- Our service fee
- £225
- Official fees
- From £230, paid by you directly
- Usual time
- Allow 10 to 12 weeks after your appointment
- Appointment
- Online application, then a submission appointment at the visa centre
A child's OCI application rests on a parent's Indian origin, so it needs documents from the child and from both parents. We put the whole set together with you and check that every name matches the birth certificate, letter for letter.
We prepare the online application, check your child's photograph and signature or thumb impression against the official rules, and give you an exact list for the appointment.
- Both parents' documents gathered and checked in one go
- Consent letters prepared, one for each child
- Your child's photo checked against the government specification
- Updates until the OCI card arrives
Who it’s for: Children under 18 with an Indian-origin parent, grandparent or great-grandparent
It depends on your circumstances
When you start, we go through these with you.
There is no route for a child to be added to a parent's passport for OCI. The child's passport must have at least six months left when you submit.
Own passportA consent letter signed by both parents is needed in every case, married or not, with a separate letter for each child.
Always neededIf a parent surrendered an Indian passport in or after 2010, we need the cancelled passport and the surrender certificate.
Surrender certificateEvery time your child gets a new passport up to age 20, the OCI record needs the new passport and a current photo.
Keep it updatedWhat’s involved
- Start the service
Tell us about your child and which parent the claim comes through.
- Send the documents
Photograph the passports and certificates with your phone; our secure upload guides you.
- We check and prepare
We check every name and document and prepare the online application.
- Attend the appointment
Take the originals to the visa centre. Up to three family members can share one appointment.
- We keep you updated
We track the application until the OCI card is ready.
What to have ready
Your exact checklist is confirmed once you start, based on your answers.
Everyone
- Your child's passport: the photo pageWith at least six months left
- Your child's full birth certificateThe long version naming both parents
- Both parents' passportsFor an Indian passport: front, last and all non-blank pages
- Proof of the parent's Indian originIndian passport, domicile or nativity certificate, or their OCI card
- Consent letter signed by both parentsOne for each child
- Proof of your UK address
- Your child's student ID cardFor a child in school
- A photo of your child, 51 × 51 mmSquare, plain light background, not white
- Signature, or thumb impression for under-5s
Only if it applies to you
- Parents' registered marriage certificateIf the parents are married; if there isn't one, the reason must be given
- Cancelled Indian passport and surrender certificateIf a parent surrendered an Indian passport in or after 2010
- Parents' UK immigration statusFor a parent without a British passport
- Child's naturalisation or registration certificateIf the child's nationality wasn't acquired at birth
- Notarised affidavitIf the child's name differs between documents
Clear fees
The government and visa-centre fees are separate from our service fee. They are paid by you directly; we tell you the amount and how to pay when we prepare your application.
Official fee source: VFS Global UK, checked 20 Oct 2026. Official fees can change.
OCI for a child — quick answers
Can my child be added to my OCI or passport?
No. Your child needs their own passport and their own OCI application.
Do we need a consent letter if we are married?
Yes. A consent letter signed by both parents is needed in every case, with a separate letter for each child.
Does my child sign the application?
Children under 5 give a thumb impression. Older children write their name or sign, on plain white paper.
Is there a relaxed photo rule for babies?
No relaxation is published for OCI photos, so the same rules apply at any age. We can take your child's photo in our office.
What happens when my child gets a new passport?
Each time a new passport is issued up to age 20, the new passport and a current photo must be uploaded to the OCI record.
Ready when you are
Rules, official fees and processing times are set by the relevant government or authority and can change. We provide document preparation and application support from your instructions; we are not solicitors or regulated immigration advisers. It is your responsibility to check entry requirements before you travel.
Get help
Have a question? You can ask us. Choose how you’d like to talk and we’ll know which service you’re asking about.
WhatsAppOpens with your question already startedCall 01753 490100Talk to the teamMessage us
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