India tightens citizenship rules for Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan applicants
New Delhi:– India on Monday notified amended Citizenship Rules introducing stringent disclosure norms for applicants holding passports issued by Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Indian Ministry of Home Affairs notified the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2026, in the Extraordinary Gazette of India, inserting a new provision in Schedule IC of the Citizenship Rules, 2009. Under the amendment, applicants seeking Indian citizenship must declare whether they possess any valid or expired passport issued by the governments of Pakistan, Afghanistan or Bangladesh.
If an applicant holds such a passport, details including passport number, date and place of issue, and date of expiry must be furnished in the application. Applicants are also required to undertake to surrender their valid and/or expired Pakistani, Afghan or Bangladeshi passports to the concerned Senior Superintendent or Superintendent of Post within 15 days of approval of their citizenship application.
The ministry said the amendment was made under powers conferred by Section 18 of the Citizenship Act, 1955. The new rules came into effect immediately.
