How long does it take to get an oci card

The freshOCI cards are being printed in India; it will take about 5-6 weeks for issue of a printed OCI card, if everything is found to be fine with the application form, photo, etc., by the authorities in India.

For OCI renewal and conversion of PIO cards, it will take around 2-3 weeks.

For applicants who are applying OCI cards on the basis of their spouse (Foreign Spouse Application), it will take much longer time than the usual. The cards are printed after the ministry in India gives a clearance to these cases.

It is to be noted that OCI cards are not printed in the embassy. OCI cards are prepared and printed by the authorities in India and sent to us for onward dispatch to their rightful owners. The process starts with the applicant depositing filled in online application along with all the necessary documents; the case is then referred to authorities in India. If everything is found fit by them, the OCI is printed and sent to the Embassy for dispatch.

Once the cards are ready, a mail will be sent to the applicant which will follow the instructions what needs to be done.

Applicants must be careful about giving proper information in the application form, depositing necessary documents including photocopies wherever necessary and provide appropriate photographs. Instances have been there, where authorities inform us about rejection of photographs resulting in Embassy asking for fresh photographs of the applicants thereby delaying in printing of OCI cards in India.

If you have Indian origin and want to visit the country, getting an OCI card is the perfect option for you. However, the real question is, how long will it take to get an OCI card? Well, the simplest answer to this question is, it depends!

Except for Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals, India offers an OCI card to anyone of Indian origin. There are numerous service providers out there providing OCI miscellaneous services. So, the processing time varies as well. Continue reading to learn about OCI cards and their processing time.

Indian OCI Card - An Overview

An Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card is a lifelong visa that allows an OCI card holder to visit India whenever they want. An OCI cardholder can visit, live, or even work in the country. You'll be treated as an Indian citizen. Foreign nationals are eligible for an OCI card if:

• They have an Indian origin

• They belonged to a land that became Indian territory after the independence.

• They were eligible to become a citizen of India on 26th January 1950

• They had Indian citizenship on or after 26th January 1950

How to Get an OCI Card

Applying for an OCI card is a straightforward process. All you need to do is fill out the OCI card application form, pay the OCI registration fees, and submit your application.

To get an OCI card, applicants need to follow the following steps:

1. Select an OCI application category

2. Fill out the online application form

3. Register at the official VFS website

4. Submit your application to VFS Global

You'll need to visit the Indian embassy located in your country to determine which VFS center you should visit and submit your application. Moreover, it's recommended to get a COVID-19 vaccination certificate before.

The average OCI card fee is $275 for a foreign national. however, if you have a valid PIO card, the cost will reduce to $100. From your selected website, you can check OCI status as well!

Estimated Processing Time

The processing time differs from applicant to applicant. On average, An overseas citizen of India will have to wait for 7-11 weeks to get an OCI card. Due to an incomplete application, the processing time might be further delayed.

Here are the general steps and processing time involved in the issuance of an OCI card:

• Your application will be sent to the embassy, and the actual card will be sent from India. This step can easily take 6-8 weeks.

• Once the embassy receives your OCI card, you need to provide your original passport through VFS Global center.

• The embassy will take an additional 1 week to match your OCI card with your passport.

• Finally, VFS Global will deliver your passport and OCI card within 3 days.

Indian e-Visa - Perfect OCI Card Alternative

To get an OCI card, you need a lot of patience. On average, the entire process can take months. So, if you don’t have that much time, the better option for you is to apply for an Indian e-visa.

Unlike an OCI card, an Indian e-visa is a short-term travel document that allows you to enter the country for a short period of time. The best thing about an e-visa is that it is a completely streamlined process. This means you don’t have to visit the Indian embassy or wait for months to get an e-visa. You can apply for this travel document on your own, from the comfort of your home.

The process of getting an Indian electronic visa is simple:

1. Fill out the online application form

2. Pay the visa processing fee

3. Submit your application

Afterward, you'll get your visa via email. Keep in mind that due to the pandemic, you are required to get a health declaration form whether or not you have an OCI card.

Required Documents for an e-Visa

The required documents to get an e-visa depends upon your purpose in visiting the country. Generally speaking, there are three most important documents that you need to get an e-visa:

• A valid foreign passport

• An email address

• A debit or credit card

To fill out the e-visa application form, you are required to provide personal, contact, and passport details, including passport number and expiry date. You might have to submit some additional documents depending on your purpose. So, make sure to check the visa requirements before applying for an e-visa.

Processing Time

While the processing time for an OCI card can fall anywhere between 7-11 weeks, you can get an e-visa within 3-5 days. This is the main reason why Indian e-visa is becoming more and more popular. Due to the high demand, you may have to wait a little longer.

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