Acquired UK citizenship and looking for someone to help you with the surrender of the Indian passport in the UK for the OCI application. Navigating the difficulties of Indian citizenship renunciation, getting a surrender certificate, and applying for an OCI card can be a hectic process. Well, no need to worry. At Visament, from filling out the application form to scheduling an appointment, our experts handle everything. So, when we are here, you do not need to take stress about your Indian passport surrender and OCI application in the UK. In this blog, we provide an overview of the Indian passport surrender process, its role in getting an OCI card in the UK, and how Visament simplifies the whole process for you. So, let's start reading by knowing what surrendering an Indian Passport means.
What is the Surrender of an Indian Passport?
It is well-known to everyone that India does not allow dual citizenship to its people. According to the Indian Passport Act 1967, an individual who has an Indian passport is not supposed to obtain a foreign citizenship. As per the Indian Citizenship Act 1955, dual citizenship is strictly prohibited in India. As per the Passport Act, all Indian passport holders must surrender their passports immediately to the Indian Consulate after acquiring foreign nationality. After obtaining foreign citizenship, holding an Indian passport is considered an offence. Within 3 years of acquiring a foreign nationality, the applicants must apply for the Indian passport surrender certificate. Similarly, a three-month grace period is given to those applicants to travel on their Indian passport after becoming a citizen of a foreign country.
After reading all this, surrendering an Indian passport means leaving the citizenship of India and acquiring a foreign citizenship. While the United States may permit dual citizenship to its people but in India, it is against the law, and not following this may result in legal troubles.
This is all about the surrender of an Indian passport. Now, moving ahead, let's know why you must surrender your Indian passport before applying for OCI in the UK.
Why You Must Surrender Your Indian Passport Before Applying for OCI in the UK?
An OCI is a short form of Overseas Citizenship of India; it is a status provided to foreign nationals who are of Indian origin or hold an Indian passport in the past. An OCI card helps them to maintain ties with India. In addition, allow them to work and live in India indefinitely without any visa. However, before applying for an OCI card application in UK, it is vital to surrender the Indian passport. For this, there are two key reasons:
- A person gets the OCI status after leaving their Indian citizenship and acquiring a foreign nationality. If he/she hold an Indian passport, they cannot apply for an OCI card.
- When applying for an OCI card, it is mandatory to provide evidence of a cancelled Indian passport. If an applicant fails to provide the proof, he/she OCI application gets rejected.
So, because of these two reasons, you should apply for OCI UK after surrender Indian passport, as the surrender certificate serves as proof of leaving Indian citizenship and making the applicant eligible for the OCI card. It shows the authorities that the person has legally renounced his/her Indian citizenship and is now looking to avail the privileges and perks of having an OCI card. Additionally, you can apply for OCI after Indian citizenship renunciation UK only, as at the same time, you cannot apply for a surrender certificate and OCI card. It is because, as mentioned above, during the OCI application, the surrender certificate serves as proof that you have acquired foreign citizenship and no longer hold an Indian passport and citizenship.
Here is why you must surrender your Indian passport for OCI cards UK. Now, moving ahead, let's know the process for surrendering an Indian passport for OCI UK.
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When it comes to applying for a surrender certificate, there are certain formalities and rules that applicants need to complete as per the guidelines. From the country where you are currently residing, you may obtain the renunciation form from the Indian consulate or embassy. Additionally, you can apply for the surrender process online by visiting the VFS Global website. Some of the surrender process is available on the official online side of the Indian authorities, such as filling out the application form, submitting the required documents, and booking an appointment at VFS Global. To avoid any subsequent delays and discrepancies, you should first go through the instructions while applying for your Indian passport surrender in the UK.
Well, this is how you can apply for the surrender of an Indian passport online in the UK for an OCI application. Without a proper understanding of the process and documentation, it can be difficult for you to handle all this alone. But why struggle when you have the solution by your side? Contact Visament and let our experts handle the whole application process for you. Here is how they can assist you in surrendering your Indian passport and applying for your OCI card.
Surrender of Indian Passport and Applying for OCI Card via Visament
With expert guidance, Visament simplifies the Renunciation of Indian passport and OCI. Our streamlined services, with peace of mind and compliance, ensure a smooth application process. Here is how you can avail yourself of our Indian passport and OCI services in the UK:
- Choose Service and Pay the Fee: Visit our official site, choose surrender of Indian passport from the list of available Indian Passport Application services. Mention the asked details and pay the fee as shown on your screen using the available online payment options.
