How to Get Indian Citizenship?

Acquiring Indian Citizenship is hard. One cannot simply come and apply for it. There are several criterias that one needs to follow in order to become India’s citizen. I have visited several countries but have never changed my Indian citizenship but have read through these processes so that I can have an idea about it and if necessary talk about it at some places as well. If you want to know how to get Indian citizenship, let me give you a brief idea about all these.

You will need to be a citizen of a particular country in order to get all the benefits. The rights of our government depend on the citizenship status a lot hence you ought to prove you are a citizen of our country. There are four ways by which you can acquire citizenship which are:

• Birth

• Descent

• Registration and

• Naturalisation

Let me explain all these points clearly so that you can have a better idea about how to acquire Indian citizenship easily:

• By Birth

1. People born in India on or after 26th January 1950 and before 1st July 1987 are automatically Indian citizens. Their parents' origin would play no role in this matter.

2. An individual born on or after 1st July, 1987 and before 3rd December 2004 will be considered as a citizen of India if one of their parents is Indian

3. A person born on or after 3rd December 2004 will be considered as an Indian citizen if both the parents are Indians or one is Indian and the other one is not an illegal immigrant at least.

• Descent

1. A person born outside India on or after 26th January 1950 and before 10th December 1992 gets to be an Indian citizen if one of their father was Indian

2. People born on or after 10th December 1992 are considered as Indian citizens if one of their parents is Indian

3. A person born on or after 3rd December 2004 will be a citizen of India if their parents registered their birth at Indian consulates within 1 year. It is however to be seen that the minor does not hold other countries passports.

• By Registration

1. One can apply for citizenship by registering themselves but he or she must be residing in India for at least seven years before registration.

2. If a person is married to an Indian citizen and have been living in India for seven years and minors whose parents are Indians

3. Indian origin people who are residents of any country outside undivided India following Section 5(1)(b) can also become Indian citizens.

• Naturalisation

1. A person can acquire Indian citizenship by the process of naturalisation if he or she is living in India for 12 years or more.

2. Under the Citizenship Act, 2019, the time limit of residency for naturalisation for non-muslim immigrants who are facing trouble in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afganisthan has reduced to 5 years.

3. Citizenship does not allow dual citizenship

How can a foreigner get Indian citizenship?

By the process of naturalisation, a foreigner can acquire Indian citizenship and must be living throughout 1 year just before the date of application and for 11 years in aggregate.

Now you must be knowing how to get Indian citizenship and what are the processes.

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