Advisory from Indian Consulate in Houston -

1ST June, 2010
Consulate General of India
Houston

LATEST ADVISORY REGARDING RENUNCIATION OF
INDIAN CITIZENSHIP

Any Indian passport holder who acquires citizenship of another country is required to surrender his/her Indian passport to the nearest Indian Mission/Post immediately after acquisition of foreign nationality. Indian Citizenship Act does not allow dual citizenship; to consider an OCI card as dual citizenship is incorrect.

2. It has been observed that many persons continue to retain their Indian passports and some travel on them; there are yet others who apply for fresh passports by suppression of information after they acquire foreign citizenship.

3. Indian nationals who have acquired citizenship of another country are required to immediately surrender citizenship of India if they have not already done so. The latest guidelines are as follows:

(i) For those who acquired foreign citizenship on or before 31 May, 2010 and had got their Indian passports cancelled on acquisition of foreign citizenship, no further action is required.

(ii) Those who acquired foreign citizenship on or before 31 May 2010 but have not got their Indian passports cancelled, may send their Indian passports for cancellation along with 2 copies of the Renunciation Form and a ‘miscellaneous services’ fee of US$ 20 only. Passport will be returned to the applicant after cancellation, along with the Surrender Certificate.

(iii) In future, those Indian citizens who acquire foreign citizenship on or after 01 June, 2010 will be required to send their Indian passports for cancellation along with 2 copies of the Renunciation Form and a fee of US$ 175. Passport will be returned to the applicant after cancellation, along with the Surrender Certificate.

(iv) For an Indian passport which expired on or after 01 January, 2005 but was not surrendered for up to 3 years of obtaining US Naturalization and was used for travel, a penalty of US $ 250 is to be paid for each travel, with maximum penalty of US $ 1250.

(v) The cancelled Indian passports and Surrender Certificates should be kept in safe custody as these may be required to avail of consular services from Indian Missions/Posts.

4. Those applicants for PIO/OCI cards who have not surrendered their Indian citizenship are required to do so.

5. Necessary advisory in this regard for visa applicants may be seen on the website of TRAVISA (www.indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com).