Consulate General of IndiaSeattleServing the States of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington

The rules for updating or reissuing your Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card have been significantly relaxed in recent years. The requirements depend on your age, passport renewal status, and whether you are a spouse of an Indian citizen or OCI cardholder. Below is a summary of the current guidelines, but always check the official VFS OCI page and OCI portal for the latest updates.

1. Updating OCI Card Details After Passport Renewal

• All OCI cardholders are required to upload online a copy of their new passport and a recent photograph (not older than 30 days) each time a new passport is issued.

• This updation must be completed within three months of issuance of the new passport. Failure to do so will attract the applicable charges, and the application will therefore be required to be submitted through VFS Global following the online submission process, as mentioned below in Point 4.

  This update must be completed within three months of receiving the new passport.

• The process is entirely online via the OCI Miscellaneous Services section on the OCI portal and is free of cost—no need to submit documents physically or through VFS.

2. Mandatory Reissue of OCI Card

• Exception: The only time you must get your OCI card physically reissued is once after you receive your first new passport following your 20th birthday.

3. Special Cases: Foreign Spouses

• Foreign spouses of Indian citizens or OCI cardholders must upload online a copy of their new passport, a recent photo, a declaration confirming the marriage is subsisting, and copies of the Indian spouse’s passport/OCI card every time a new passport is issued.

• This is also done through the OCI Miscellaneous Services on the OCI portal and is free of cost.

4. How to Update or Reissue

Online Update within 3 months of Passport Issuance:

Online Update after 3 months of Passport Issuance

Use the OCI Miscellaneous Services on the OCI portal to submit the online application.

• After submission of online application, take a printout of the application submitted.

• Submit the application along with the passport copy and address proof at VFS Global.

• Fee Structure:

-> US$25 (Consular fee)

-> US$3 (ICWF)

-> US$19 (VFS service charge)

• If you wish to submit in person, kindly visit VFS Global as a walk-in applicant between 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM, Monday through Friday (except holidays).

• If you wish to ship the documents, you will need to fill up the application form, register here and follow the process.

Mandatory Reissue (after age 20):

• After submission of online application, a copy of the application form will be printed with an Online Registration Number.

• After completing the online application on the OCI portal, proceed to the VFS Global website.

• Register or log in to the VFS portal to create a new OCI application submission.

• Upload the printed application form along with all supporting documents as per the checklist.

• Make the required payment online, which includes:




-> US$25 (OCI reissue fee)

-> US$3 (ICWF)

-> US$19 (VFS service charge)

-> Additional fees for optional services like shipping.

• After making the required payment, generate the shipping label and send your complete application package—including the filled application form, all relevant enclosures, and the fee receipt—to the designated VFS India Consular Application Centre that serves the consular jurisdiction where you ordinarily reside, regardless of which Indian Mission/Post/Office issued your original OCI card. You may send the package by mail or submit it in person by appointment, depending on available options. Be sure to keep your receipt and tracking details for future reference.

5. Important Travel Notes

• You can travel to India with your existing OCI card and your current valid passport (minimum 6 months validity).

• There is no longer any requirement to carry your old passport along with your OCI card.