Citizenship Rules Updated: New Passport Declaration Requirement

Recent updates to India's Citizenship Rules, 2009, mandate applicants from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh to declare their passport status. They must surrender valid or expired passports within 15 days post-approval. This move is aligned with amendments under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, targeting non-Muslim migrants.

The Indian Home Ministry has announced amendments to the Citizenship Rules of 2009, now requiring applicants from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh to declare the status of their native country's passport, officially reported Monday.

The updated rules specify that applicants should not possess a valid or expired passport from these nations during the application period. If the applicant holds an active passport, they must provide the passport number, issuance details, and expiration date, as stated in the official gazette notification.

According to the new guidelines, applicants must surrender their valid or expired passports to relevant postal authorities within 15 days of citizenship application approval. This revision follows the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, aimed at regularizing citizenship for non-Muslim migrants from the mentioned countries who arrived in India before December 31, 2014.