Can I apply for OCI if my Indian passport has already expired?

I would first confirm the date you acquired foreign citizenship. That date can affect the documents required for the OCI application.

For example, the Indian Consulate in Toronto states that applicants who acquired foreign citizenship before 1 June 2010 may submit their last-held Indian passport instead of a Surrender Certificate if the passport has the required cancellation stamp. Other applicants generally need the appropriate Surrender or Renunciation Certificate.

This is a jurisdiction-specific example, so do not assume the same exception applies everywhere.

If you have the expired Indian passport, foreign passport and citizenship certificate, you already have some important documents. Check the official OCI checklist for your location before submitting the application.

If you still have your old Indian passport, keep both the original and a clear scanned copy available. Even if the passport has expired, it can be useful evidence of your previous Indian citizenship.

However, the passport alone may not satisfy the OCI checklist. You may also need a Surrender or Renunciation Certificate, depending on when you acquired foreign citizenship and the rules applicable to your application.

If you lost the original passport but have a copy, do not assume that the copy will automatically be accepted as a substitute for every required document. Contact the relevant Indian Mission or application centre and ask about the procedure for a lost passport.

The requirements can vary by jurisdiction, so check the official checklist for the country where you are applying.

An expired Indian passport does not automatically prevent you from applying for OCI. In fact, if you previously held Indian citizenship and later acquired foreign citizenship, you generally need to provide evidence of your former Indian citizenship as part of the OCI application.

The important point is that you must also hold a valid passport of your current foreign nationality. The OCI application requires proof of present citizenship, including a valid foreign passport and your citizenship or naturalisation certificate.

If you acquired foreign citizenship in or after 2010, the OCI document checklist generally requires the cancelled or surrendered Indian passport along with the applicable Surrender Certificate.

I would not renew your Indian passport after acquiring foreign citizenship. Instead, check the surrender or renunciation process applicable to your country of residence and complete the required documentation.