RENUNCIATION/SURRENDERING OF INDIAN CITIZENSHIP

General Information

 Renunciation/Surrender Certificate: Indian Citizenship Act does not provide for dual citizenship. As per the Passport Act, it is mandatory for all Indian passport holders to surrender their last Indian passport to the Consulate immediately after the acquisition of foreign nationality. It is an offense under the Citizenship Act and the Passports Act for foreign nationals to hold Indian passports. Once an Indian passport is surrendered, Consulate will cancel it and return it to the Passport holder along with the Renunciation/Surrender certificate. Consulate will not be in a position to render services like OCI, Visa, etc. until the Renunciation/Declaration Certificate acquired on the acquisition of foreign nationality is submitted.

Renunciation Declaration Certificate: This certificate will be granted to those who have misplaced or lost their last Indian passport and hence they do not have their Indian passport which they can surrender for cancellation. Those applicants are given a ‘Renunciation Declaration Certificate’ based on the submission of sworn affidavit on the loss of an Indian Passport and other required documents.

Either a ‘Renunciation/Surrender Certificate’ or a ‘Renunciation Declaration Certificate’ needs to be submitted for an OCI or Visa application.

Applicants may complete the online application form on the Government of India passport portal https://portal4.passportindia.gov.in/Online/welcomeLink and note down the ARN for File No. Once filled please take a print out of the filled application. Thereafter, proceed to the VFS website https://services.vfsglobal.com/usa/en/ind for completing the application process for submission through VFS. Please send the completed application along with supporting documents to VFS.

For more details please visit the VFS website: https://services.vfsglobal.com/usa/en/ind/apply-for-renunciation