Can I travel to India on a US passport without renunciation?
When you were born in India and became a U.S. citizen, you may be asking yourself whether you can travel to India without officially renouncing your Indian citizenship.
In practice, once you voluntarily acquire U.S. citizenship, you automatically cease to be an Indian citizen under Indian law. However, you are required to formally surrender your Indian passport and complete the renunciation process to avoid penalties and to smoothly apply for an Indian visa or OCI.
Understanding the renunciation of Indian citizenship
India does not permit dual citizenship; hence, the moment you acquire citizenship of another nation, for instance, the United States, your Indian citizenship gets cancelled automatically as per the Citizenship Act of 1955.
Most Indian consulates require a Renunciation or Surrender Certificate as evidence that you are no longer an Indian citizen, and this document is typically needed when applying for an Indian visa or OCI card.
What happens if you don't renounce?
If you travel to India on a U.S. passport without surrendering your Indian passport or completing the renunciation formalities, you may face fines or administrative issues during visa or OCI processing.
- Even after you get the citizenship of the U.S., it is against Indian law to use your Indian passport. You could face fines or penalties for doing so
- In cases where one is applying for an Indian visa or OCI card, the authorities tend to request evidence of renunciation. You may also be denied or have your application.
- In other instances, passengers have been interrogated at the Indian checkpoints on immigration because they were not doing this.
How to complete the renunciation process
Renunciation can be applied at the Indian Embassy or Consulate in the United States. The process involves:
- Completing the online Renunciation/ Surrender Certificate application form.
- Presenting your Indian passport (where possible) and evidence of U.S. citizenship
- Making payments to the respective authorities (usually between USD 175 and 200).
- Waiting until your certificate is issued, which normally takes a few weeks.
Once your renunciation or passport surrender is completed, you can proceed to apply for an Indian eVisa or OCI card without complications.
Travel options after renunciation
Once renounced, you may choose to travel in any of two ways:
- Apply for an Indian Tourist Visa or eVisa — valid for short-term visits such as tourism, business, or family trips.
- Get OCI Card: offers a multiple-entry visa for life and gives other options, such as owning property and spending a long stay in India.
Final thoughts
In summary, Indian origin U.S citizens have to renounce their Indian citizenship before travelling to India on a U.S passport. Otherwise, a fine and visa problems may be encountered. This process will make the travel of the individual smooth, lawful, and qualified to enjoy OCI privileges in the future.
In case you have intentions to visit in the near future, you can begin your renunciation process early so that you do not experience delays and have a good vacation without any legal issues.
