still in process can she apply for e-Visa for India and come back on it?

chaitumsk wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 27, 2025 12:55 pm

I have recently applied for my OCI in VFS Hounslow. Thought I would share the list of documents I have provided.
1. British passport
2. Naturalisation certificate
3. Surrendered Indian passport
4. Passport Surrender certificate
5. Marriage certificate
6. Wife's British passport
7. Letter from employer
8. Address proof
9. Completed application form
10. Appointment letter
11. Indian voter ID declaration

Upload these documents online. Selection of the document type from the drop down need not match with the actual document type.
I would advise to carry self attested copies of all the above documents. For passport, take copies of front and the back pages

***Renunciation is no longer needed.

Thank you for this list and information. One question: Did you have to submit any voterID / ration card surrender acknowledgement document [eg Form 7 ] ? Did they ask for it?

Indian Passport Application in London – Tips for a Smooth Process
I recently applied for my Indian passport at VFS, Hounslow, London, and the process was quick and hassle-free. If you can, I highly recommend going there.

Key Tips to Avoid Issues:
Photo Consistency – The digital photo uploaded must match the physical photo exactly. Poor-quality uploads can cause delays.
Use Your New Passport Details – Your old Indian passport is invalid after surrender. Enter details from your new (Non-Indian) passport instead.
Place of Issue – For UK passports, enter ‘HMPO’ (His Majesty’s Passport Office) as the issuing authority.
First-Time Applicants – Leave the previous passport details section blank if this is your first passport.
Surrender Certificate Only – You don’t need a renunciation certificate anymore, just the surrender certificate.
Final Note on OCI Applications
Getting a British passport was straightforward, but the OCI application is much more complicated, so be prepared for extra paperwork and processing time.

Hope this helps—drop a comment if you have questions!

RavRamPatel wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 28, 2024 7:08 pm

Hello all, I have booked an appointment at VFS Hounslow for a chargeable miscellaneous OCI renewal service. I wanted to know if they will keep my passport? I wanted to make an emergency trip to India and have applied for an e-visa as my OCI hasn't been renewed after age 20 hence I was refused boarding at Heathrow.

What original documents will they keep. Previously I had to supply 2 silver RM Special Delivery bags for returning the original documents and the OCI.

If they do keep the passport, I will schedule a visit to VFS after returning from India.

Thank you dear team.

Hello, do they keep the passport (foreign passport and not the Indian passport)? I am in a similar situation and I have plans for travelling one day after my appointment.

Hi,

After two years of waiting for a response of my Passport cancellation and surrender certificate request I received a letter in the mail saying that my passport has been revoked with no surrender certificate.

But I am told that you can still apply for OCI with a revoked passport. Is that true? Also, do you receive your revoked passport back and from where? I have been trying to contact VFS to check on this to pick up but I am not receiving a reply.

Can anyone advise please?

Thank you

MEA has issued clarification that Revocation Certificate will also be a valid document in lieu of Surrender Certificate for obtaining OCI Card

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nr ... 491750.cms

Online application submission date: 16-Feb-25
Appointment date: 21-Feb-25 ( Original surrender cert & self-attested copies of all the required docs. Same uploaded online. Choose any available category.)
Appointment location: VFS Hounslow
Acknowledgement: 24-Feb-25
Supporting Doc received : 27-Feb-25 (Only surrender cert came back)
Processed on: 9-Apr-25 (6-7 Weeks from ack. The status doesn't change afterwards)
OCI Card received: 16-Apr-25 (SMS from DX received a day before and they dropped the cards in the letterbox at 7am!)

The staff at Hounslow were fantastic throughout the surrender and OCI process. All of them have been very helpful.