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Consulates in AustraliaIndependent directory of foreign missions

India: Conversion of PIO card to OCI card 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.

Holders of the discontinued Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card, handwritten or machine-readable, convert it into an OCI card. The consulates urge holders to convert because PIO cards are only accepted for travel for a limited period.

Where to apply in Australia

Through VFS ICAC for the applicant's jurisdiction.

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

How to apply

Complete the online OCI application on ociservices.gov.in | follow the VFS conversion checklist | lodge via VFS

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: About 4 weeks, or about 8 weeks if the PIO card was issued by another mission or extra clearance is needed.

Good to know

CGI Sydney PIO page (last updated 07/10/2026) is internally inconsistent on the PIO acceptance deadline (31 Dec 2023 vs 31 Dec 2024); no later date published. 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page, which shows no date; it may predate the July 2026 ICAC changes (the AUD 4.60 outsourcing charge is probably superseded).

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.

More services of India in Australia