Renunciation of Indian Citizenship

A. General Information

1. As per Section 8 of the Citizenship Act, 1955 an Indian citizen of full age and capacity may make in the prescribed manner a declaration renouncing his Indian Citizenship, the declaration shall be registered by the prescribed authority; and, upon such registration, that person shall cease to be a citizen of India. Please refer to Section B of the this web page for the procedure to make declaration.

2. Section 9 of the Citizenship Act, 1955 states that any citizen of India who by naturalisation, registration or otherwise voluntarily acquired the citizenship of another country shall, upon such acquisition, ceases to be a citizen of India.

3. Those foreign nationals of Indian Origin who have already acquired citizenship of any other country are not eligible to renounce their citizenship. In fact, their citizenship has already been terminated under Section 9 of the Citizenship Act 1955 by acquiring citizenship of other country.

4. Where a person ceases to be a citizen of India on renunciation of citizenship under section 8(1), every minor child of that person shall thereupon ceases to be a citizen of India. However, such a child may, within one year after attaining full age, can make a declaration in the prescribed form and manner that he wishes to resume Indian citizenship.

5. However, in following cases, the citizenship of minor children under section 8(2) of the Citizenship Act 1955 is not affected:

i. when one parent renounces the Indian Citizenship before the birth of the minor child and other parent remains Indian citizen;

ii. when one parent who presently holds foreign citizenship, was never an Indian and other parent is Indian;

iii. If parents of minor child have voluntarily acquired citizenship of another country, they cease to be a citizen of Indian under provisions of Section 9 of the Citizenship Act. It is to state that Section 9 of the Act does not have any provision of termination of citizenship of minors of such persons.

6. When one parent renounces the Indian citizenship u/s 8 of the Citizenship Act and the other parent continues to hold Indian citizenship and the parents either get divorced and the custody of child is given to one of the parents or without divorce the court has given legal custody of the child of one of the parents – In such a case (if only one parent has renounced Indian citizenship and the other parent is still an Indian citizen), the citizenship of minor shall be of that parent who has the legal custody of that minor child.

7. The Indian Citizenship Act, 1955, does not provide for dual citizenship. Holding an Indian passport/acquiring an Indian passport/ travelling on an Indian passport after acquiring foreign citizenship is an offence under the Indian Passport Act, 1967. Foreign nationals are requested to surrender their Indian passports in both case whether they have renounced their Indian citizenship under Section 8(1) of the Citizenship Act, 1955 or their citizenship has been terminated under Section 9(1) of the Citizenship Act, 1955.

B. Procedure for applying for Renunciation of Indian Citizenship under Section 8(1) of the Citizenship Act, 1955

1. The application for Renunciation of Indian citizenship under Section 8 of the Citizenship Act, 1955, must be made online on the Ministry of Home Affairs (Foreigners Division) website at https://indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in/Renounce.

2. The Form can only be filled online. This Post is not accepting applications that are not filled out online. The particulars entered in the application form should exactly match those on their Indian Passport, as these particulars will be verified in India. Incorrect or inaccurate details may result in the rejection of the application at any stage. In such cases, where wrong information has been submitted, applicants are requested to apply afresh with correct information.

3. Once the above process is completed, please download and print a copy of FORM XXII. The printed copy is required to be submitted at Consulate General of India, Munich in person. Applicant's details must be vouched by another Indian national on Form XXII who is not a family member of the applicant.

4. Applicants have to pay the applicable Fees (INR 8,000/-) on the MHA website. However, if they are unable to pay the prescribed fee online due to technical issues, they may pay the equivalent amount of Euros 90/- (including ICWF) at the Post’s account in cash. If payment is made online on the MHA website, the proof of payment may kindly be downloaded from the MHA website itself. The payment receipt downloaded from MHA website needs to be submitted with the application form at the counter. Kindly note that the debit bank statement of the applicant’s account is not accepted as payment proof.

5. Do not sign the Form XXII beforehand. Signing Form XXII and submitting the application must be done in person at the Consulate for verification on any working day between 9.30 hrs and 12.30 hrs after taking appointment at the link https://cgimunich.gov.in/get-appointment. Applicants are requested that the signature on form XXII should be the same as in their Indian Passport.

6. The status of the application is available online at https://indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in/Renounce. Processing of Citizenship Renunciation applications may take minimum of 10-12 weeks (starting from date of receipt of complete application at the Consulate’s counter) and the Certificate could be issued only after getting clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi. Applicants are requested to refrain from making status inquiries during this period.

7. Documents required for Renunciation of Indian Citizenship:

Following documents in original must be presented during the verification process

(a) Copy of first and last page of Current Indian Passport

(b) Copy of City Registration / Anmeldung.

(c) Copy of payment proof downloaded from MHA website if paid directly through the portal as Payment proof

(d) If payment is made through bank transfer in our account, proof of the same to be attached.

(e) Particulars Form (To be signed by a witness who should be an Indian national other than the applicant and the family member of the applicant)

(f) For delivery of the certificate by post please submit a self-addressed and stamped envelope (Euro 4.50) of size C5 along with your application.

8. Minor applicants are not required to fill out an online declaration for Renunciation of Indian citizenship through the MHA portal. They are only required to complete the online application for Passport Surrender Certificate.

9. For Surrender of Indian Passport please follow the link: https://cgimunich.gov.in/pages/MjY4