How to Self-Attest OCI Documents: Pages, Minors, and Uploads

To self-attest OCI documents, write “Certified true copy of the original” by hand on every page of each photocopy, sign directly below the phrase in blue or black ink, and add the date. You do this yourself, on each page, for every supporting document you submit with your Overseas Citizenship of India application. The Ministry of Home Affairs requires this certification on every photocopy before it is uploaded to the OCI portal or handed in at a consular office.¹

What Self-Attestation Means

Self-attestation is your own written declaration that a photocopy matches the original. No notary, lawyer, or third party is involved. Because you are the one vouching for the copy, you cannot have a spouse, parent, or agent sign in your place. The attestation goes on the photocopies only. Never write on the original document itself.

This is a separate step from the in-person verification of your originals, which happens later at an Indian Mission, consular post, or Foreigners Regional Registration Office.¹ Self-attestation only covers the copies in your submission packet and the PDFs you upload.

How to Attest Each Page

The procedure is the same for every document, and it must be repeated on every page.

Write the certification phrase in your own hand on the face of the photocopy. Either “Certified true copy of the original” or “This is a true copy of the original” is accepted. The Consulate General of India in Edinburgh uses the first version; some VFS Global centers use the second.²³
Sign directly beneath the phrase in blue or black ink. Your signature must match the one on your OCI application form and your passport.
Write the date next to or below your signature.
Do this on every page. A 10-page passport copy means ten separate attestations. Missing even one page is a common reason full packets come back.

Place your writing on a clear area of the page so it does not cover any printed text or identifying feature. Start with clean, high-quality photocopies. If the underlying copy is blurred or clipped, the attestation will not save it.

Which Documents Need It

Every photocopy in your submission gets attested.⁴ The exact checklist depends on your applicant category (foreign national by birth, by naturalization, spouse, or minor), but the common items include:

Your current foreign passport, including the biodata page and, in many cases, all pages with stamps or visas.
Proof of Indian origin, such as your own or a parent’s or grandparent’s expired Indian passport, a birth certificate, or other evidence of previous Indian citizenship.
A renunciation or surrender certificate for anyone who was previously an Indian citizen. If you cannot produce your canceled Indian passport, you must obtain a renunciation certificate before applying.⁵
A marriage certificate, if you are applying as the spouse of an Indian citizen or OCI cardholder.
A birth certificate, where lineage needs to be established.

Confirm the full list for your specific category on the VFS Global checklist for the country where you are applying. A missing document means the packet gets returned.

Rules for Minors

Minor applicants (under 18) cannot legally attest their own copies. The parent or legal guardian self-attests each page in exactly the same way an adult applicant would: certification phrase, signature, date, on every page. Keep this separate from what goes on the application form itself.

On Part B of the application form, only the child’s own mark belongs in the signature box. A minor who can write should sign. A minor who cannot places a left-hand thumb impression in blue or black ink.¹ Some consular offices specify a left thumb impression for boys and a right thumb impression for girls, so follow the instructions of whichever office is handling your file.⁶ A parent signing Part B in place of the child is one of the most common causes of rejection.⁷

Every minor’s application also needs a notarized Parental Authorization Form signed by both parents. The signatures on that form, on the OCI application, and on each parent’s passport must all match.⁷ If only one parent can sign, you need to explain why with supporting documents: a court order showing sole custody with no visitation or child support obligation on the other parent; a death certificate for a deceased parent; or the adoption document for a single adoptive parent.

Scanning and Uploading the Attested Copies

Once the physical photocopies are attested, scan them and upload them through the OCI Services portal at ociservices.gov.in.⁸ The portal accepts PDFs only, and the upload page groups documents into four categories. Combine all pages within a category into one PDF.⁹

Official guidance on file size is inconsistent. Some consular instructions state a 500 KB limit per file; a VFS Global sample form lists 1,000 KB on one page and 500 KB on another. Aim for under 500 KB to be safe. Scanning A4 pages in color at 100 DPI produces roughly 200 to 250 KB per page, which leaves room for multi-page PDFs within that limit.¹⁰ If you compress a file further to fit, check that your handwritten attestation and signature are still readable. An unreadable attestation defeats the purpose of doing it.

On the Document Upload page, select the correct category, attach the PDF, and use the preview to confirm that every page shows your attestation clearly. Wait for the portal to display a confirmation for each file before closing the browser.

Mistakes That Cause Rejection

Attesting only the first page of a multi-page document. Every page needs its own statement, signature, and date.
A parent signing Part B of a minor’s application form in place of the child.⁷
Signature mismatch across the attestation, the application form, and the passport.
Illegible scans, often the result of aggressive PDF compression. Preview every upload on the portal.
Uploading JPEG or PNG files. The portal takes PDFs only.
Skipping the renunciation certificate when you were previously an Indian citizen and cannot produce your canceled Indian passport.⁵

1
Ministry of Home Affairs. Brochure Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder
2
Consulate General of India, Edinburgh. Brief Instructions for Filling Online OCI Application Form
3
BLS International Services Canada Inc. OCI Miscellaneous Services Checklist
4
VFS Global. New OCI Adult Foreign National by Birth
5
VFS Global. Surrender of Indian Passport
6
BLS International Services Canada Inc. OCI Miscellaneous Checklist
7
VFS Global. Minor New Foreign National by Birth and Never Held Indian Passport
8
Ministry of Home Affairs. Online OCI Services
9
Embassy of India, La Paz, Bolivia. OCI Data Temporary Arrangement Through Embassy of India Lima
10
VFS Global. New OCI Sample Form