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For OCI Cardholders travelling to India it is mandatory to carry their old passport bearing its number in the OCI card.

Apply Here: Official Website

OCI cardholders, please visit OCI Cardholders Information Update

General Instructions

Please note that it is mandatory for applicants applying for OCI Card to upload his/her image and signature image in jpeg or jpg format, specifications are given in succeeding paragraphs. Kindly be ready with both images before starting the registration process.

The applicants have to submit the application form online. Please log on to OCI Services and upload all the requisite documents (self-attested) in a PDF file, photograph and signature (in case of minors who cannot sign, left hand thumb impression in black or blue ink) along with the application.

After submission of the complete online application, the applicant is required to take a print out of the application and submit the same along with the originals and self-attested copies of the required documents and fee at the Embassy. The originals are returned to the applicants after verification in about 2 weeks.

Specifications of the photograph: Photograph to be affixed on the application should be of square shape of size not less than 51x51 mm (the image must be in jpg or jpeg with max size 200 KB - minimum dimension 200 pixels (width) x 200 pixels (height); maximum dimension 900 pixels (width) x 900 pixels (height) with 80% coverage of face) in matte finish as is given for the Argentinian/Uruguayan/Paraguayan passport. It should have plain light color background (not white) without the border with front view of person’s head and shoulders showing the full face in the middle of the photograph. It should not be stapled and should not have any signature. Note: Photographs that do not conform to the above standards will be rejected and may cause delay in processing of the applications.

Applicant’s signature / thumb impression of minor who cannot sign: The height and the width of the signature photo must have the aspect ratio 1:3. The minimum dimensions are 200 pixels (width) x 67 pixels (height). The maximum dimensions are 900 pixels (width) x 300 pixels (height).

Documents uploading instructions: Document-upload section of online registration has 4 categories. Scanned copy of self-attested documents relevant to your application has to be uploaded under relevant heading in pdf file with maximum size of 500 KB.

Affidavit: All personal particulars of the applicants such as name, DOB, place of birth, parent’s names, appearance, etc. must be the same as in their Indian passports. In case there is a change in name, an affidavit is required to be submitted.

Processing time: The processing time for fresh OCI applications is 6-8 weeks from the date of submission of papers at the Embassy. The applicant can submit the OCI application on any working day from 10 to 12 hrs. without any prior appointment. 

Documents to be submitted with application

  • Proof of present citizenship – copy of current passport with a validity of minimum 6 months at the time of submission of application.
  • Argentinian/Uruguayan/Paraguayan Citizenship Certificate or status in the country.
  • Documents supporting proof of immigration.
  • Evidence of address of the place of application - copy of electricity bill/ telephone bill in own/parents/ grandparents / spouse name. Lease License in case of tenants. If residing with relatives, an undertaking from relatives is required.
  • Evidence of self or parents or grandparents or great grandparents being citizens of India at the time of, or at any time after the commencement of the Constitution i.e. 26.01.1950; or being eligible to become citizen of India; belonging to a territory that became part of India after 15.08.1947. These could be – Indian Passport (first and last page and observation, if any to be uploaded online) or Nativity Certificate or Domicile Certificate issued from the concerned District Administration (First Class Magistrate/District Magistrate) or OCI Card/ PIO Card of parents / spouse or certificate of residence or place of birth of self/ parents/ grandparents from First Class/ District Magistrate (DM) of the concerned place.
  • Evidence of relationship as parents/grandparents/great grandparents, if their Indian origin is claimed as basis for registration as OCI cardholders – the document of relationship could be “birth certificate” issued from competent authority mentioning both parents name. In case the birth certificate is issued by a foreign authority, it is to be Apostilled or endorsed by the concerned Diplomatic Mission and thereafter by the Indian Mission abroad. Birth Certificate from the Birth Registrar to be supported by i) education documents, if any and ii) Documents of inherited land/property, if any.
  • Surrender Certificate issued by the Indian Consulate/High Commission/Embassy stating that you have surrendered Indian passport upon acquiring foreign citizenship (OCI applicants, if surrendering their Indian passport now, can apply for OCI and Surrender Certificate simultaneously).
  • Applicant can provide his/her latest Indian passport that was held prior to acquiring Argentinian/Uruguayan/Paraguayan or Foreign citizenship. (Hope you have surrendered your Indian passport on acquiring the Argentinian/Uruguayan/Paraguayan citizenship, if not please do it immediately).
  • Marital Status: In case of married applicants, if the name of the spouse is not mentioned in Indian Passport, they have to provide marriage certificate issued by the Registrar of Marriages or District Administration. Please note that the Consulate does not recognize marriage certificates issued by Village Panchayats, Wakf Boards, Gurudwara and Churches in India unless these are attested/authenticated by the concerned District Administration and the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi.
    • Divorcee applicants are required to submit their divorce certificate. Please note that in normal circumstances if marriage is solemnized in India, the divorce should also be taken in India (not in Argentina/Uruguay/Paraguay), however, if both applicants who are seeking divorce have acquired Argentinian/Uruguayan/Paraguayan or foreign citizenship, can obtain divorce in Argentina/Uruguay/Paraguay, provided the decision is with mutual consent and not  ex-parte.  Ex-parte divorce certificate will not be accepted. Divorce certificate if issued by a court in a foreign country, the same should be attested by the Embassy of India in Buenos Aires.
    • Widow/widower applicants are required to submit death certificate in respect of his/her spouse from the Municipality or Registrar in India if death has taken place in India. In case the death of spouse has taken place in Argentina/Uruguay/Paraguay, the certificate from Government or concerned Province will be needed.    
    • Applicant whose spouse is of Pakistan origin is also required to submit an affidavit attested by the Consulate General of Pakistan stating that, he/she has not acquired Pakistani citizenship nor does he/she possess a valid Pakistani passport.
    • All the Documents (mentioned at S. No. 1-6 above) of the spouse in case of married applicant will also be required.
    • All the documents mentioned above for fresh OCI along with OCI card or Indian passport of the spouse and registered marriage certificate issued by the Registrar of Marriages from the concerned Indian State Government. If the Marriage Certificate is issued by the Argentinian/Uruguayan/Paraguayan Authorities (longer version), it should be first Apostilled by the local Foreign Office and thereafter by the Embassy of India in Buenos Aires. In case of Marriage Certificate issued by other Foreign Governments, it should be first Apostilled/authenticated by the concerned Diplomatic Mission and thereafter by the Embassy of India in Buenos Aires. After the attestation is over, it should be uploaded online with other documents.
    • A written declaration that in the event of dissolution of marriage or death of the Indian spouse, the applicant shall notify and return the OCI card forthwith to the Embassy of India in Buenos Aires.
  • Applicable Fee.

