A special provision exists for the submission of applications for Indian Citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019. It is specifically for individuals who entered India on or before 31st December, 2014, and belonging to the Hindu or Sikh or Buddhist or Jain or Parsi or Christian community from Pakistan or Afghanistan or Bangladesh.
For more detailed information, individuals may refer to the provisions outlined in the Citizenship Act of 1955.
Individuals who wish to submit an application must have their own unique email ID and mobile number.
Applicants may click on button “click to submit application for Indian Citizenship under CAA 2019” and log in using your personal email ID and mobile number.
Frequently asked questions
To streamline the process and clarify the rules, the government has released a step-by-step guide for citizenship application. Here’s a list of FAQs to make it even simpler.
1)I’m interested in obtaining Indian citizenship. Where and how can I apply?
Individuals eligible under the CAA must submit their applications under Section 6B of the Citizenship Act, 1955. The application process can be accessed online via https://indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in or through the mobile application namely CAA-2019.
You can track the progress of your application through the website. The final outcome will be communicated to you via email and SMS.
2) who are eligible to apply for Indian citizenship under CAA,2019?
Persons belonging to Hindu or Sikh or Buddhist or Jain or Parsi or Christian community from Afghanistan or Bangladesh or Pakistan, and –
(i) Who entered into India on or before 31.12.2014; and
(ii) Who has been exempted by or under section 3(2)(c) of the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 or from the application of the provisions of the Foreigners Act, 1946 or any rule or order made thereunder.
3) What is the procedure for submitting the citizenship application under section 6B?
The applicant has to submit the application online to the Empowered Committee through the District Level Committee (DLC) headed by Designated Officer (DO). For this purpose, the applicant may visit https://indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in or mobile application namely CAA-2019. By answering simple questionnaire, the online system will prompt the applicant to the form as per his/her eligibility as indicated below:-
S.No. | Form Number | Category of persons eligible |
1 | IIA | A person of Indian origin, for registration as a citizen of India |
2 | IIIA | A person who is married to a citizen of India for registration as a citizen of India |
3 | IVA | A person who is a minor child of a person who is a citizen of India, for registration as a citizen of India |
4 | VA | A person whose parents are registered as a citizen of India, for registration as a citizen of India |
5 | VIA | A person who or either of the parents was a citizen of Independent India, for registration as a citizen of India |
6 | VIIA | A person who is registered as an Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder, for registration as a citizen of India |
7 | VIIIA | For grant of citizenship by naturalisation |
The applicant may fill up the relevant form, attach all requisite documents mentioned in the Form and make payment of fee of Rs. 50/- online.
At the application stage itself, the applicant may opt for receiving the ink signed copy of the certificate of registration or certificate of naturalization. Ink signed copy of the certificate will be issued to the applicant only if he/ she has opted for the same at the application stage. In all other cases, a digital certificate of registration or certificate of naturalization will be issued.
On submission of application, an acknowledgment will be auto-generated electronically which will be available to the applicant.
4) Where should I submit a physical copy (Hard Copy) of the citizenship application form?
The printed copy of the online filled application form must be submitted to the office of the District collector/ District Magistrate /Deputy Commissioner (herein after referred as district Collector) of the area where the applicant is ordinarily resident.
If the applicant is residing outside India, the printout of the application should be submitted to the Consular General of India
5) I have received a letter to submit additional or deficient documents. Where and How should I submit these documents?
The additional required documents need to be uploaded to the indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in website against the file number. A hard copy also needs to be submitted at the office of the district collector of the area.
6) I am a Nepal/ Bhutan origin person I do not have passport and visa. Can I apply online for acquiring Indian citizenship?
In the absence of a passport, you have to upload online, either a Nepali/ Bhutanese citizenship certificate or voter ID card issued by the Election Commission of Nepal/Bhutan or a limited validity photo-identity certificate issued by the Nepalese/ Royal Bhutanese Mission in India or, photo ID issued by the principal of the School for children in the age group between 10-18 if accompanied by parents having valid travel documents, and fill the form.
7) I am unable to fill the Form in MHA website indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in. Whom should I contact for help?
Please contact MHA helpdesk at email: support.ctznoci@mha.gov.in
8) How much time will it take to acquire Indian citizenship?
After the submission of the hard copy to the office of the district collector, the application will have to be sent to the state government within 60 days along with a report. The application will then have to be forwarded to the central government within a period of 30 days from the date of receipt of the report of the collector.
9) From which date the citizenship granted will be effective?
Persons granted citizenship by registration or naturalisation under section 6B of the Citizenship Act, 1955 shall be deemed to be a citizen of India from the date of his/ her entry into India.
10) How will the citizenship certificate be issued to the applicant?
The applicant who has applied for a grant of citizenship by registration or naturalization will be issued a digital certificate of registration. Ink ink-signed copy of the certificate of registration or naturalization will be issued only if the applicant has opted for the same at the application stage and this will have to be collected by the applicant from the office of the Empowered Committee i.e. the office of the Director (Census Operations) of the State/Union Territory concerned located in the State/ UT capital.