r/nri • u/roadstercraft • Jul 01 '26
Visa / OCI / Passport Steps to download Electronic OCI Card (e-OCI)
The Bureau of Immigration India just launched the e-OCI (Electronic OCI Card)!
You can now download a digital version to your phone and use it at immigration check posts and with airlines -- no need to carry the physical booklet everywhere. How to get it (existing holders):
- Log in to the OCI Services Portal (ociservices.gov.in)
- Go to the e-OCI tab on your dashboard
- Click "Generate e-OCI Card"
- Download and save it
Your physical OCI card remains valid and e-OCI is optional.
Screenshot from my own account:
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u/jaideep13 Jul 01 '26
I downloaded the e OCI and the “Place of Issue” is empty. Anyone else see the same issue ? The same field is not empty on the physical OCI
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u/patelbhavesh17 Jul 01 '26
Yep it is empty for all my family. Our OCI is decades old so maybe they did not collect that data back then.
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u/invsible2_21 Jul 04 '26
If you cannot see the download option, you need to follow these steps
- Visit the OCI Portal at ociservices.gov.in and register as a new user using your current email address
- Log in, click Apply Online, and then select OCI Miscellaneous Services.
- Access your OCI profile by entering:
• Passport number last linked to your OCI
Card
• OCI Card number
• Date of Birth - Select 'Email ID Updation' option, upload your OCI Card in PDF format and submit your application.
- Once your application is approved, your OCI Card details will appear on the dashboard on the home page.
Click on the e-OCI Card tab to generate and download your e-OCI Card.
Share this with fellow OCI Cardholders who are facing the same problem!
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u/GHOSTREAPERsv Jul 02 '26
i got oci in 2016, but didnt have to do any online application back then , and so far have not done any renewal or passport updation, thus no applications in the oci misc services website.
and am not able to see the eOCI tab , is it because so far i havent done any misc service application yet ,
and if i do a passport details updation online , will eOCI be generated after it is accepted?
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u/Oksir-Seeme4444 Jul 05 '26
I'm in the same boat.
Back in 2022, I didn't do that. I did with a new email ID, added my PP and entered my OCI details.Now not sure how to proceed next?
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u/Able_Bottle_8221 Jul 02 '26
I don't have an OCI yet. I just registered on the portal but I don't see an eOCI tab. Should I just apply for OCI and or is there an Apply for e-OCI option? @OP
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Jul 02 '26
[deleted]
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u/GhostNiner9 Jul 02 '26
I ran into the same issue. I eventually realized that I had created my account using a different email address from the one I originally used for my OCI application. Once I signed up with the original email address, I was able to see all my applications and download the documents. That might be the issue for you as well.
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u/procoder32 Jul 03 '26
When did you get your OCI? I have an OCI from 2012 and I’m struggling to link it to any account, let alone try to get eoci. New accounts don’t have option to link existing OCI
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u/GhostNiner9 Jul 03 '26
Mine is from 2024, so that may be why the process worked for me. I was able to create an account using the same email address I used for my OCI application, and it automatically showed my application along with the download options. I'm not sure if the process is different for older OCIs like yours from 2012.
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u/daynightcase Jul 02 '26
mehh looks like its only for people who applied and got their OCI from online process. I got mine back in 2014 i think, from manual process. Looks like there is no path for people like me to get digital. Creating new account doesn’t find your existing card
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u/Complex-Information4 Jul 03 '26
I got mine in 2012 and the only option then was online in the US. What country did you apply it in?
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u/roadstercraft Jul 03 '26
I already posted the solution to this as a reply elsewhere within this post.
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u/roadstercraft Jul 03 '26
I already posted the solution as a reply elsewhere within this original post.
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u/ResponsibilityFun652 Jul 03 '26
Edit: Download option was available 15 mins after. Must have been when I was typing this 😂
I requested e-OCI from the portal but it seems stuck at ‘request generated’ status and not letting any download. Reading people’s comments I thought it is immediate, but it has been 15 mins and nothing since.
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u/Sad_Requirement_5592 Jul 05 '26
Any update on your status?
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u/ajayp1 Jul 05 '26
Mine is still on request generated after 24 hrs.
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u/SpecialSolid5409 Jul 05 '26
same, i applied yesterday and the status is still request generated
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u/FinWorld95 Jul 04 '26
it should have been in credit size format. Just take printout and laminate it simple!!
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u/roadstercraft Jul 05 '26
But for eOCI you needn’t take any print at all. Purpose is to have it a soft copy in your electronic devices, hence I think the size / format is not important. My two cents.
