Frequently Asked Questions

NriDirect is a UK-based service that helps Indians in the UK with Indian consular paperwork — OCI cards, Indian passport renewals, visa applications, PAN cards, and more. We handle the forms, verify documents, and book VFS appointments so you don't have to.

Our services are for anyone in the UK who needs Indian consular documents — British citizens of Indian origin, Indian citizens living in the UK, and their family members. Whether you need an OCI card, a passport renewal, or a PAN card, we can help.

No. NriDirect is an independent document assistance service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Indian High Commission, VFS Global, or any Indian government body. We provide expert help with application preparation and appointment booking.

Our service fees range from £29 to £350 depending on the service. These fees cover our preparation, verification, and booking services. Indian government fees and VFS Global fees are payable separately and are clearly listed for each service.

Select the service you need on our website, complete a short questionnaire, and upload your documents. We will review everything and get back to you within one working day with next steps.

Our team can assist in English, Hindi, Gujarati, and Punjabi. All written communications and applications are submitted in English as required by the Indian High Commission.

The Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card is a travel document that grants lifelong visa-free travel to India. It also provides the right to live and work in India and parity with NRIs in financial, economic, and educational matters (with some exceptions in agricultural land and government positions).

You are eligible if you were a citizen of India on or after 26 January 1950, or a child or grandchild of such a person, or the spouse of an Indian citizen or existing OCI cardholder. Citizens of Pakistan or Bangladesh, or persons who have held citizenship of these countries, are not eligible.

Yes. If you have acquired British or any other foreign nationality, you must obtain a Surrender Certificate for your Indian passport before submitting an OCI application. We offer both services and can handle them sequentially.

A fresh OCI application typically takes 8-12 weeks from submission at VFS Global. Processing times depend on the Indian High Commission's workload and can occasionally be longer.

Yes. When you get a new passport, your OCI card must be transferred to the new passport number. Without this, you may face issues at Indian immigration. Our OCI Transfer service handles this for £100.

OCI cards issued to those under 20 must be re-issued upon turning 20, and again at 50, to update the photograph. There is no expiry on the OCI status itself — it is lifelong.

Yes, if the child has a parent or grandparent who was an Indian citizen. The child must have a valid British passport, and the Indian-origin parent must provide supporting documents proving their connection to India.

An OCI card provides lifelong, multiple-entry, visa-free travel to India with no restrictions on stay duration. An Indian visa is temporary, may restrict the length of stay, and must be renewed. For Indians in the UK who travel to India regularly, OCI is significantly more convenient.

Yes. The foreign-national spouse of an Indian citizen or existing OCI cardholder is eligible to apply for an OCI card. You will need to provide your marriage certificate and your spouse's Indian documents. We offer a dedicated OCI Through Spouse service for this.

The Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card was a scheme for people of Indian origin who hold foreign nationality. The Indian government closed the PIO scheme in 2015 and requires all PIO cardholders to convert to OCI. PIO cards no longer provide the original entry benefits, so conversion is essential.

Yes. Indian citizens residing in the UK can renew their passports through VFS Global centres, which process applications on behalf of the Indian High Commission in London. Our service handles the application and appointment booking.

Standard processing takes 4-6 weeks from the date of submission at VFS Global. Tatkal (urgent) processing may be available for an additional fee, subject to eligibility.

Yes. You must attend a VFS Global centre for biometric capture (fingerprints and photograph) and original document verification. There is no postal or online alternative for this step.

If both parents are Indian citizens at the time of birth, the child is generally eligible for an Indian passport. If one parent has acquired another nationality, eligibility depends on specific circumstances — we can assess this for you.

A Surrender Certificate is an official document confirming that you have formally surrendered your Indian passport after acquiring foreign nationality. It is required by Indian law and is a prerequisite for OCI applications.

File a police report immediately and obtain a copy. You will then need to apply for a new passport or a Surrender Certificate (if you now hold British nationality) with the police report and a signed affidavit. Contact us and we will guide you through the specific steps.

Yes. British passport holders need a visa or e-Visa to enter India, unless they hold a valid OCI card. The e-Visa is the quickest option for short visits.

India offers e-Tourist Visa (for sightseeing, casual visits to friends and family), e-Business Visa (for business activities, attending conferences), and e-Medical Visa (for medical treatment). Each has different validity periods and conditions.

e-Visas are typically processed within 3-5 business days. We recommend applying at least 2 weeks before your travel date to allow for any unexpected delays.

If you are of Indian origin and plan to visit India regularly, an OCI card is more cost-effective as it provides lifelong visa-free travel. An e-Visa is better suited for one-off or infrequent visits by non-Indian-origin British citizens.

