How to acquire Citizenship of India?

Dated: 2024-03-27 11:13:26

What are the documents required for acquiring citizenship of India and where are these documents supposed to be submitted?

Answers by Lawyers

Citizenship of India by Naturalization can be acquired by a foreigner (not being an illegal migrant) who is ordinarily resident in India for twelve years (throughout the period of twelve months immediately preceding the date of application and for eleven years in the aggregate in the fourteen years preceding the twelve months) and fulfils other qualifications as specified in third schedule to the act, 1955.

If you are foreigner and want to acquire citizenship of India, you need to follow the below mentioned steps:

  1. Filing of application for Naturalisation as a citizen of India under section 6(1) of the Citizenship Act, 1955 by filling Form No. VIII.
  2. Attaching the following documents required for availing the Indian citizenship:

(a) A copy of valid Foreign Passport.

(b) A copy of Residential Permit/LTV.

(c) A copy of Bank Challan in original amounting to Rs.1500/- deposited in the State Bank of India under Head No.”0070-Other Administrative Services-Other Services-receipts under the Citizenship Act”.

(d) One affidavit from self (applicant) and two affidavits from two Indians testifying to the character of the applicant in the prescribed language available in the application form. Affidavit to be allotted by Notary/ Oath Commissioner/ District Magistrate.

(e) Two language certificates certifying the applicant’s knowledge in any one of the Indian languages specified in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. (A language certificate from a recognized educational institution or from a recognized organization or from two Indian citizens of the district of the applicant).

(f) Two newspaper (circulating in the district in which the applicant resides) cuttings of different dates or of different newspapers notifying his/ her intention to apply for citizenship in the prescribed language available in the application form.

 

A foreigner who wants an Indian Citizenship can also apply online on the website: http://indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in/ic_form_public.aspx, in order to start the processing of getting the Indian citizenship. The Ministry of Home Affairs provides the facility for online submission of application forms under the Sections of Indian Citizenship Act, 1955. The applicants can make application online for quick processing of the same by the concerned agencies and the Central Government.

 

The hard copy of every computer generated application form so filled by an applicant has to be submitted with duly signed/ self attestation along with the supporting documents to his/ her nearest Collector/ District Collector/District Magistrate office personally.

 

Post submission of application form in the Collector/ District Magistrate/ Deputy Commissioner Office:

  1. After following the above procedure, the application will be forwarded by the concerned Collector/District Magistrate/Deputy Commissioner to the Ministry of Home Affairs (M.H.A.) through the State Government/ Union Territory concerned.
  2. Each applicant whose case is found to be fully complete in accordance with the prescribed requirements, will be informed about the acceptance of his/ her application through the State Government, subject to fulfilment of prescribed conditions.
  3. After acceptance of the application for grant of Indian Citizenship by the Central Government, the applicant is required to furnish through the State Government inter alia:
  • Certificate of renunciation of his/ her foreign citizenship issued by the Mission of the concerned country.
  • Challan in original as proof of deposit of the prescribed fee as mentioned in the acceptance letter.
  • Three passport size photographs duly attested on the backside by a Gazetted Officer.
  • Three specimen signature of the applicant.
  • Personal particulars of the applicant in form X at the Citizenship Rules, 2009.

Thereafter citizenship certificate shall be sent to the State Government who after completing all the formalities prescribed in Indian Citizenship Rules, 2009, will issue the same to the applicant

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