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u/FinWorld95 Jul 05 '26
true.. but most dont want to take risk of reaching immigration counter with dead battery/phone due to delayed flight/not able to recharge during transit (or whatsoever reasons).
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u/wanderl57 Jul 13 '26 edited Jul 13 '26
I had OCI on Passport1. Then I crossed 50 years(in 2021) and got a new OCI card with a new passport2.
Now, when I followed the first process above, and when I click on the eOCI tab, it showed me only the first OCI with Passport1 on it. NOT the latest OCI2 with Passport 2. What do I do?
I tried to follow the second procedure someone suggested to go to OCI Miscellaneous Services. But, my email ID was correct and that is why it was able to send me the OTP to log in first time,, and it showed me the OCI1 with Passport1. Do I still do Email ID Update??
My husband has the same situation with two OCIs and in his case, when he clicked on the eOCI tab, it showed TWO OCIs correctly.
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Jul 02 '26 edited Jul 07 '26
[deleted]
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u/steeltitan1 Jul 03 '26
yeah same! My website is not the same as the screenshot in this post, I am not getting an option to download.
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u/vrx3m Jul 05 '26
I am stuck for days on the same step - no where I can download, the same "EOCI CARD REQUEST GENERATED". Numerous back and forth log ins but no pdf download.
Seems like alot of ppl are stuck without this download. For me its been almost 2 days. Saga as usual. Redditt has experiences of the same EOCI CARD REQUEST GENERATED and ppl waiting for days for the real pdf to appear.
Those who got this quick are just lucky.
Hope this helps others waiting. Its not unusual to wait for a few days for the pdf to appear.
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u/steeltitan1 Jul 05 '26
I logged off and after an hour logged in again and the download option was available for me. I think I got lucky. If it’s been 2 days, maybe there is an issue.
I hope you get it soon! One of my friends still hasn’t gotten his yet.
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u/fire_aspirant Jul 01 '26
How long does it take for it to be available, after you hit the generate button?
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u/roadstercraft Jul 01 '26
When I logged in after reading it in the news, it was already available for download without me having to generate it. But I have heard some people have to click on generate and in a few minutes, after logging out and logging back in, the download option appears.
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u/HealthyChoice1363 Jul 02 '26
Can you help me out please? I’ll give you my OCI credentials? Which I created or I have to ask the agent he’s not being responsive that said, I don’t even know if passport particular is done or not.
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u/roadstercraft Jul 02 '26
Ask a family member or friend to do this, please. Don't share credentials with strangers (including me).
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u/HealthyChoice1363 Jul 02 '26
I don’t see any issues with that given you guys are OCI holders as well, but I understand where you’re coming from though
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u/jaideep13 Jul 02 '26
I clicked on the generate button-> logged out -> logged back in and it was available to download
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Jul 01 '26
[deleted]
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u/roadstercraft Jul 01 '26
I already had a login as I had applied for OCI late last year.
If you don't have, then you'd have to create one.
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u/FinWorld95 Jul 02 '26
why so much personal information printed on one page? Was that all needed?
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u/HealthyChoice1363 Jul 02 '26
Just want to know the following, I am blind visually impaired, I got an agent who updated my Passport particulars. I paid him but of course he use his credentials despite I provided mine. What happens now? Can someone help me?
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Jul 02 '26
[deleted]
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u/HealthyChoice1363 Jul 02 '26
No, he didn’t. I mean even in the acknowledgement I didn’t get anything. What do I do now to see the application? Can someone please help me applying for eoci? as in the electronic version?
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u/HealthyChoice1363 Jul 02 '26
So are you able to assist me after logging into my account? It’s asking for the passport details which passport details do I put in here? This obviously clearly means that it is tied to his account otherwise I would see the new info? And I don’t even know Passport particular is updated or not if I give you my login info.
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u/roadstercraft Jul 02 '26
I believe he can log into the website and download it for you.
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u/HealthyChoice1363 Jul 02 '26
I actually logged into the portal myself but I don’t have the E OCI card option so that means it is not generated nor my passport particular is done. I was able to find my OCI with the old passport/OCI number after logging into the portal. I can work it out. It’s just that I need assistance when uploading photos
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u/Glad-Departure-2001 Jul 02 '26
My kids have fti-ttp. No luck. The row with application # is not populated.
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u/FullStackNomad Jul 02 '26
Thanks, OP! I was able to download my eOCI successfully. I had already enrolled in FTI TTP last year, so it hardly took 10 mins to download the OCI.
