OCI process

[krunal2904]

Thanks for your reply. So basically in my case I will just need one declaration for myself which I will need to sign and no other declaration needed for my wife and minor child right? I think they also have different format for declaration in Vancouver and in Toronto.

I am referring to Voter ID/Ration Card Declaration. It only needs to be signed by Canadian Parents. If one of the Parent is still Indian Citizen, that Parent doesn't need to sign Voter ID/Ration Card Declaration.

 

[baapu]

Hi Everyone,


I hope you're all doing well.


I'm reaching out to seek guidance on my OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) application process. I’ve completed my entire application and visited the BLS office, only to be told that I need to provide my birth certificate because I was born outside India (UAE).


Background:

• I am a former Indian passport holder and now a Canadian citizen.
• My understanding was that individuals eligible for OCI by themselves (i.e., former Indian nationals) typically do not need to submit a birth certificate.
• However, BLS informed me that since I was born outside India, my birth certificate is mandatory.

The Issues I’m Facing:

1. My birth certificate is issued in the UAE and has a stamp from the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP). BLS said it needs to be apostilled.
2. However, UAE does not apostille documents — they only provide attestation.
3. I found out I would need to get the birth certificate attested by the UAE Embassy in Ottawa, but I live 4 hours away by flight.
4. I’ve been trying to contact the UAE Embassy with no luck – no one answers, and I’m not sure how to proceed.
5. Instructions online say the document first needs attestation by a UAE Happiness Center before the embassy can attest – but these centers are only in the UAE.

My Questions:

• Has anyone gone through a similar situation?
• Am I able to submit my documents in the present circumstance
• How can I get my UAE-issued birth certificate attested in Canada for OCI purposes?
• Is there any workaround or third-party agency that can help with the attestation process?
• Any advice on dealing with the UAE Embassy in Ottawa or someone who has successfully done this remotely?

Any help, guidance, or shared experiences would be deeply appreciated.


Thank you in advance!

 

[nayazkha653]

what was your date of acknowledgment?

April 1, i see today the status changed to processed

 

[RP11]

Hi Everyone,


I hope you're all doing well.


I'm reaching out to seek guidance on my OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) application process. I’ve completed my entire application and visited the BLS office, only to be told that I need to provide my birth certificate because I was born outside India (UAE).


Background:

• I am a former Indian passport holder and now a Canadian citizen.
• My understanding was that individuals eligible for OCI by themselves (i.e., former Indian nationals) typically do not need to submit a birth certificate.
• However, BLS informed me that since I was born outside India, my birth certificate is mandatory.

The Issues I’m Facing:

1. My birth certificate is issued in the UAE and has a stamp from the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP). BLS said it needs to be apostilled.
2. However, UAE does not apostille documents — they only provide attestation.
3. I found out I would need to get the birth certificate attested by the UAE Embassy in Ottawa, but I live 4 hours away by flight.
4. I’ve been trying to contact the UAE Embassy with no luck – no one answers, and I’m not sure how to proceed.
5. Instructions online say the document first needs attestation by a UAE Happiness Center before the embassy can attest – but these centers are only in the UAE.

My Questions:

• Has anyone gone through a similar situation?
• Am I able to submit my documents in the present circumstance
• How can I get my UAE-issued birth certificate attested in Canada for OCI purposes?
• Is there any workaround or third-party agency that can help with the attestation process?
• Any advice on dealing with the UAE Embassy in Ottawa or someone who has successfully done this remotely?

Any help, guidance, or shared experiences would be deeply appreciated.


Thank you in advance!

As you have stated that you are former Indian national with Passport., Ideally you don't need to submit birth certificate. Specific mandate document is applicable only for the applicants who are applying for Fresh OCI as Descendants of present/former Indian nationals, as per the checklist from BLS.

Secondly, while filling up the online application did you fill up the column related to “Relationship with the root Indian” as “self” or Father/Mother/Grandfather/Grandmother/Spouse was Indian national? I believe they might be request for Birth certificate only if you have chosen your Indian root as Father/Mother.

