OCI Card Application For A Minor Child

Getting an OCI card for a minor can open up a world of opportunities, but it requires careful planning and meeting all the requirements. The OCI card grants the holder multiple entry, and life-long visa privileges to India, allowing for unlimited travel and stay within the country.

In this article, we will cover all the information about the OCI child application, including questions such as “Can my child get an OCI card?”, “How to apply?”, and “How to take an OCI child signature?”.

Table of contents

• OCI Card for Minors: Rules and Benefits
• OCI Application for a Child: Step-by-Step
• OCI for a Minor: Document Checklist
• OCI Photo and Signature Requirements
• Get an OCI Photo Online
• OCI Photo and Signature App
• When Do You Need to Renew an OCI for a Child?

OCI Card for Minors: Rules and Benefits

To secure an OCI card for a minor, one or both parents must be Indian citizens. A child of an OCI card holder is also eligible to apply for their own OCI card. This applies to all foreign passport holders, except Pakistani and Bangladeshi citizens.

• Benefits of an OCI Card for Minors:
• Minors with an OCI card can visit India multiple times with a lifelong visa for any purpose.
• They don't need to register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) or Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) for any length of stay in India.
• OCI minors enjoy the same economic, financial, and educational opportunities as Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), except for acquiring agricultural or plantation properties.
• They are treated the same as resident Indian nationals in the intercountry adoption of Indian children.
• They pay the same entry fees as domestic Indian visitors to national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
• Minors can pursue various professions in India, including careers as doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, advocates, architects, and chartered accountants.

How long is OCI valid for a child? — An OCI card is valid for life. However, it must be reissued when the person turns 20 and 50 to update personal information.

Can an adopted child get an OCI card? — Yes, an adopted child can get an OCI card if they previously held an Indian passport and can provide a surrender certificate for it.

What is the OCI child tenancy limit? — For Pay As You Go and Trial subscriptions in OCI, the child tenancy limit is initially set to 0. To create child tenancies, you need to request a service limit increase or use a different subscription type that permits child tenancies.

OCI Application for a Child: Step-by-Step

Can I apply for OCI for my child from India? — Yes, you may apply for an OCI card from anywhere, as the process is completed through the online OCI services platform.

How to apply for OCI for a child? It is a straightforward process including the following steps:

1. Visit the official OCI services website.
2. Fill out the application form and submit all required documents. For a minor, you must submit a separate application signed by the child's parents or legal guardian.
3. Follow the portal instructions to upload scanned copies of the necessary documents.
4. Pay the applicable application fee.

Parents should note that if there are any changes to their child's passport, an OCI minor passport update must be completed at the official OCI Services website to keep the OCI card valid.

OCI for a Minor: Document Checklist

When applying for an OCI card for a child, ensure you have the following essential documents ready:

• A completed OCI application form.
• OCI child fingerprint or signature and 2 photographs. Submit two recent photos of the minor along with the minor’s signature, matching the signature on the application form.
• Proof of address. This can be a utility bill, state-issued ID, income tax return, or a valid lease agreement. Ensure the document shows the present address as per the application.
• Photocopy of passport. Provide the information page of the passport containing personal details, passport number, and photo, as well as amendment/endorsement pages. The passport should be valid for at least six more months.
• A notarized parental authorization form allowing the application.
• Naturalization/Registration certificate, if applicable.
• Birth certificate.
• Current passports of parents.
• Marriage certificate of parents. If married, submit the registered marriage certificate. If divorced, provide relevant documents. For live-in relationships, adoption, or surrogacy, include respective documents.
• Fee payment receipt. OCI for minor fees depends on the location. In India, it is about INR 15,000 (approx. USD 179).

All documents must be in PDF format and no larger than 1000 KB each.

To find out what OCI minor documents to upload for getting an OCI card for a child born in the USA, see the document checklist from the VFS Global Service.

OCI Photo and Signature Requirements

To ensure your photo is accepted for the OCI card, it must meet these guidelines:

• The photo should be square, with a minimum size of 51 × 51 mm or 200 × 200 pixels. The maximum size can be 1500 × 1500 pixels.
• Your face should cover about 80% of the photo.
• The background should be plain and light-coloured, but not white.
• The photo must be in JPG or JPEG format.
• The file size should not exceed 500 KB.

Here is an example:

For the digital OCI card child signature, follow these rules:

• If the child is 5 years or older, they should sign in the designated box.
• If the child is under 5 years old, provide an OCI child thumb impression instead. Parents should not sign on behalf of their children.
• Both parents need to sign at the bottom of the minor’s application. If only one parent is available to sign, a certificate explaining the situation must be provided.
• The signature image must be in JPEG or JPG format and should not be larger than 1 MB.

Get an OCI Photo Online

Save time on your child's OCI card application by using Visafoto.com, a specialized online photo editing service. Visafoto knows the requirements for passports, visas, driving licenses, and other documents worldwide.

Just capture a photo of your child against a plain white background using your phone or digital camera and upload it to Visafoto.com. Our team will handle all necessary adjustments, including the image size, format, background colour, and facial positioning.

You will receive a digital version suitable for online applications and a print-ready version. If you're not happy with the outcome, we offer a full refund.

Take an image with a smartphone or camera against any background, upload it here and instantly get a professional photo for your visa, passport, or ID.

You will have two types of photos: a digital one for electronic applications and another one suitable for printing.

Baby photos for OCI for printing" />

OCI Photo and Signature App

You can also simplify the process by using the 7ID app from Visafoto.com, available on both iPhone and Android devices. This app makes creating OCI photos and OCI signature images for minors a breeze.

Download the 7ID App and upload a picture. Select the type of document and the relevant country. The app will automatically adjust your photo to comply with official specifications like size, format, background colour, and face positioning. You'll receive a digital file and a print template.

For signatures:

Write your signature on a piece of paper. Open the 7ID App, go to the Signatures section, and click “New signature”. Take a photo of the OCI minor signature or thumb impression and choose “India signature for OCI Card application”. The app will instantly generate a digital image file in the correct size, ready for submission.

Our technical support team is available 24/7 to assist you with any questions.

When Do You Need to Renew an OCI for a Child?

Do I need to renew OCI for a child? — Children do not need their child's OCI card renewal until they turn 20 years old. After that, the renewal follows the same schedule as for adults.

Don't forget that an OCI card child new passport update is necessary whenever your child's passport details change, ensuring their OCI card remains valid.

Use 7ID and Visafoto.com to get a compliant OCI photo and OCI signature for minors!

Download and install the Visafoto (7ID) app on your phone!

• Access to complete photo history
• Support for paid photos through the in-app chat
• 7ID includes free QR and barcode storage, free PIN code storage, and a free signature maker