Indian e-Visas are generally not extendable. If you need a longer stay, apply for the appropriate visa duration from the outset or consider applying for a regular visa through VFS Global.

You need a paper visa if you are travelling for purposes not covered by the e-Visa — such as journalism, attending official conferences, or research. Certain nationalities are also not eligible for the e-Visa and must apply for a paper visa through VFS Global.

Yes. We offer a Third-Country e-Visa service covering popular destinations including Turkey, Morocco, and the UAE. We complete the application on official portals to ensure accuracy and avoid border refusals.

The Indian Business e-Visa is for British passport holders travelling to India for business meetings, trade visits, negotiations, site inspections, or conferences. It is distinct from the Tourist e-Visa and available in 1-year or 5-year multiple-entry formats. It does not permit gainful employment in India.

The Indian Medical e-Visa is a triple-entry visa valid for 60 days, issued to foreign nationals travelling to India for medical treatment at a recognised hospital. A separate Medical Attendant Visa is available for up to two accompanying family members or carers. Tourist e-Visas are not valid for medical treatment purposes.

A Permanent Account Number (PAN) is a unique tax identification number issued by the Indian Income Tax Department. NRIs need it for property transactions, tax filings, bank account operations, and investments in India.

Indian citizens (including NRIs holding Indian passports) use Form 49A. Foreign citizens, including British citizens and OCI holders, use Form 49AA. Using the wrong form will cause your application to be rejected.

Yes. PAN card applications are processed entirely by post through NSDL or UTIITSL. No VFS appointment or in-person visit is required.

Yes. We handle PAN card corrections and updates — including name changes, address updates, and other modifications. The process is similar to a fresh application and is handled by post.

We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), bank transfers, and PayPal. All payments are processed securely through our encrypted payment gateway.

No. Our prices cover our service fee for application preparation, document verification, and appointment booking. Indian government fees and VFS Global fees are payable separately — we clearly list all applicable fees on each service page.

Our service fee is payable upfront when you submit your order. Government and VFS fees are typically paid at the time of your VFS appointment or online application submission.

If we have not yet begun work on your application, you are entitled to a full refund. Once application preparation has started, a partial refund may be available depending on the stage of work. Government and VFS fees are non-refundable. Full details are in our Refund Policy.

Our service fees are payable in full upfront. Given that most of our services are priced under £200, we do not currently offer instalment plans.

After placing your order, you will receive access to our secure document upload portal. You can upload scanned copies or clear photographs of your documents. All uploads are encrypted using TLS 1.3.

We accept PDF, JPEG, and PNG formats. Each file should be under 5MB. Documents should be clearly legible with all text and photos visible. We will let you know if any document needs to be re-uploaded.

You upload copies to us for preparation. Original documents are submitted by you in person at the VFS appointment. We never ask you to post original passports or identity documents to us.

Digital copies of your documents are retained for a maximum of 12 months after your application is complete, after which they are permanently and securely deleted. You can request earlier deletion at any time.

Indian consular applications require a 2x2 inch (51x51mm) photograph on a white background with the face covering 50-60% of the frame. This is different from UK passport photo specifications. We provide detailed guidance with each service.

We can advise on attestation requirements and recommend notary services in your area. Certain documents for PAN card and other applications must be attested by a notary public or the Indian High Commission.

Yes. Our UK Passport Renewal Assistance service reviews your renewal application, checks your photographs against HMPO standards, and guides you through the submission process. We do not submit to HMPO on your behalf — that must be done directly by the applicant — but we ensure everything is correct before you send it.

Non-compliant photographs are the most frequent cause of rejection or delays. HMPO has strict requirements for photo size, background, expression, and print quality. Our service checks your photos before submission to catch these issues.

Our Police Clearance Certificate service is specifically for Indian PCCs. For UK DBS checks or PCCs from other countries, please contact us and we can advise on next steps.

Yes. Our OCI & Passport Document Upload Assistance service is designed precisely for this. You provide your prepared documents and photograph, and we handle the formatting and portal submission. We know the exact photo specifications, file size limits, and common error resolutions for the OCI portal, Passport Seva, and Indian e-Visa portal.

We use TLS 1.3 encryption for all data in transit and AES-256 encryption for data at rest. Access is restricted to authorised team members only. We are ICO registered and fully GDPR compliant.

We never sell or share your data for marketing purposes. Your data is only shared with the Indian High Commission and VFS Global as necessary to process your application, and with our secure payment processor for transactions.

Yes. You have the right to request deletion of your personal data at any time, subject to our legal obligations to retain certain records. Contact us to exercise this right and we will process your request within 30 days.

All data is stored on secure servers located in the United Kingdom, subject to UK data protection law including the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018.