Dual Citizenship to NRIs

July 16, 2004
PTI

The Minister of State (Independent charge) for NRI Affairs, Shri Jagdish Tytler told the Rajya Sabha today that Overseas citizenship has been provided to Persons of Indian Origin of the following countries..

1. Australia
2. Canada
3. Finland
4. France
5. Greece
6. Ireland
7. Israel
8. Italy
9. Netherlands
10. New Zealand
11. Portugal
12. Republic of Cyprus
13. Sweden
14. Switzerland
15. United Kingdom
16. U.S.A.

The Minister, however, clarified that NRIs are already Indian Citizens and as such no dual citizenship has been provided to them. He was replying to a question by Smt. Kum Kum Rai.

Shri Tytler further told that the criteria for selecting countries to provide dual citizenship comprises of longstanding and clear demand by the PIO community; local consensus and prevailing environment; and local laws should permit dual citizenship.

The PIOs get many benefits from Overseas Citizenship. These include:

  • Issuance of a registration certificate on being granted Overseas Citizenship;
  • Issuance of overseas citizen passport;
  • No requirement of visa for travel to India (both passports will be required to be presented while travelling to/from India);
  • No registration formalities for staying in the country up to 180 days;
  • No separate documentation required for admission in colleges/institutions or for taking employment;
  • Parity with non-resident Indians in respect of facilities available to the latter in the economic, financial and educational fields;
  • Facilities as available to children of NRIs for obtaining admission to educational institutions in India, including medical colleges, engineering colleges, institute of technology, institute of management etc. under the general category.
  • Shri Tytler said that the benefits accruing to India by providing dual citizenship are:
  • Strengthening of emotional and cultural ties with India
  • Important role of PIOs in the development process
  • Foreign investment in various sectors
  • Transfer of technology

Greater coordination with motherland