India e-Visa After Renouncing Indian Citizenship

Why does my old Indian citizenship matter for an e-Visa?

Under Indian law, an Indian citizen who voluntarily acquires another country's citizenship generally stops being an Indian citizen. The Indian passport does not stay valid just because it has not expired: it has to be handed back, and the Indian authorities issue a document confirming this, usually called a surrender certificate. Where someone formally renounced citizenship, the document is a renunciation certificate.

For a visa, India needs to know you are applying as a foreign national. That is why the e-Visa form asks for your previous nationality and whether you acquired your current nationality by birth or by naturalisation. If you were born an Indian citizen, your answers will show it, and your file can be checked against passport records.

Do I need a surrender certificate to apply?

It is commonly required, and the safest assumption is that you should have one before you apply. Requirements can differ between application routes and change over time, so check the current list on the Indian Visa Online portal before you start. If the form or a processing officer asks for proof, you will need to show it quickly. Waiting weeks for a certificate after you have booked flights is the situation to avoid.

Keep a clear PDF scan of the certificate with your other documents. The standard e-Visa uploads are your photo (square JPEG, plain white background, 10 KB to 1 MB, at least 350 × 350 pixels) and the bio page of your current passport (PDF, 10 KB to 300 KB). See documents needed for the Indian e-Visa for the full list.

How do I get a surrender certificate?

You apply to the Indian embassy, high commission or consulate that covers the country where you live, usually starting on the Passport Seva portal. Missions often work with an outsourced service centre for this, so the exact steps, fees and timelines depend on where you apply. In general you will need:

• your last Indian passport (the original is usually surrendered);
• your current foreign passport;
• proof of when you acquired the new citizenship, such as a naturalisation certificate;
• the application form and fee set by the mission.

If you used your Indian passport after taking the new citizenship, penalties can apply. Check with the mission before you apply rather than guessing. We do not handle surrender applications; contact your mission or its service centre directly.

Which e-Visa should I choose?

Choose the one that matches your trip. Your former nationality does not change the visa types, validity or fees. The government fee depends on your new passport. For most passports:

A 3% bank charge is added. US passports pay $160 for the 5-year e-Tourist, $140 for e-Business and $100 for e-Medical; UK passports pay $484, $242 and $129. Our fee calculator shows the fee for any passport.

The 30-day e-Tourist visa allows two entries within 30 days of your first arrival. The 1-year and 5-year visas allow multiple entries, with up to 90 days per visit for most passports. None of them can be extended in India.

Should I get an OCI card instead?

If you visit India often, probably yes in the long run. Former Indian citizens are usually eligible for Overseas Citizenship of India, which works as a lifelong visa, and the OCI application also asks for your surrender or renunciation certificate. OCI takes longer to obtain than an e-Visa, so many people travel on an e-Visa first. A pending OCI application does not let you enter India. For OCI fees and timelines, check the OCI services portal.

Common mistakes

• Answering "no previous nationality" to keep the form simple. False answers can lead to a refusal; see what happens if you lie on an Indian e-Visa.
• Trying to enter India on the old Indian passport after taking foreign citizenship.
• Booking flights before the surrender certificate is in hand.
• Using a name on the e-Visa that differs from your new passport, for example after a name change at naturalisation. Use your full legal name as printed.
• Assuming you will be refunded if the application is refused. Government fees are not refunded once an application is submitted.

Next step

Get your surrender certificate first, then prepare your passport scan and a photo with our free visa photo tool. When everything is ready, start your application with us or apply yourself on the Indian Visa Online portal. Apply at least 4 days before you travel. Most complete applications are decided within 24 to 72 hours, though that is not guaranteed.

Related: Travelling to India while your OCI is pending · OCI card or e-Visa: which one you need