 

[rhsn]

Vancouver application.
OCI website update :
Date Of Acknowledgment06-MAR-2025
Documents Printing StatusPROCESSEDOn22-APR-2025
Dispatched From MEA (OCI )NEW DELHIOn23-APR-2025
Document received AtVANCOUVEROn23-APR-2025

BLS website update:
Counter Delivery to BLS Centre after OCI stamping

 

[maverick1982]

Hi everyone,
This forum has been quite helpful, and so here is my contribution for the infamous Montréal jurisdiction.

Acknowledged on: 9th Jan 2025
Processed on : 28 Mar 2025
Dispatched from MEA New Delhi : 2 Apr 2025
Received in Ottawa: 10 Apr 2025
BLS status update to 'Passport Dispatched via courier' : 14th Apr 2025

All this while, BLS status remained at processing at high commission.
Received tracking ID on 14th evening.

OCI Delivered : 15th April

Like many others have said, God knows what is wrong with Ottawa HCI. The whole thing is a rip off. Despite taking ample buffers, we had to reschedule our flights and eat the change cost. Few days back, we tried our luck with BLS. The incompetent staff couldn't even figure out if our application ID was genuine. Then we showed him the receipt, to which he said that we don't know anything. Your OCI will come directly from Ottawa. Which was FALSE, as the courier did come from BLS origin.

All the numbers given on BLS are not operational. HCI Ottawa numbers are never answered. Like - what kind of scam blackbox is this?? I question the review standards that HCI has for BLS, they literally have no value add to the entire process. Even OCI application instructions are deliberately vague so that we can be subject to the vagaries of BLS interpretation.

And worst of all - what is the point of surrender certificate process? These two processes should simply be merged!! Whosoever wants OCI, pays additional fee and gets it. It is obvious that OCI application means the applicant wants to surrender Indian citizenship compliant to the law. Astounding stupidity and bureaucracy!

Anyway - rant over. I feel lighter. Lol.
Thanks again everyone! please plan ample buffers if you fall under Ottawa jurisdiction.
I'll be available on this forum for a few days to answer any Montréal specific questions.

That's a long time. Congratulations. I applied from Montreal on Feb 25 and it still shows under process. Assuming it will take another month. I was under the impression that I would get it by now since it's close to two months. Have to reduce expectation now. Seems like other places are faster..

 

[gotPrUnderCEC]

That's a long time. Congratulations. I applied from Montreal on Feb 25 and it still shows under process. Assuming it will take another month. I was under the impression that I would get it by now since it's close to two months. Have to reduce expectation now. Seems like other places are faster..

Montreal 27 Feb applicant here, yeah it is 3 month waiting for us

 

[international student_13]

Toronto application for Minor.

OCI website update :
Date Of Acknowledgment - 02-APR-2025
Documents Printing Status PROCESSED On - 23-APR-2025
Dispatched From MEA (OCI )NEW DELHI On - blank
Document received At Toronto On - blank

 

[zeninmaking]

Hi all!
I submitted my application and my minor kid’s application on Monday via Postal. BLS trackers shows my kid’s application as “returned” and mine “underprocess”.
Do they usually say why they have returned an application or do I have to call them?

 

[abbas.pasha]

Hi Everyone,


I hope you're all doing well.


I'm reaching out to seek guidance on my OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) application process. I’ve completed my entire application and visited the BLS office, only to be told that I need to provide my birth certificate because I was born outside India (UAE).


Background:

• I am a former Indian passport holder and now a Canadian citizen.
• My understanding was that individuals eligible for OCI by themselves (i.e., former Indian nationals) typically do not need to submit a birth certificate.
• However, BLS informed me that since I was born outside India, my birth certificate is mandatory.

