Changed your name after marriage or by choice, and now your OCI card no longer matches your foreign passport? A Gujarat Gazette records the change on the Indian side, giving you recognised proof to support the OCI re-issue so your documents line up again.
Prefer to talk? Call +91 70692 98711 / +91 94267 80195
An OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card ties your Indian connection to your current foreign passport. Because the two are meant to agree, a change of name — most often after marriage — creates a real problem: your foreign passport now shows the new name while your OCI card still shows the old one. At immigration and during verification, that difference is exactly what draws questions.
Resolving it has two sides. On the foreign side, your passport is updated by that country's authority. On the Indian side, where the name originates or needs to be formally recorded, a Gujarat Gazette notification is a recognised proof of the name change. With the change properly documented, you then apply for a re-issue of the OCI card so it reflects your current name and matches the passport it is linked to.
Our role is the Indian documentation — preparing the affidavit and the Gazette that record the name change accurately. The OCI re-issue itself is applied for through the official OCI services and is processed and decided by the Indian authorities; we prepare the proof that supports it and guide you through the steps.
This service suits OCI cardholders connected to Gujarat who have changed their name — after marriage, divorce or by choice — and need the Indian-side documentation to support an OCI re-issue. It is also for those whose OCI and passport names have drifted apart and who want them aligned before travel or an important verification.
Here is the general picture. Your exact situation is confirmed after we review your documents.
Unsure? Share your OCI and passport name details — ask for a free check.
Tell us your OCI situation to see the likely route.
A simple core list; supporting proof depends on your case. We confirm your exact list after review.
A general starting list. We'll give you an exact, case-specific checklist before any work begins.
Get My Exact Document ListFrom recording the change to an OCI re-issue that matches your passport.
We confirm the exact name as it appears on your current foreign passport.
We prepare the affidavit and Gazette draft recording the name change.
You check the draft carefully. Nothing is filed until you confirm.
The affidavit is notarised and, where required, a newspaper advertisement is published.
Your name change is recorded, giving you Indian-side proof.
You apply for the OCI re-issue with the Gazette so the card matches your passport.
Here is the honest, stage-by-stage journey — from your first message to a Gazette that supports your OCI re-issue.
Our documentation stages move quickly, and Express prioritises them. Gazette publication then follows the Government Press's schedule. The OCI re-issue is applied for separately and runs on the Indian authorities' own timeline, which we do not control. We give realistic, indicative timelines and never promise a fixed date.
The fee below is for the Indian-side Gazette documentation. Both packages include standard documentation, drafting, notary, e-stamp, filing and courier for the Gazette.
⏱️ Up to 45–60 days · acknowledgement in 24–48 hrs
⏱️ Usually up to 30 days · acknowledgement in 24–48 hrs
The Gazette is the Indian-side proof; the OCI card itself is updated through a re-issue application. You can check current requirements and apply on the official OCI Services portal. Because your OCI is linked to your foreign passport, make sure the name you record matches that passport exactly, so the two documents agree.
If you also hold Indian documents under your earlier name — a PAN, bank records, or property papers in India — plan those updates alongside the OCI so everything ends up consistent. See our NRI name change page for the wider picture.
Most OCI name headaches come from a few avoidable issues.
OCI name changes come up for a few distinct reasons, and the right route differs for each. Here's a straight read on the ones we handle most.
The most common OCI case. Your foreign passport is updated to your married name; a Gazette records the change on the Indian side and supports the OCI re-issue so both agree — see name change after marriage.
If you've adopted a new name by choice, a Gujarat Gazette records it and gives the recognised Indian-side proof for the OCI re-issue. Confirm the exact spelling as per your current passport.
Where the two no longer match, align them before travel or an important verification. We prepare the Indian-side documentation and guide the OCI re-issue.
If you hold Indian PAN, bank or property records under your earlier name, plan those updates alongside the OCI — see NRI name change and PAN name change.
For the complete picture of how a name change flows across Indian records, see our complete Gujarat Gazette guide; unsure which gazette applies? See Central vs Gujarat State Gazette.
The misunderstandings that hold people up.
| Common myth | The reality |
|---|---|
| "The Gazette re-issues my OCI automatically." | No. You apply separately for the OCI re-issue; the Gazette is the recognised Indian-side proof. |
| "My OCI and passport names can stay different." | No. Your OCI should match your current foreign passport — a difference invites questions at immigration. |
| "Updating the passport also fixes the OCI." | No. Each is handled by its own authority; the OCI is updated by re-issue. |
| "Any close spelling is fine on the OCI." | No. It should match the passport exactly, or you create a new mismatch. |
| "A Gazette guarantees the OCI re-issue." | No. It gives recognised proof; the decision rests with the Indian authorities. |
The questions people ask us most. Still unsure? Call or WhatsApp us any time.
Share your OCI and passport name details and we'll prepare the Indian-side proof to match — start here or build a quick quote.
Share your OCI and current passport name. We'll prepare the Indian-side Gazette proof and guide the OCI re-issue so your documents match. No pressure, no obligation.
Call: +91 70692 98711 / +91 94267 80195 · Email support@gujaratgazette.com
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Normal plan: your Gujarat Gazette within 60 days. Express (extraordinary Gazette): within 30 days — counted from the date full payment is received and your application number is generated. Nobody can fix the Government Press’s exact publication date, so instead of a promise we cannot keep, we give you a real remedy: if we miss the window you get a full refund of everything you paid us — and we still complete your Gazette at no further service charge. In practice most of our filed gazettes publish within about 15 days of filing; the 60/30-day windows are your written safety net. The guarantee is issued in writing with your quote.
