Indian passport surrender

[Studentcbu]

Hello, we applied for my wife's Indian Passport surrender on 22 September 2025. We then traveled to India and now only I have returned back to Canada as my wife and bay are staying for a few months in India. In the meantime, while we were overseas, the Surrender Certificate and Cancelled Indian Passport of y wife was sent, since we were not at home to collect, it was returned back to BLS. Since my wife is not here, how should I proceed with getting the passport and SC to be redelivered. I tried emailing them and we get a reply to contact the helpline to initiate the redelivery process. The helpline number keeps disconnecting with a default message to submit an online escalation form. Has anyone been in this situation before? Thanks in advance.

Any help in collecting certificate?

 

[Studentcbu]

Can one apply for surrender certificate in India?

 

[forw.jane]

Can one apply for surrender certificate in India?

Yes. Its cheaper too.

 

[ach1]

Are photo specifications different for Surrender Certificate application and OCI application in Toronto Jurisdriction?

 

[thala_dhoni]

Are photo specifications different for Surrender Certificate application and OCI application in Toronto Jurisdriction?

Same

 

[ach1]

I went to a photographer. She told me that for surrender certificate it is 35*45mm now. And digital photo of 630*810 pixels. And for oci it is 51*51 mm.

 

[ach1]

Submitted Surrender Certificate application today at BLS Toronto office. I came to know that there is no need of physical 35*45 mm photograph as we upload Photograph as per ICAO specifications and submit printed application containing uploaded photo and signature.

 

[vkbca]

Yes. Its cheaper too.

India : Rs500 + e-visa fee which is $140 CAD (for 1 yr tourist visa)
Canada: $117.7 CAD.

How is it cheaper?

 

[forw.jane]

India : Rs500 + e-visa fee which is $140 CAD (for 1 yr tourist visa)
Canada: $117.7 CAD.

How is it cheaper?

30 days e-visa is cheaper.

 

[ach1]

Submitted application for surrender certificate on 17/02/2026.
Surrender certificate has been granted and is available for issuance: on 20/02/2026
Surrender certificate has been printed: on 23/02/2026.
Application has been printed, Kindly connect with Indian Embassy/Consulate. on 24/02/2026.

 

[srkmish]

Is anyone else not able to select appointment dates at all in BLS International Site -

https://imgur.com/a/rSTwFgD

? I see all dates have been booked until Feb 28th and there are no available dates from Mar 1st onwards.

 

[CNP]

Is anyone else not able to select appointment dates at all in BLS International Site -

https://imgur.com/a/rSTwFgD

? I see all dates have been booked until Feb 28th and there are no available dates from Mar 1st onwards.

Keep checking, it will open up.

 

[ach1]

On https://www.blsindia-canada.com/toronto-jurisdiction/track-application.php
Noticed "In Transit from Consulate General to BLS Centre" on. 25/02/2026.
with Application Reference Number. Maybe it was updated on 24/02/2026. I was checking with file number till yesterday.
With file number I was seeing some old application status. Which was done longtime ago.

 

[ach1]

Ready for dispatch on 25/02/2026 in the morning.
Dispatched via Courier on 25/02/2026 after 3:30 pm showing Purolator Airway Bill No.

 

[ach1]

S

Thread 'Create Your Own Digital Photograph for Permanent Residency Application'

Jul 19, 2017

I thought of writing this thread for those who want to create their own PR application compatible digital photo.

The CIC requirements are as follows:

Frame size

The final frame size of the photo must be at least 35mm x 45mm (N/A for digital photos).
The photographs must show a full front view of the head and tops of shoulders, with the face in the middle of the photograph.
The size of the head, from chin to crown, must be between 31mm and 36mm.
Digital dimensions are often expressed in pixels or DPI (dots per inch). The physical dimensions in pixels must be at least...​

• sat8979
• Replies: 12
• Forum: Express Entry / Expression of Interest

• 

used information and software in this thread to make digital photo according to the specifications for Surrender certificate and for OCI digital photo.
Initially I went to commercial photographer and got pictures for Canada Passport, Surrender Certificate and OCI card and photos were taken with yellow colored shirt. My application for Canada passport in person at Scarborough passport office was refused and letter was given to take it to the photographer. She took another picture with dark color shirt. But she did not want to change other pictures for surrender certificate and OCI card because I did not come with rejection letters from surrender certificate application or OCI. And I read somewhere on the websites that we need dark clothing for a photo. So I scanned Canadian Passport photo taken second time and used GIMP software to get digital photos as per the requirements.
And for a physical photo for OCI, I used https://www.idphoto4you.com/ and printed in staples with 3 dollar service fee and 45 cents for a pic on 4*6 inch sheet. There is some device to cut the photos by ourselves at Staples.
My Canada passport application ,after all supporting documents were verified, was refused because there is not enough contrast. They gave a letter to take it to photographer and a slip for me which says non-urgent. I was skeptical of that slip but on the next day, when I showed that slip, I avoided all the que in the downstairs and only photo was checked and sent upstairs. It saved me from a lot of time in waiting.
I hope it helps someone submitting applications.