Experiences Updating Details Through the e-OCI Portal

I recently helped my parents complete this process from Australia.

Their OCI cards are older, and both had renewed Australian passports earlier this year. We updated each account separately through the e-OCI portal.

My mother's update was completed within about 48 hours, while my father's took nearly six days even though both applications were submitted on the same day.

The important thing is to make sure the passport number, expiry date, and personal details match exactly. Even a small typo could result in a request for clarification.

Since the e-OCI rollout is still relatively new, I expect processing times may continue changing as more people begin using the online system. Official guidance also notes that existing physical OCI cards remain valid while the digital system is being used.

My experience in the UK was slightly different.

After updating my passport details through the e-OCI portal, I received a message asking me to upload a clearer scan because one page was slightly cropped. Once I submitted a better copy, everything moved fairly quickly.

From the first submission until I could download the updated e-OCI, it took roughly a week.

One thing I noticed was that the portal looked unchanged for several days, so don't assume something is wrong just because the status doesn't move immediately. I almost contacted the High Commission before realizing the update had already been processed.

Every application seems a little different depending on document quality and individual circumstances, so I wouldn't compare timelines too closely.

I completed a similar update from California about two weeks ago. My OCI was issued years ago, and after renewing my U.S. passport, I signed into the OCI portal and uploaded the new passport information.

In my case, the upload itself only took a few minutes. The portal continued showing the request as pending for about three days before the option to download the updated e-OCI appeared. I didn't receive any separate email notification—I simply checked the portal every day.

I wasn't asked to upload any extra documents besides the passport page that the portal requested. The physical OCI booklet still worked during the process, so I wasn't worried about immediate travel.

Based on my experience, the status messages aren't always very descriptive. If your documents were accepted without errors, it may simply be waiting for processing. Requirements and timelines can vary, though, so I'd still keep an eye on the portal.