The Issues I’m Facing:

1. My birth certificate is issued in the UAE and has a stamp from the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP). BLS said it needs to be apostilled.
2. However, UAE does not apostille documents — they only provide attestation.
3. I found out I would need to get the birth certificate attested by the UAE Embassy in Ottawa, but I live 4 hours away by flight.
4. I’ve been trying to contact the UAE Embassy with no luck – no one answers, and I’m not sure how to proceed.
5. Instructions online say the document first needs attestation by a UAE Happiness Center before the embassy can attest – but these centers are only in the UAE.

My Questions:

• Has anyone gone through a similar situation?
• Am I able to submit my documents in the present circumstance
• How can I get my UAE-issued birth certificate attested in Canada for OCI purposes?
• Is there any workaround or third-party agency that can help with the attestation process?
• Any advice on dealing with the UAE Embassy in Ottawa or someone who has successfully done this remotely?

Any help, guidance, or shared experiences would be deeply appreciated.


Thank you in advance!

I had done this registration process way back in 2013 when my daughter was born in Dubai. I had received the birth certificate(Arabic and English Translation) from Ministry of Health which I had to get it attested as well with Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
After that I went to the Indian Consulate in Dubai to register the birth with the consulate.
They issued a letter with the registration details which had name of the child, DoB, parent's name ,etc...

Now in your case it become a tad bit tricky... This registration thing which I mentioned above has to be done within a year, which unfortunately in your case did not happen...
For such a scenario you might to approach MHA, India as the Embassy/Consulate might not be able to help you https://www.indembassyuae.gov.in/indian-citizenship.php this is what is mentioned in the link

 

[maverick1982]

Montreal 27 Feb applicant here, yeah it is 3 month waiting for us

. A little difference between consulates is understandable but not so much. It was 2 months before

 

[baapu]

As you have stated that you are former Indian national with Passport., Ideally you don't need to submit birth certificate. Specific mandate document is applicable only for the applicants who are applying for Fresh OCI as Descendants of present/former Indian nationals, as per the checklist from BLS.

Secondly, while filling up the online application did you fill up the column related to “Relationship with the root Indian” as “self” or Father/Mother/Grandfather/Grandmother/Spouse was Indian national? I believe they might be request for Birth certificate only if you have chosen your Indian root as Father/Mother.

Hi Thank you for your response.

I did review the checklist and I was advised by them to make sure I mark self for root India at the Bls center. However, they said due to my birth being outside India, they will require birth certificate. I did verify this with a bls over the phone aswell.

 

[baapu]

I had done this registration process way back in 2013 when my daughter was born in Dubai. I had received the birth certificate(Arabic and English Translation) from Ministry of Health which I had to get it attested as well with Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
After that I went to the Indian Consulate in Dubai to register the birth with the consulate.
They issued a letter with the registration details which had name of the child, DoB, parent's name ,etc...

Now in your case it become a tad bit tricky... This registration thing which I mentioned above has to be done within a year, which unfortunately in your case did not happen...
For such a scenario you might to approach MHA, India as the Embassy/Consulate might not be able to help you https://www.indembassyuae.gov.in/indian-citizenship.php this is what is mentioned in the link

Hi thank you for your response.

I did formerly have an Indian passport. Its just that I need to my birth certificate attested by mofa + consulate to continue with my oci process. Just struggling to understand why my birth certificate is required although I was formerly holder of indian passport.

 

[zeninmaking]

Hi all!
I submitted my application and my minor kid’s application on Monday via Postal. BLS trackers shows my kid’s application as “returned” and mine “underprocess”.
Do they usually say why they have returned an application or do I have to call them?

I called them today to check why my kid's application is being returned and apparently the remark is "parents name sequence should be like in the current passport".
Makes no sense - I checked the application again and it is exactly the same. I put <surname><given name> - Isn't this correct?

 

[iamrfmas]

I called them today to check why my kid's application is being returned and apparently the remark is "parents name sequence should be like in the current passport".
Makes no sense - I checked the application again and it is exactly the same. I put <surname><given name> - Isn't this correct?

In my case, I had mentioned given name followed by surname in the form.