Surrender Passport and Renunciation

N RI Information Informing educating and connecting Indians across the globe . . .

Passport Surrender of Old Indian Passports - Penalties . . . Indian citizenship must be now be formally renounced as soon as possible after acquiring foreign citizenship. This is now the law. Those who do not do so can be denied consular service at Indian consulates. For example, if you apply for a visa to visit India, the consulate may ask to see proof of your passport surrender, a renunciation or surrender certificate. The cost of getting a passport surrender certificate is currently US$175/- Those who acquired foreign citizenship on or before 31 May 2010 and have "Canceled" stamp on their Indian passport, then there is currently no requirement of acquiring "Surrender Certificate". However, those who do not have a canceled stamp on Indian passport, then you need to get the "Surrender Certificate" and in such cases, the fee is US$ 20.. Former Indian citizens, who acquired foreign citizenship before 31st May 2010, fall into one of the following categories: 1. Their passport was canceled by the Indian consulate and they already have a canceled stamp on their last Indian passport. 2. They acquired foreign citizenship before 31st May 2010 and do not have a canceled stamp on their last Indian passport. 3. They acquired foreign citizenship more than 10 years ago and lost their Indian passport. While only the Indian consulate officials can answer specific queries on this topic. Here is what currently appears to be applicable: • Those who acquired foreign citizenship on or after 1 June, 2010 are required to obtain a surrender certificate from the Indian consulate that is applicable to their jurisdiction. • If the last Indian passport you held, before acquiring foreign citizenship, has been canceled by an Indian consulate and you acquired foreign citizenship on or before May 31, 2010. You do not need to get a surrender certificate. In such cases you should keep your old Indian passport for reference. • If you became a foreign citizen before June 1, 2010 and your last Indian passport has not been canceled, then you are required to apply for a surrender certificate. In such cases your passport will be canceled, and you will be issued a surrender or renunciation certificate. Your passport with the canceled stamp will be returned to you. • In case you became a foreign citizen more than 10 years ago, and have lost the last Indian passport you held, you can obtain a deemed surrender certificate. Passport Surrender Penalties Passport penalties are shown here, however they are subject to change at the discretion of the Government of India. Kindly confirm with Indian consulates in your area. • If your last Indian passport expired before January 1, 2005 there are no penalties. • If your last Indian passport expired after January 1, 2005 and has a canceled stamp then there are no penalties. • In case your passport does not have a canceled stamp, and more than three years have passed, since you acquired foreign citizenship, there is a penalty of US$250. • In case your Indian passport was used for travel to India three months after you acquired foreign citizenship, then there is a penalty of US$250 for each time it was used. The maximum penalty in such cases is US$ 1250. • Those who are not in the United States will probably pay the equivalent amount, in their local currency. • Persons of Indian origin who acquired foreign citizenship more than 10 years ago, and have lost the last Indian passport they held, can obtain a deemed surrender certificate. o The deemed surrender certificate is considered proof of renunciation of Indian citizenship. The fee is currently US$20. In case services are done by an outsourced company, there may be an additional fee.