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How to Get an Apostille for OCI Purposes

Are you a person of Indian roots but live in other countries? Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card permits you to stay in India for work, study, and travel across the country as long as you want.

An OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card allows people of Indian origin living abroad to travel to and from India without obtaining a visa for each visit. It is especially beneficial for newborn babies born outside India.

In this guide, we will learn everything about OCI apostille, its process, list of documents, fees, and more.

What is an Apostille for OCI?

Simply put, OCI stands for Overseas Citizenship of India, and an apostille is a kind of legalization process that makes foreign personal documents acceptable in India and usable legally for any purpose.

It is a necessary process to obtain an OCI card that allow card holder to enter and exit India without the need for a visa.

An apostille confirms that your documents are legit, and recognizable, helping you maintain good relationships with India without giving up your current nationality. Reliable Apostille services in India ensure this authentication is done correctly and accepted without issue.

There is one thing you need to keep in mind: just having an OCI card doesn’t mean you can vote in elections or apply for certain government jobs. It is a legal status granted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MEA).

Planning to use your OCI-related documents abroad? Our expert OCI Apostille services expedite, safeguard, and simplify the entire verification procedure. We ensure that your documents satisfy the requirements of the Hague Apostille Convention’s member nations by meticulously managing every stage of the apostille procedure.

Why Do We Need an Apostille for the OCI Process?

Let’s make it simple. If a child is born outside India and the parents are applying for an OCI card, documents such as the birth certificate, marriage certificate, or other supporting records may need to be apostilled by the issuing country before they are accepted by the Indian authorities. In such cases, a Birth Certificate Apostille and Marriage Certificate Apostille are among the most commonly required documents to establish the child’s and parents’ identity.

Having an apostille stamp on your documents indicates that your documents are genuine, verified by authorities, and the applicant’s details are correct.

It gives a foreign passport holder a lifelong, multi-entry visa to live, work, and study in India.

However, depending on the category you are applying under for OCI, you need different documents that need to be legalized.

What is the Process of Getting a Foreign Document Apostille in India?

There are 5 steps involved in getting an OCI Apostille on your documents.

Identify the issuing country

The first step begins with identifying the country where the documents were originally issued. If they are obtained in a foreign country, an apostille can not be done in India.

Documents Verification

Check whether the document requires any prior authentication, notarization, or certification before it is eligible for an apostille. The requirements vary from one country to another.

Collect all the Original documents

Collect and submit the original documents like birth certificate, marriage certificate, and passport copy to the designated apostille authority in the issuing country. The authority will verify the document’s authenticity and issue an apostille certificate or stamp.

Submit the Document for Apostille

Submit the original document to the designated apostille authority in the issuing country. The authority will verify the document’s authenticity and issue an apostille certificate or stamp.

Translate the Document (If Required)

If the document is not in English or the native language, you may need to obtain a certified translation before submitting it to the concerned authority or embassy.

Receive the Apostilled Document

Once the apostille process is complete, the authenticated document will be delivered to your doorstep.

The process is not simple and requires knowledge of the legalization process. This is why Prime Apostille Services is here for you. Reach out to our team regarding your OCI card and apostille needs, and we’ll help you.

What is the Eligibility Criteria for OCI?

To apply for an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, an applicant must meet the eligibility requirements prescribed by the Government of India. You may be eligible if you fall under any of the following categories:

Former Indian Citizen: Business You were an Indian citizen on or after 26 January 1950, or you were eligible to become an Indian citizen on that date.

Child of an Indian Citizen: You are a foreign-born child with at least one parent who is an Indian citizen at the time of the OCI application.

Person of Indian Origin: You are a foreign national whose parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent was born in India or was an Indian citizen, subject to the applicable provisions of the Citizenship Act.

Spouse of an Indian Citizen or OCI Cardholder: A foreign national who is married to an Indian citizen or an OCI cardholder may apply for OCI, provided the marriage is legally registered and has continued for the minimum period required under the current OCI regulations.

Note :

If your parents, Grandparents, great-grandparents were or had been citizens of Pakistan or Bangladesh or any other such country mentioned by the Government of India, you are not eligible to apply for OCI.

Document Apostille Requirement for OCI Purpose

To obtain an OCI card, there are some required documents you need to provide as proof of your citizenship or marital status.

In some cases, if your spouse is a foreign citizen, He / She needs an apostilled Marriage Certificate for the OCI application.

Remember that an apostille can only be done in the country where the documents have been issued; the Indian government will not allow foreign-issued documents.

However, a birth certificate, marriage certificate, and supporting documents are required. To apply for an OCI, you need to submit the following documents to the FRRO (The Foreigners Registration Office ) in India.

If you are living outside India and applying for OCI, you need to apply either at the Indian Embassy or in VFS Centers.

Fees and Timeline for OCI Apostille

The fees and processing time for an OCI apostille depend on the country where the document was issued. Since an apostille can only be issued by the issuing country, every country follows its own fee structure and processing timeline.

However, it typically takes 7 to 15 business days for an OCI apostille, and the time duration may increase if the document requires notarization, state authentication, or certified translation before the apostille.

The fresh OCI registration fee is $275 (outside India) or Rs.15,000 (inside India). Additionally, local processing or outsourcing partner charges (such as VFS Global) also apply.

And the official charge for an apostille sticker in India is Rs.50 per document.

Important Things to Know Before Applying

Applying for an OCI card becomes much easier when your documents are complete and correctly authenticated.

Still, here are some important points to keep in mind before submitting your application.

Make sure you meet the OCI eligibility criteria and apply under the correct category to avoid unnecessary delays.

Prepare all the required documents, including proof of Indian origin, identity documents, photographs, and any additional supporting documents requested by the Indian Mission or FRRO.

If your destination country is part of the Hague Convention, you’ll need apostilled documents. Otherwise, for the Gulf countries, you’ll need document attestation.

Processing times can vary depending on the country and the Indian Mission. Applying early helps you avoid last-minute travel or documentation issues.

How to Apply for Document Apostille and OCI Card?

The process is not simple and is too much time consuming, therefore, you’ll need a professional apostille services provider in India that guides you through the whole process.

With 10+ years of experience and dedicated team members, Prime Apostille Services is the go-to choice for document legalization services.

No. An apostille only verifies the authenticity of a document. The final decision on the OCI application is made by the competent Indian authorities.

Documents issued in non-Hague Convention countries cannot receive an apostille. Instead, they must be legalized through the Indian Embassy or Consulate in the issuing country.

It is advisable to complete the apostille process first if your supporting documents require it. Submitting unauthenticated documents may delay the verification or processing of your OCI application.

Yes, if the document remains valid and the issuing authority or Indian Mission accepts it. However, each applicant must submit their own required supporting documents.

Many countries provide online tracking for apostille applications. If you apply through a professional service provider, they may also provide regular status updates until the document is delivered.