- Document Checklist: Once we receive the payment confirmation, our experts immediately mail you a document checklist required for the process.
- Submission of Documents: According to the sent checklist, scan and upload the documents. This step is vital for ensuring a smooth application process.
- Application Preparation and Scheduling Appointment: Upon getting the documents, we will start with your application and schedule an appointment at your nearest VFS center in the UK. Additionally, our experts will also prepare your application file.
- Application and Details of Appointment: Our team will send you the completed application form, with required documents and an appointment letter. Take a printout of all these and carry them along with you to the VFS Global Centre on your appointment day.
- Proceeding with OCI Application: Once you get your surrender certificate, email it to us, so we can begin your OCI application UK after passport surrender and schedule your OCI appointment.
- OCI Appointment and Fee: Like at the time of surrendering your Indian passport, on the OCI appointment day, you also need to physically submit the required documents, with £215 plus service charge for delivery fees. Additionally, here you need to provide your biometric data.
- Receipt of Your OCI: The complete process for getting the OCI card from submission to Indian passport surrender will take around 50 days to receive the card. Till then, through email and WhatsApp notifications, our experts will keep you updated with your OCI application status.
This is how you can surrender your Indian passport UK online and apply for your OCI UK application process via Visament. Moving further, let's now the documents required for both processes in the UK.
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When applying for the surrender of an Indian passport in the UK, you need to submit the following documents:
- Original and photocopy of Indian passport
- Surrender certificate application form
- Citizenship or residency status proof
- Declaration form
- Valid address proof
- Copy of foreign passport
- Passport-size photographs
Required Documents for OCI Application in the UK
The documents required for the OCI application in the UK depend on the application type. To provide you with a clear idea, here is a breakdown of the documents generally required for the OCI application in the UK:
| OCI Application Type |
Required Documents |
| OCI Application |
- OCI application form
- Registration/Naturalization certificate
- Current valid passport
- Indian origin proof
- Surrender certificate
- Photos
- Address proof
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Fee receipt
These are all mandatory documents needed in all OCI application types.
|
| Minor Applicants |
- Birth certificate
- Parent's passports
- Joint consent affidavit
- Marriage certificate of parents
|
| Foreign Spouse |
- Documents of the Indian spouse, such as an Indian passport, OCI card, or PIO card (proof of Indian origin)
- Marriage certificate
|
These are the documents required during the surrender of an Indian passport and an OCI application in the UK. Now, moving ahead, let's know about the processing time and fees of Indian passport surrender and OCI application in the UK.
Processing Time and Fees for Indian Passport Surrender and OCI Application in the UK
The surrendering of an Indian passport and applying for an OCI card in the UK involves different processing times and fees. Generally, it takes 10-12 weeks to surrender your Indian passport and takes 35-40 business days to get an OCI card in the UK. However, the given processing time may vary according to the circumstances of an individual, high volume of applications, or the requirement of additional documents.
Furthermore, the surrender of an Indian passport in the UK costs £22, including £7.44 service charges of VFS Global. Additionally, the cost of an OCI fresh application in the UK ranges between £200 to £218, including VFS charges, embassy fee, courier fees, and SMS charges.
This was all about the processing time and fees for the Indian passport surrender and the OCI Application UK. Moving ahead, let's know the general mistakes to avoid during the surrender of an Indian passport in the UK for an OCI application.
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Consider the following points to avoid common mistakes during the surrender of an Indian passport in the UK for an OCI application:
- Surrender your Indian passport immediately after acquiring citizenship of a foreign country.
- There should be a cancellation stamp on the Indian passport. Along with that, a surrender certificate is also needed.
- You cannot apply for the surrender certificate and OCI application at the same time. Also, a surrender certificate is one of the mandatory documents in the OCI application.
- All documents should be attached in proper order, and the application should be filled out with correct information.
- Before applying for the surrender certificate, first read the guidelines and instructions on the site to avoid any mistakes.
These are some points that you should consider while surrendering your Indian passport in the UK. It further assists in smoothly applying for your OCI card.
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Final Thoughts
Lastly, here is how you can surrender of Indian passport in the UK for an OCI application. Still confused and facing issues in navigating the complex surrendering process of Indian citizenship? Contact Visament and let our team handle all the process and documentation while you focus on applying for your OCI application. Our experts are always there to help and offer personalized guidance to every individual. So, why worry about your surrender certificate and OCI application when you have the best solution by your side? Connect with us today and let's together apply for your Indian citizenship surrender certificate and OCI card in the UK.