Community › Forums › Legal Advice India › How To Get A Indian Citizenship?
- This topic has 20 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 1 year, 1 month ago by
Fierceninja8730.
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PProbear7667
PARTICIPANT
April 28, 2025 at 7:42 amSo, the situation here is that I am legal registrated as a Sri Lankan citizen.But from 2015, I have been living in India. And I was born in India, I have a birth certificate stating that. I have an aadhar card too.
One of my parents are Indian.
So, how do I legal registrater to become an Indian citizen?
Because the administrative and office are being confusing with one saying I already am, the other saying I have to wait two more years, and another stating absolutely nothing and spinning me in circles.
So, what do I do?
Any advice is appreciated.
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SSuryahawk974
PARTICIPANT
April 28, 2025 at 7:51 amTry applying for an Indian passport if you get it that means you are indian citizen.-
PProbear7667
OP
April 28, 2025 at 7:55 amThat’s the problem. I already have a Sri Lankan passport. I want to get rid of it.But I can only do that if I get my Indian Citizenship and no officer is telling me properly what to do!
So, what then?
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AAnshseeker301
PARTICIPANT
April 28, 2025 at 8:14 amOP. The following rules apply regards citizenship, which depends the year of birth:If born between 26 Jan 1950 – 1 July 1987 Automatically Indian citizen (even if parents are foreigners).
Iif born between 1 July 1987 – 3 Dec 2004 Citizen only if one parent was Indian at time of birth.
After 3 Dec 2004 , Citizen only if one parent is Indian and the other parent is not an illegal migrant.
If not eligible for citizenship automatically
then apply for citizenship by registration under Section 5(1)(c) of the Citizenship Act:A person born to Indian parents, residing in India for at least 7 years, can apply for Indian citizenship.
Apply online through MHA’s Citizenship Portal. “Form III”
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PProbear7667
OP
April 28, 2025 at 8:24 amThank you so much!But I am unable to find “Form III”, could you send a link to it please?
Also, Section 5(1)(c) states that for a person to be married to an Indian citizen?
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AAnshseeker301
PARTICIPANT
April 28, 2025 at 9:05 amCheck this link:https://indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in/
Or
https://www.mha.gov.in/en/divisionofmha/foreigners-division/indian-citizenship
If possible, take professional help to navigate the bureaucracy.
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PProbear7667
OP
April 28, 2025 at 9:13 amThank you so much! You’ve been a great help.
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AAlpharajesh8746
PARTICIPANT
April 28, 2025 at 8:08 amHe is already a citizen of another country. Since India does not recognise dual citizenship, he can’t just apply for passport. There should be some process where he will have to renounce his Sri Lankan citizenship and get the Indian citizenship. He wants to understand that process.-
PProbear7667
OP
April 28, 2025 at 8:25 amYes, this! -
MMeganitin1228
PARTICIPANT
April 28, 2025 at 12:15 pmHe can get Indian citizenship and then renounce the citizenship of Sri Lanka. It’s not the other way around because that would render him stateless in the meantime.-
VVedanthero261
PARTICIPANT
April 28, 2025 at 2:01 pm+1 When you acquire another citizenship, you lose existing citizenship. In OPs case once he gets Indian citizenship, he will automatically lose Sri Lankan citizenship.-
FFierceninja8730
PARTICIPANT
April 28, 2025 at 6:32 pmNot at all true, citizenship has to be renounced, dual citizenship is true for many countries.-
VVedanthero261
PARTICIPANT
April 29, 2025 at 12:33 amI used to think the same. But after going through the process of N400 it’s otherwise. Even in case of dual citizenship, you lose your first citizenship and need to apply to reacquire it.I know this because currently we are going through this same process and it’s confirmed by her embassy (as she is allowed dual citizenship if she wants to retain, but will need to reapply for her original citizenship again)-
FFierceninja8730
PARTICIPANT
April 29, 2025 at 2:05 amI think that’s specific to that country, if it’s lost. US citizenship is not lost by getting any other country’s citizenship, same with many other European countries.
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PProbear7667
OP
April 28, 2025 at 7:57 amTo @Background_Brush8250 , your comment is not appearing. But what do you mean I can become through my parent. Can you elaborate? -
SSajalmaster398
PARTICIPANT
April 28, 2025 at 8:14 amIf you are born in India with one parent already being an Indian citizen and the other not an illegal then you already Indian. That’s what the citizenship act states. So you already seem to be an Indian citizen-
PProbear7667
OP
April 28, 2025 at 8:27 amReally?But when I went to renounce my Sri Lankan citizenship they weren’t allowing and saying I had to get an Indian Citizenship. Which, is so confusing since one says I’m already an Indian and the other saying I’m not.
So which is it?
And how can I prove/get it?
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SSajalmaster398
PARTICIPANT
April 28, 2025 at 8:38 amWell it seems you were eligible for citizenship by birth given what i mentioned above (citizenship act 1955) but your parents chose Sri Lankan citizenship for you. Is one of your parents a Sri Lankan national?? Since you are a Sri Lankan national now so the Sri Lankan embassy are right in not letting you renounce until you get Indian citizenship first. You can’t be stateless you see. Coming to second point, are you less than 18 or above 18? Also why don’t you go the OCI way? Get an OCI as you are eligible and then stay in India for sometime (I recall it was 5 years not sure) and then apply for Indian citizenship-
PProbear7667
OP
April 28, 2025 at 8:45 amYes, one is Sri Lankan. Oh, so that is why I cannot renounce. Thank you for the information.I am above 18. And I don’t want to go the OCI way as you stated before that I am eligible by birth, it is also for financial reasons.
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SSajalmaster398
PARTICIPANT
April 28, 2025 at 9:18 amI think this is where you would need professional help. I’m not sure if it would be straight forward so speaking to a lawyer could be helpful. The thing is you were eligible by birth but you/your folks didn’t decide to exercise it so not sure if that route is still eligible. You are also not a minor anymore so i guess some legal advice would be best-
PProbear7667
OP
April 28, 2025 at 9:40 amYou’re right. This is far above Reddit pay-grade.Still, thank you so much. You have been a great help!
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