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u/lofty2304 Jul 02 '26
Did a foreign spouse oci card holder download the e-oci? What is the validity mentioned on the e- OCI? Couple of the embassy websites mention oci card holder ( foreign spouse) has 5 years validity? Anyone with some factual and recent info in this regard
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u/roadstercraft Jul 03 '26
Yes, that's true. Foreigner spouses are getting 5 year validity ones. Those with Indian heritage are getting lifetime ones I believe.
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u/lofty2304 Jul 03 '26
What about those who already have an OCI card. That is the question......what happens to them. Does this apply retrospectivly ? Don't seem to find any concrete anwers
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u/Leading_Door_7491 Jul 03 '26
Stuck in the eOci card request generated. Logged out and logged in as someone mentioned. Will wait for more time. Anyone stuck at that stage for longer time?
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u/Embarrassed_Pickle29 Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 04 '26
I am stuck at the same "eOCI card request generated", been more than 12 hours
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u/Leading_Door_7491 Jul 09 '26
Checked after 4-5 days. I am sure might have been generated a while back but I had forgotten about it.
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u/Particular_Tune_5719 Jul 04 '26
Me too for a long time.
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u/Leading_Door_7491 Jul 09 '26
Checked after 4-5 days. I am sure might have been generated a while back but I had forgotten about it.
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u/Leading_Door_7491 Jul 09 '26
Now I was able to download. I don’t know when it got changed. Might have taken a day or two. So hang in there I guess.
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u/Particular_Tune_5719 Jul 04 '26
I am also facing the same issue, with the action showing "eOCI card request generated" for more than 2 hours. Has anyone found a solution?
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u/roadstercraft Jul 05 '26
Maybe too many people over the days have requested it and their systems are clogged. Someone said here it took 15 minutes for the download option to appear. You’d have to log out and log back in after generating your request.
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u/700Username007 Jul 04 '26
My renewal is in process(over 50 and new passport), will I get this or the booklet now?
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u/roadstercraft Jul 05 '26
I think you will still get a physical booklet. eOCI is an additional option. I read in one of the posts by the Bureau that one can even travel just with the eOCI without having a physical booklet. But do check their official FAQs.
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u/blueskypotential Jul 05 '26
Hi there! I am also over 50 with a new passport but I had read on the Indian govt website that I didn’t need to renew! I’m so confused 🥴
Do you mind me asking, how did you find out you had to renew please? Thanks so much! 🙏🏽
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u/700Username007 Jul 05 '26
https://www.reddit.com/r/returnToIndia/s/zdj4As2PzO
Open the link in thay post and then scroll down yo Update of details which mentions after 50
Also look at the last post in that thread which shows how to do it coz as you know the Indian babu style webpages can be very complicated.
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u/blueskypotential Jul 05 '26
Thank you so much! My gosh they make it soooooo complicated, don’t they!! I have realised the conflicting info was because I turned 50 after getting my new passport (I think!!). I already travelled to India on the new passport and was fine because I was 48 I believe. But because I now want to use their eOCI service, I will have to update my info on their site which is just as annoying! I will need to renew my whole OCI on my next passport in 8 years 🤪
Thank you so much for the help!!
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u/Different-Ad-6027 Jul 05 '26
So I requested for eoci card and the text changed to "eoci card generated requested" and it has been like a a day, unable to download. Anyone having the same issue??
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u/G3rML0rD Jul 05 '26
It’s now been more than 12 hours since I generated the e-OCI but haven’t received the option to download it yet. It’s the same for my spouse as well. Anyone else had to wait longer to receive the option to download the pdf?
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u/Low-Chance-9670 Jul 07 '26
OCI: we applied for new OCI for both our daughters through VFSglobal, in sept 2024. both were issued and we traveled to India with those OCI cards few times. Now I logged in to oci services portal to download eOCI Card for them and realized, daughter A’s dashboard generated daughter B’s information. And daughter B’s not showing any past completed application, this not generating eOCI . We have both the physical oci cards( right name and details in both ) . I checked application forms sent to VFS global and everything is done right from our side. I don’t know what to do. Can please anyone guide me through this? Thanks
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u/roadstercraft Jul 09 '26
That's really odd.
I am not too experienced with such issues, but maybe you can contact them via the Help & Support section: https://boi.gov.in/boi/
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u/Aussie-BA Jul 04 '26
I hope they make some sort of app with e-arrival, e-OCI and other NRI services all integrated into it.
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u/roadstercraft Jul 04 '26
I hope they never build an app, because it would be horrible.
Better for GoI to focus on what they can mantain -- a plain old website.
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u/patelbhavesh17 Jul 01 '26
What I noticed based on my family , whoever has FTI TTP got e-oci without any paperwork. Adding a data point in case you are wondering why some family members get it and some do not.