OCI Apostille Guide 2025Updated: June 2025· Based on MEA rules

US Documents Apostilled
for OCI — The Complete
2025 Guide

The December 2024 OCI mandate changed what documents Indian families need apostilled. Here's exactly what's required, who needs it, and how to get it done from India without any travel to a consulate.

Get Help with OCI Apostille

New Rule — December 2024

The Ministry of External Affairs now requires an apostilled US Birth Certificate for OCI applications for US-born children of Indian-origin parents. Previously, a plain certified copy was accepted. This applies to both new OCI applications and renewals where the US birth certificate is used as a primary document.

Source: Ministry of External Affairs OCI Application Guidelines, December 2024 update.

Who Needs This

Three Situations Where OCI Apostille Is Required

👤

Adult applying for OCI

Document Required

FBI Background Check (PCC)

US Federal Apostille

Adults who have lived in the US and are applying for OCI for the first time, or those renewing after more than 20 years, often need an apostilled FBI PCC.

Order FBI PCC Apostille
👶

US-born child applying for OCI

Document Required

US Birth Certificate

State-level Apostille

Children born in the US who are applying for OCI as Indian-origin card holders now require an apostilled birth certificate per the December 2024 rule.

Join WaitlistComing Soon
📋

Renouncing Indian citizenship

Document Required

US Naturalization Certificate

US Federal Apostille

Indian nationals who have naturalized as US citizens and are surrendering their Indian passport must apostille their US Naturalization Certificate.

Enquire on WhatsAppComing Soon
Step-by-Step Process

How OCI Apostille Works — From India

01

Determine which documents need apostilling

Use the table above as a guide. For adults: FBI PCC. For US-born children: birth certificate. For naturalized citizens renouncing Indian citizenship: naturalization certificate. If in doubt, message us on WhatsApp — we will tell you exactly what you need based on your case.

02

Obtain the document (if you don't already have it)

For FBI PCC: apply directly through the FBI CJIS Division online. The FBI typically takes 3–4 months to mail you the background check. For US birth certificates: order a certified copy from the vital records office of the state where the birth occurred. Veritas Apostille Services can guide you through this process.

03

Courier the original document to our US address

Ship the original document from India to our US address using DHL, FedEx, or BlueDart International. This typically takes 3–5 business days. We send you our mailing address via WhatsApp upon order confirmation. All documents are fully insured during transit.

04

We handle US notarization and apostille submission

We submit the document to the appropriate US authority — the US Department of State (for FBI PCC and federal documents) or the relevant Secretary of State (for state-issued documents like birth certificates). We send you a WhatsApp update when the apostille is received, including a photo of the apostille stamp.

05

DHL ships the apostilled document to your India address

Once apostilled, we ship via DHL international with tracking directly to your address in India. Delivery typically takes 3–5 business days. We send you the DHL tracking number via WhatsApp. You then submit the apostilled document with your OCI application to VFS Global or the Indian consulate.

Document Checklist

OCI Apostille Document Requirements

DocumentWho Needs ItAuthorityOur PriceStatus
FBI Background Check (PCC)All adults applying for OCIUS Dept of StateFrom $175Available Now
US Birth CertificateUS-born children (Dec 2024 rule)Secretary of StateComing SoonComing Soon
US Naturalization CertificateNaturalized citizens renouncing Indian citizenshipUS Dept of StateComing SoonComing Soon
US Marriage CertificateName change on OCI recordsSecretary of StateComing SoonComing Soon
FAQ

OCI Apostille — Common Questions

Does an apostille on a US birth certificate expire?
No — the apostille itself does not expire. However, some Indian consulates prefer documents issued within the last 12 months. We recommend using the most recently certified copy of the birth certificate.
Can I submit a digital/scanned copy of the apostilled document to VFS Global?
For OCI applications, the original apostilled document must be couriered to the Indian consulate or submitted at VFS Global. A scanned copy is not accepted as a substitute for the apostille-bearing original.
My child was born in Texas — which office handles the apostille?
The Texas Secretary of State handles state-level apostilles (for birth certificates). The US Department of State handles federal-level apostilles (for FBI PCC). We manage both — you just courier us the original document from India.
Do I need to apostille the birth certificate if my child already has a US passport?
As of December 2024, the Ministry of External Affairs requires the birth certificate (apostilled) for OCI applications, regardless of whether the child holds a US passport. The passport alone is no longer sufficient.
How long does the complete OCI apostille process take end to end?
Total timeline: courier from India to us (3–5 days) + our US processing (5–12 business days depending on speed) + DHL back to India (3–5 days) = approximately 11–22 days from the date you send the document.
Can I get my FBI PCC and birth certificate apostilled at the same time?
Yes — we handle multiple documents in one order. Contact us on WhatsApp with the list of documents and we will combine them into a single order with bundled shipping, saving you time and cost.
Our Service

We Handle OCI Apostille End-to-End

Send us your documents from India. We do everything in the US — notarization, submission, apostille — and DHL it back to your door. WhatsApp updates at every stage.

FBI PCC Apostille — Available Now

From $175 · Standard, Rush & Same Day speeds · Includes DHL return shipping to India

Order on WhatsApp →

Birth Certificate Apostille — Coming Soon

Join the waitlist to be notified when this service launches

Join Waitlist on WhatsApp →