Your passport does not prove that you are an Indian citizen. So what does he do? Explained | Today’s news

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reiterated that the Indian passport is only a travel document and should not be treated as irrefutable proof of citizenship.

The clarification came on June 24 during a briefing on India’s expanding passport and mobility ecosystem when India flagged 14th Pass of Seva Divas.

Read also | A passport is a travel document, not a citizenship document, says the MEA

The Ministry emphasized the measures incorporated into the new ones chip electronic passportssuch as biometric data, to increase global acceptance and reduce the risk of fraud.

In the briefing, officials reportedly emphasized that while passports are issued to Indian citizens, the primary purpose of the document is to enable international travel and prove identity abroad, and not to be considered a proof of citizenship. The clarification comes as questions have already been raised about other documents like Aadhaar and Voter ID cardsas proof of citizenship.

It also comes amid recent controversies over electoral roll revisions and citizenship verification. In these circumstances, the question arises, if even a passport does not conclusively prove citizenship, what document for Indians?

Who will get an Indian passport?

Quick answers to key questions

•5 QUESTIONS

The Ministry of External Affairs has clarified that the Indian passport is primarily a travel document and should not be considered as irrefutable proof of Indian citizenship.

The most definitive documents proving Indian citizenship are a certificate of naturalization or a certificate of registration issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs under the Citizenship Act 1955.

No, Aadhaar is proof of identity and residence, while voter IDs and PAN cards are not considered irrefutable proof of citizenship as per recent government clarifications.

The absence of a universally recognized document of citizenship creates problems in the verification of citizenship, especially in disputes or legal proceedings related to citizenship claims.

A birth certificate can serve as proof of citizenship depending on the year of birth: for people born before 1987 it is absolute proof, while for later dates it requires an additional proof of citizenship of at least one parent.

The Passport Act 1967, the law governing passports, basically says that passports are issued to Indian citizens.

Pursuant to Section 5 of the Act, the passport authority may issue a passport only after assessing the application and carrying out the investigation it deems necessary. Section 6 paragraph 2 letter (a) requires the authority to reject the passport if the applicant is not a citizen of India. So according to Passport Lawthe office issues a passport to an applicant who is an Indian citizen.

Is it possible to issue a passport to non-Indians?

The Passport Act 1967 also says that passports can be issued to non-citizens.

“Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing provisions relating to the issue of a passport or travel document, the Central Government may issue or cause to be issued a passport or travel document to a person who is not a citizen of India if that Government considers it necessary in the public interest,” reads one of the provisions of the Act.

Read also | “Can non-citizens get an Indian passport?” Netizens are asking what citizenship proves

The government has not yet identified a passport or any other specific document that could serve as proof of citizenship.

What about Aadhaar, PAN and Voter IDs?

Regarding Aadhaar cards, the Unique Identification Authority of India clarifies that Aadhaar is strictly a proof of identity and residence, not citizenship.

The Electoral Commission’s voter card carries proof of citizenship, as the Representation of the People Act it governs requires only citizens to be registered as voters. In fact, a recent Special Intensive Review (SIR) exercise conducted by the Election Commission suggested that the voter ID card is a proof of citizenship. But since the Supreme Court made it clear that exclusion from the voter rolls does not mean the end of citizenship, a voter ID is definitely not proof of citizenship.

PAN card, land and bank documents do not prove Indian citizenship, the Gauhati High Court said in 2020, dismissing a woman’s plea against a court order rejecting her citizenship application.

However, during litigation or proceedings before civil tribunals, the judiciary refers to ancestral land deeds and verified entries in local government registries dating back several years to establish citizenship by descent.

So which document defines citizenship?

Unlike many countries, Indian citizens do not receive a universally recognized identity card.

In fact, Indian citizenship works on the assumption that you are a citizen until there is a dispute. There is not a single document to prove this. Instead, your citizenship is determined through various records.

As it stands, the most definitive proof of citizenship is a certificate of naturalization or certificate of registration issued by the Home Office under sections 5 and 6 of the Citizenship Act 1955. These certificates are issued to foreign nationals or individuals of Indian origin who have successfully completed the legal process to legally acquire citizenship.

Is a birth certificate proof of citizenship?

A certified birth certificate works as basic proof, but not for everyone. As Indian citizenship laws have changed over time, the validity of a birth certificate as proof depends on the year of birth:

For people born in India between 26 January 1950 and 1 July 1987, the absolute proof is the birth certificate itself, as citizenship was then granted solely by birth on Indian soil, regardless of the nationality of the parents.

However, for persons born between 1 July 1987 and 3 December 2004, proof that at least one of the parents was a certified Indian citizen at the time of birth must be attached to the birth certificate.

For anyone born after December 3, 2004, the birth certificate must be certified by proof that both parents are Indian citizens or that one parent is a citizen and the other is not an illegal immigrant.

Has the government made similar explanations before?

The government has previously argued that a passport is not a valid document of citizenship.

As of 2020, the Union Home Ministry has not identified Aadhaar, passport, voter ID card, PAN card or birth certificate as valid documents to prove citizenship.

Congress President Syed Nasir Hussain asked the Home Ministry for “valid documents to prove citizenship”. Hussain, a Rajya Sabha member, specifically asked whether Aadhaar number, passport, voter ID, PAN card and birth certificate would be valid documents to prove citizenship; and also which would be required as evidence.

In 2020. The Union Home Ministry has not identified Aadhaar, Passport, Voter ID, PAN Card or Birth Certificate as valid documents to prove citizenship.

‘Acquisition of Indian citizenship is governed by the Citizenship Act, 1955 and the rules made thereunder.’

In response, Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs Nityanand Rai replied that “acquisition of Indian citizenship is governed by the Citizenship Act, 1955 and the rules made thereunder”.

Indian citizenship can be acquired by birth or descent or registration or naturalization or incorporation of the territory. Eligibility criteria for acquiring and determining citizenship are as per the provisions of the Citizenship Act, 1955, the ministry said.

The opposition reacts

The MEA’s clarification sparked a political row. , Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal asked which document would prove citizenship. “MEA June 24, 2026: “Passport is a travel document, not a document of citizenship.” So which document is a document of citizenship? asked Sibal in a post on X.

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra quipped that “the only proof of Indian citizenship these days seems to be to be both a Hindu and a BJP voter”. “Nothing else will help,” Moitra wrote on X.