OCI eligibility guide
Check your OCI eligibility
Answer the main route questions before you apply. This guide helps UK applicants understand whether Fresh OCI, OCI through spouse, OCI Link, the OCI Passport Details Update, or surrender-first support may apply.
Independent UK preparation support. Final eligibility and decisions sit with the relevant Indian authority.
Quick route guide
Which OCI route may apply?
Pick the closest match, then open the service page or message us to confirm before you apply.
Fresh OCI
Usually for: People of Indian origin, or former Indian passport holders now on a British/foreign passport, who do not yet hold OCI.
What to check: Indian-origin proof; for former Indian passport holders, that surrender / renunciation is completed first.
OCI through spouse
Usually for: Foreign spouses of an Indian citizen or an OCI cardholder.
What to check: Marriage certificate, spouse documents and supporting proof — a stricter route than standard Fresh OCI.
OCI Link with current passport
Usually for: Existing OCI holders whose foreign passport has changed, with no other changes, within about 90 days of the new passport's issue date.
What to check: New passport linked to your OCI (£100) — fully online within 90 days of the new passport's issue date, with no VFS visit. Past 90 days, this moves to our OCI Passport Details Update service (the next card): our fee is £125 (e-OCI included) and it is completed through a VFS appointment we book, with £52.78 payable at VFS (£20 Government of India fee + £3 ICWF + £29.78 VFS service fee).
OCI Passport Details Update
Usually for: OCI holders with a name or nationality change, a lost or damaged card, or a correction (online within the 90-day window) — and any passport update past 90 days, including a simple passport-number change, completed through a VFS appointment we book.
What to check: Which specific change applies, or whether 90 days have passed since the new passport was issued — this is a different route from the within-90-day OCI Link. Our fee is £125 (e-OCI included); past 90 days, £52.78 is paid separately at VFS (£20 Government of India fee + £3 ICWF + £29.78 VFS service fee).
Surrender first, then OCI
Usually for: Former Indian passport holders who have not yet surrendered their Indian passport.
What to check: Whether a surrender / renunciation certificate is in place before Fresh OCI.
Senior review / complex case
Usually for: Africa-born Indian origin, missing documents, name mismatches, a previous refusal, or unclear parentage.
What to check: Send your documents to Matrix Solutions for a route review before paying.
Step-by-step eligibility guide
Find the route that fits your situation
Former Indian passport holder
If you were born in India or previously held an Indian passport and have now acquired British or another foreign citizenship, Fresh OCI may be possible once your Indian passport surrender / renunciation is complete.
If surrender has not been done yet, the route is usually surrender first, then Fresh OCI. We confirm the right sequence for your case before you start — this guide does not guarantee eligibility.
UK-born child or adult applying through parents
UK-born applicants usually look at a parent's Indian passport or a parent's OCI as the first route.
For minors, a parent's Indian passport or OCI proof is usually the starting point. For UK-born adults, parent documents are usually cleaner than grandparent documents where parent evidence exists.
Matrix Solutions can confirm which proof is strongest for your family before preparing the file.
Foreign spouse of an Indian citizen or OCI cardholder
Spouse OCI may apply where you are married to an Indian citizen or an OCI cardholder. It generally needs the marriage to have continued for at least two years before applying, along with a marriage certificate, spouse documents and supporting proof — Matrix Solutions confirms the exact requirements for your country.
This route is stricter than a standard Fresh OCI and may need apostille / legalisation depending on your country, joint address or cohabitation proof, and spouse documents. The appointment is at the High Commission by invitation, and both spouses attend the interview.
Already have OCI and changed passport
If you already hold OCI and only your passport has changed, this is not Fresh OCI.
Each new foreign passport generally needs OCI Link / update within the recommended 90-day window.
A name change, nationality change, a lost or damaged OCI, a correction, or a major appearance change is handled by the OCI Passport Details Update (£125, e-OCI included) rather than a simple link. Within 90 days of the new passport's issue date, a passport-number change alone is an online OCI Link (£100). Past 90 days, any case — including a simple passport-number change — is handled through our OCI Passport Details Update service: our fee is £125 (e-OCI included) and it is completed through a VFS appointment we book, with £52.78 payable at VFS (£20 Government of India fee + £3 ICWF + £29.78 VFS service fee).
Complex or senior-review cases
These cases are not ineligible — they usually need a senior review of your documents before you pay, so we confirm the strongest route first.
Send your documents to Matrix Solutions for a route review before paying — we confirm the strongest route for your case.
- Africa-born applicants, or Indian-origin proof through parents or grandparents from countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Zambia or Mauritius.
- Missing Indian passport or missing surrender evidence.
- Name mismatch across passport, birth, marriage or naturalisation certificates.
- A previous OCI refusal.
- Adoption, step-parent, guardianship or unclear parentage documents.
- Spouse route with short marriage evidence or an overseas marriage certificate.
- Unsure whether you already held OCI or PIO.
What Matrix Solutions needs to check your route
Have these ready when you message us — it helps us confirm the right route quickly.
- Applicant age
- Place of birth
- Current nationality and passport
- Whether you have ever held an Indian passport
- Whether surrender / renunciation is completed
- Whether you already hold OCI or PIO
- If applying via a parent: the parent's Indian passport or OCI details
- If applying via a spouse: marriage date and the spouse's Indian passport or OCI
- Any name changes or document mismatches
- Your travel date, if it is urgent
Important rules and reminders
- Matrix Solutions is independent and not affiliated with VFS Global, the High Commission of India or the Government of India.
- This checker is guidance only; the final decision sits with the relevant authority.
- It is generally safer not to book non-refundable travel until your document route is clear.
- Avoid sharing OTPs or passwords with any agent.
- OCI Link (£100) and the OCI Passport Details Update (£125, e-OCI included) are different services — both handled online within the 90-day window.
- Missing the 90-day passport-linking window is not an automatic cancellation of your OCI. Past 90 days, our fee is £125 (the OCI Passport Details Update, e-OCI included) and it is completed through a VFS appointment we book, with £52.78 payable at VFS (£20 Government of India fee + £3 ICWF + £29.78 VFS service fee).
- Government and VFS fees are separate unless stated on the relevant service page.
Common questions
OCI eligibility — quick answers
Can Matrix Solutions confirm my OCI route before I pay?
I was born in India and now have a British passport. Do I need surrender first?
My child was born in the UK. Can they apply for OCI?
I already have OCI and renewed my passport. Is this Fresh OCI?
I am applying through my spouse. What is different?
My case involves Africa-born Indian origin documents. Can you help?
Not sure which route applies?
Send your details on WhatsApp and we confirm the route that may apply, before you commit to anything.