The paperwork you typically need to gather for an OCI application
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An OCI application generally rests on proving two things clearly: the applicant's own identity and citizenship, and a documented link to India through birth, descent or marriage. This usually means gathering a current passport, proof of foreign citizenship, and evidence connecting the applicant or a parent or grandparent to India, such as an old Indian passport or a birth certificate.
Where the connection runs through a parent or grandparent rather than the applicant's own Indian origin, additional documents are typically required to establish that relationship clearly, which can include birth certificates, marriage certificates and sometimes earlier generations' citizenship records. Photographs meeting specified requirements and a renunciation certificate, where applicable, are also commonly part of a complete file.
Because document requirements can vary depending on which eligibility category an applicant falls under, and because processing bodies periodically update their exact requirements, it is worth confirming the current checklist for the applicable category before assembling paperwork. Keeping certified copies and originals organised together tends to make the process considerably smoother regardless of which category applies.