Is Dual Citizenship Allowed in India?

Many people around the globe want to know one simple thing – Is dual citizenship allowed in India? The obvious answer is no. India has a strict single-citizenship rule, which does not allow any person to have Indian citizenship as well as the citizenship of another country.

India’s Legal Stand on Dual Citizenship

The rules of citizenship are guided by the Constitution of India and the Citizenship Act of 1955. Under Article 9 of the Constitution all Indians who decide to take citizenship of any other country automatically lose their Indian citizenship. The government adheres to this rule for the sake of clarity and unity and loyalty towards the country.

India’s view is that dual citizenship creates confusion about rights and responsibilities, as well as national identity. To avoid legal and administrative issues, India keeps the citizenship policy straight: one person, one nationality.

What Happens If an Indian Gets Foreign Citizenship?

If an Indian citizen becomes a citizen of another country either through naturalization or birth or marriage, or for any reason their Indian citizenship is terminated automatically. After this, the person has to surrender his/her Indian passport and observe the rules of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

This applies even in cases where someone becomes a foreign citizen without realizing the consequences. For example, some countries grant citizenship to the children who were born on the soil of the country. Even then, the child can not retain both nationalities. Later, they have to decide for one citizenship when they are older.

OCI: India’s Alternative to Dual Citizenship

Although India has no provision of dual citizenship, it does provide a good alternative in the form of OCI (Overseas Citizenship of India). An OCI card is offering many long term benefits for people of Indian origin living abroad.

OCI cardholders are entitled to a lifetime visa, do not have to report to the police and have many of their rights similar to NRIs except voting or holding government jobs or purchasing agricultural land. OCI helps people to remain connected with India without inheriting two citizenships.

Final Thoughts

So, is dual citizenship allowed in India? The answer is still no, but India offers what is known as the OCI scheme to global Indians who wish to stay closely connected with their roots. Anyone planning to take foreign citizenship should understand these rules clearly in order to avoid legal problems later.

This is a simple policy that India needs to use in protecting its national identity while continuing to support its global community.