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India: OCI card - new registration in Australia

  • Appointment Required
  • Apply by post Not accepted
  • Checked 24 October 2026

Check with the office. The official pages for this service leave out some details, or are older than a year. Use this page as a starting point and confirm fees and documents before you apply.

The Overseas Citizenship of India card gives eligible foreign citizens of Indian origin (and certain foreign spouses) a lifelong multiple-entry visa and parity with NRIs in many economic and educational matters. It is not dual citizenship and gives no voting rights.

Where to apply in Australia

Through VFS ICAC only (the consulates do not take OCI applications directly): NSW Sydney; SA Adelaide; VIC/TAS Melbourne; ACT Canberra; QLD Brisbane; WA/NT Perth. Select the correct mission online or a new form is required.

CGI Sydney: foreign-spouse category applications are accepted only after a personal interview of the applicant and spouse.

Contact details for every office are on the page of the embassy and consulates of India.

How to apply

Apply on ociservices.gov.in and note the ARN | upload all documents to the portal | print the form | complete the VFS process, book an appointment and pay the ICAC fee | attend in person for submission and biometrics (mandatory from 1 July 2026)

Applications are handled through VFS Global - Indian Consular Application Centres (ICAC), https://services.vfsglobal.com/aus/en/ind.

Documents you need

Fees and processing time

Processing time: Average about 8 weeks; foreign-spouse cases subject to security clearance with no average given.

Good to know

VFS one-pager says OCI fees are revised monthly by exchange rate and mentions postal lodgement, but the current VFS FAQ says OCI cannot be posted and biometrics are mandatory from 1 July 2026, so postal_allowed is 'no'. OCI fee table taken from the CGI Sydney OCI re-issue guidelines page, which shows no date; it may predate the July 2026 ICAC changes (the AUD 4.60 outsourcing charge is probably superseded). Not eligible: anyone who is or was a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh.

Official sources

Check before you apply

This page summarises information published by India's official channels, last checked on 24 octubre 2026. Fees and requirements can change at short notice, so confirm with the office that will handle your case.

Spotted a change? Let us know.

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