OCI card holder alert: Fees revised from April 1, 2026
The Bureau of Immigration has announced that the revised fee structure for Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) services has come into effect. The updated charges that came into effect from April 1, 2026, apply to fresh OCI applications, reissued and duplicate cards. The mode of payment depends on whether the application is being filed in India or abroad.
Under the revised structure, the fee for a fresh OCI application has been fixed at USD 275, which must be paid in its equivalent amount in Indian Rupees (Rs) or the local currency, depending on where the application is submitted.
Rs 15,000 fee for OCI applications filed in India
For applicants submitting their OCI application within India, the government has specified a fee of Rs 15,000. The payment must be made through a demand draft drawn in favour of ‘Pay and Accounts Officer (Secretariat), Ministry of Home Affairs’, payable at New Delhi.
This payment method has been prescribed to ensure the uniform processing of applications handled within the country.
What is the fee for an OCI application submitted outside India?
Applicants submitting OCI applications outside India will need to pay USD 275 for each application through a demand draft or an equivalent mode, depending on the requirements of the respective Indian mission or post.
For applicants paying in local currency, the exact amount may vary based on exchange rates and local rules. The government has advised applicants to check the official website of the concerned Indian mission or post to confirm the exact payable amount in a local currency before submitting their application form.
Fee charges for OCI card
Below are fee charges for OCI card applications from April 1, 2026.
The demand draft is issued in favour of the specified authority to avoid delays in processing.
OCI scheme details
The Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) scheme was introduced in August 2005. The scheme provides for registration as Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) of all Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) who were citizens of India on January 26, 1950, or thereafter or were eligible to become citizens of India on January 26, 1950, except who is or had been a citizen of Pakistan, Bangladesh or any such other country as the central government may, by notification in the official gazette, specify.
How to apply for OCI Card after passport renewal
Step 1: Register on www.ociservices.gov.in
Step 2: Log in and go to Online Registration
Step 3: Apply for OCI Miscellaneous Services
Step 4: Fill in and upload the requisite details including your photograph & signatures
Step 5: Submit the application
Note: Non updation within three months of issuance of a new passport will attract a penalty of $25.
Under the revised structure, the fee for a fresh OCI application has been fixed at USD 275, which must be paid in its equivalent amount in Indian Rupees (Rs) or the local currency, depending on where the application is submitted.
Rs 15,000 fee for OCI applications filed in India
For applicants submitting their OCI application within India, the government has specified a fee of Rs 15,000. The payment must be made through a demand draft drawn in favour of ‘Pay and Accounts Officer (Secretariat), Ministry of Home Affairs’, payable at New Delhi.
This payment method has been prescribed to ensure the uniform processing of applications handled within the country.
What is the fee for an OCI application submitted outside India?
Applicants submitting OCI applications outside India will need to pay USD 275 for each application through a demand draft or an equivalent mode, depending on the requirements of the respective Indian mission or post.
For applicants paying in local currency, the exact amount may vary based on exchange rates and local rules. The government has advised applicants to check the official website of the concerned Indian mission or post to confirm the exact payable amount in a local currency before submitting their application form.
Fee charges for OCI card
Below are fee charges for OCI card applications from April 1, 2026.
The demand draft is issued in favour of the specified authority to avoid delays in processing.
OCI scheme details
The Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) scheme was introduced in August 2005. The scheme provides for registration as Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) of all Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) who were citizens of India on January 26, 1950, or thereafter or were eligible to become citizens of India on January 26, 1950, except who is or had been a citizen of Pakistan, Bangladesh or any such other country as the central government may, by notification in the official gazette, specify.
How to apply for OCI Card after passport renewal
Step 1: Register on www.ociservices.gov.in
Step 2: Log in and go to Online Registration
Step 3: Apply for OCI Miscellaneous Services
Step 4: Fill in and upload the requisite details including your photograph & signatures
Step 5: Submit the application
Note: Non updation within three months of issuance of a new passport will attract a penalty of $25.
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