Application by minor applicants

  • Process will be the same as mentioned above. Documents required are as follows:
  • Copy of applicant’s birth certificate (statement of live birth certificate) issued by the Foreign Authority; in case the applicant is born in India, then birth certificate issued by the Registry of Birth or Municipality concerned.
  • Copies of Indian passports of both parents or copy of Indian passport of one parent and foreign passport of other parent along with copy of birth certificate of the latter.
  • Marriage Certificate of parents issued in India, Argentina/Uruguay/Paraguay or any other foreign country;
  • Joint self-declaration signed by both parents with their photographs, mobile numbers and email   IDs mentioned on it, expressing their no objection to acquire OCI card for their minor child except in cases where parents are divorced.
  • Parental Authorization for Minors form
  • Application by foreign spouse of Indian citizen or OCI cardholder 
  • A spouse of a citizen of India or OCI cardholder whose marriage has been registered and subsisted for a continuous period of two years at the time of submitting application is eligible for registration of his/her OCI application under the spousal category.  
  • The process will be the same as for fresh OCI application mentioned above. Documents required are as under: 

Who is eligible?

Following categories of foreign nationals are eligible for registration as Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Cardholder: 

  • who was a citizen of India at the time of, or at any time after the commencement of the Constitution of India i.e.  26.01.1950; or  
  • who was eligible to become a citizen of India on 26.01.1950; or 
  • who belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15.08.1947; or 
  • who is a child or grandchild or a great grandchild of such a citizen; or 
  • who is a minor child of such persons mentioned above; or 
  • who is a minor child and whose both parents are citizens of India or one of the parents is a citizen of India; or 
  • spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign origin of an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Cardholder registered under section 7A of India’s Citizenship Act, 1955 and whose marriage has been registered and subsisted for a continuous period of not less than two years immediately preceding the presentation of the OCI application.

Who is not eligible?

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 Government of India may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify, shall be eligible for registration as an OCI Cardholder.

Important instructions for renewal of OCI Card

In view of the biological changes, the OCI card is required to be reissued each time a new passport is issued to the applicant up to the age of 20 years. Applicants who have attained the age of 50 are also required to renew their OCI once a new Argentinian/Uruguayan/Paraguayan passport is issued to them after 50 (however, in emergency cases, the applicant can perform the journey carrying the existing OCI along with old Argentinian/Uruguayan/Paraguayan passport on which OCI was issued and the latest Argentinian/Uruguayan/Paraguayan passport. Application for OCI renewal can be submitted upon his/her return).

Reissuance of OCI card is not mandatory each time new passport is issued between 21 and 50 years of age. However, if applicant wishes to avail this service, he/she can apply for the same.

Lost/Damaged OCI Card: In case of loss of OCI, the applicant is required to follow the same process as above except that he/she needs to also submit an FIR from the local Police Authority mentioning the loss of OCI card with its number mentioned on the FIR and a notarized Affidavit with same details. For damaged OCI, an affidavit with OCI details is required to be submitted. The fee charged for this service is on the Fee Structure.

Change of address/occupation: In this case no new OCI documents shall be issued and accordingly, payment of fee does not arise. Applicant may apply online and application form may be submitted on the Ministry of Home Affairs website: www.mha.nic.in at the link https://ociservices.gov.in/ under miscellaneous services. Data shall be captured and new address/occupation shall be printed by the applicant which may be kept in the OCI booklet for record purpose.

Important News: 

Re-issuance of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards due to issuance of new foreign passports to OCI cardholders â?? regarding