Signature vs Thumb Impression for Minor OCI Application

We submitted our baby's OCI application from Australia when she was only eight months old.

Naturally, she couldn't sign, so we used a thumb impression. The only issue we had was that our first upload was too faint, and we had to prepare a darker, clearer impression before submitting the application online.

One tip I'd share is to practice on plain white paper first and scan the best impression instead of trying to get it right on the first attempt. A clean image with good contrast made the upload much easier.

As always, follow the current image specifications because blurry or oversized uploads can cause unnecessary delays.

Our experience in the UK was slightly different because our daughter had just turned six and could write her name.

We asked the BLS counter staff whether a thumb impression was still acceptable, and they suggested using her own signature since she was able to sign consistently. That's what we uploaded, and the application went through without any additional requests.

From what I've seen, the child's age and ability to sign seem to matter. If the child genuinely can't sign yet, a thumb impression appears to be commonly accepted based on many parents' experiences.

We applied for our son's OCI card through BLS Toronto earlier this year when he was 3 years old.

Instead of a signature, we uploaded his left thumb impression in the signature box during the online application. We also made sure it was clear, without any smudges or background marks. Our application was accepted, and BLS didn't raise any concerns about it during document verification.

The parents still had to sign the declaration forms where required, but for our son's own signature field, the thumb impression was used.

I'd still recommend checking the latest OCI photo and signature specifications before uploading because those technical requirements can sometimes be updated.