India is a diverse and vibrant country that attracts many people from different backgrounds and cultures. India offers many opportunities and benefits to its citizens, such as the right to live and work in India, the right to vote in Indian elections, and the right to hold an Indian passport.
If you are interested in becoming an Indian citizen, you need to know how to apply for Indian citizenship. Applying for Indian citizenship is a legal process that involves meeting certain requirements, submitting an application, providing documents, paying fees, and waiting for approval.
In this blog post, we will show you how to apply for Indian citizenship in 2023 and what are the requirements, documents, fees, and time involved.
What are the requirements for Indian citizenship?
The requirements for Indian citizenship vary depending on your situation and background. There are five main ways to acquire Indian citizenship:
- By birth: You can acquire Indian citizenship by birth if you were born in India on or after January 26, 1950, and at least one of your parents was an Indian citizen at the time of your birth.
- By descent: You can acquire Indian citizenship by descent if you were born outside India on or after January 26, 1950, and at least one of your parents was an Indian citizen at the time of your birth.
- By registration: You can acquire Indian citizenship by registration if you meet one of the following criteria:
- You are of Indian origin and have been residing in India for at least seven years before applying for citizenship.
- You are married to an Indian citizen and have been residing in India for at least seven years before applying for citizenship.
- You are a minor child of an Indian citizen.
- You are a person of full age and capacity who or whose parents were earlier citizens of independent India or were eligible to become citizens of independent India.
- You are a person of full age and capacity who has been registered as an overseas citizen of India for at least five years and has been residing in India for at least one year before applying for citizenship.
- By naturalization: You can acquire Indian citizenship by naturalization if you meet the following criteria:
- You are not a citizen of any country where citizens of India are prevented from becoming citizens by naturalization.
- You have renounced your previous citizenship and have obtained a certificate of renunciation from the concerned authority.
- You have been residing in India or have been in the service of the government of India for at least twelve years before applying for citizenship.
- You have a good character and knowledge of one of the languages specified in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
- By incorporation of territory: You can acquire Indian citizenship by incorporation of territory if you belong to a territory that becomes a part of India due to a treaty or agreement.
How to apply for Indian citizenship
To apply for Indian citizenship in 2023, follow these steps:
- Visit indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in on your browser or download the Citizenship Application app from the Google Play Store or the App Store on your phone.
- Click on Apply Online or Register on the homepage.
- Choose the type of application that suits your situation: Citizenship by Birth, Citizenship by Descent, Citizenship by Registration, Citizenship by Naturalization, or Citizenship by Incorporation of Territory.
- Fill in the online application form with your personal details, such as name, date of birth, place of birth, nationality, address, etc.
- Upload scanned copies of the required documents, such as a birth certificate, a marriage certificate, a residence permit, etc.
- Pay the application fee online using your debit card, credit card, net banking, or mobile wallet. The fee varies depending on the type of application and ranges from Rs 100 to Rs 15,000.
- Submit your application and take a printout or save a copy of the acknowledgement receipt.
- Wait for your application to be processed and verified by the authorities. You may be asked to appear for an interview or a test if required.
- Receive your certificate of citizenship by post or email.
You have successfully applied for Indian citizenship.
What are the documents required for Indian citizenship?
The documents required for Indian citizenship depend on the type of application and may vary from case to case. However, some of the common documents that you may need are:
- A birth certificate or proof of birth
- A marriage certificate or proof of marriage
- A residence permit or proof of residence
- A renunciation certificate or proof of renunciation
- A passport or proof of identity
- A police clearance certificate or proof of good character
- A language certificate or proof of language proficiency
- A declaration or oath of allegiance
You may also need to provide additional documents depending on your situation and background, such as:
- A certificate of Indian origin or proof of Indian origin
- A certificate of overseas citizenship of India or proof of overseas citizenship of India
- A certificate of incorporation of territory or proof of incorporation of territory
- A certificate of service or proof of service
You should make sure that your documents are valid, authentic, and clear. You should also make sure that your documents are in English or Hindi or have a certified translation if they are in any other language.
How long does it take to process an application for Indian citizenship?
The time taken to process an application for Indian citizenship depends on the type of application and the complexity of the case. However, the general time frame for processing an application for Indian citizenship is as follows:
- Citizenship by Birth: 3 to 6 months
- Citizenship by Descent: 3 to 6 months
- Citizenship by Registration: 6 to 12 months
- Citizenship by Naturalization: 12 to 18 months
- Citizenship by Incorporation of Territory: 6 to 12 months
You can check the status of your application online using your application number and date of birth. You can also contact the concerned authority or office for any queries or updates regarding your application.
What are the fees for applying for Indian citizenship?
The fees for applying for Indian citizenship vary depending on the type of application and are as follows:
- Citizenship by Birth: Rs 100
- Citizenship by Descent: Rs 100
- Citizenship by Registration: Rs 500 to Rs 5,000
- Citizenship by Naturalization: Rs 1,500 to Rs 15,000
- Citizenship by Incorporation of Territory: Rs 100
You can pay the fee online using your debit card, credit card, net banking, or mobile wallet. You can also pay the fee offline using a demand draft or a challan.
Conclusion
Indian citizenship is a valuable status that can offer many benefits, such as the right to live and work in India, the right to vote in Indian elections, and the right to hold an Indian passport. Applying for Indian citizenship is a legal process that involves meeting certain requirements, submitting an application, providing documents, paying fees, and waiting for approval.
In this blog post, we showed you how to apply for Indian citizenship in 2023 and what are the requirements, documents, fees, and time involved.
If you are interested in becoming an Indian citizen, visit indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in today and start your application. You’ll be amazed by how easy and convenient it is to apply for Indian citizenship online.
Here is a video tutorial:
Video Credit:https://www.youtube.com/@canadatriedandtestedoriginal