In a significant update to India’s citizenship framework, the Union government has introduced new disclosure norms under the Citizenship Rules, 2009, requiring applicants associated with Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh to declare details of any valid or expired passports issued by these countries.

The amendment is supposedly aimed at tightening documentation requirements and clarifying citizenship application procedures. However, it is also expected to revive debate around the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which has faced criticism from opposition parties and civil rights groups over allegations that it excludes Muslims by offering a fast-track citizenship pathway only to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Supporters of the law argue that it focuses on religious minorities who allegedly faced persecution in those countries.

What has changed in the Citizenship Rules?

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a notification announcing the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2026. Under the revised provisions, a new clause has been inserted into Schedule IC of the Citizenship Rules.

The amendment now requires applicants to explicitly declare whether they possess, or previously possessed, any passport issued by the governments of Pakistan, Afghanistan or Bangladesh.

Applicants must either:

  • Confirm that they do not possess such passports, or
  • Provide complete details if they do possess them, including:
  • Passport number
  • Date of issue
  • Place of issue
  • Expiry date

Passport surrender rule explained

The amendment also introduces a mandatory surrender clause.

Applicants who possess valid or expired passports from Pakistan, Afghanistan or Bangladesh must surrender those passports within 15 days after approval of their Indian citizenship application.

The surrender must be made before the concerned Senior Superintendent of Post or Superintendent of Post, according to the notification.

Exact declaration added to rules

The notification includes a newly inserted declaration format under the amended rules, asking applicants to state:

“I am not in possession of a valid and/or expired passport(s) issued by the Government of Pakistan/Afghanistan/Bangladesh…”

If applicants do possess such passports, they must disclose full details and agree to surrender them after citizenship approval.

Why the government introduced the amendment

Officials said the amendment is intended to streamline documentation requirements and strengthen procedural clarity in citizenship applications involving migrants or applicants connected to the three neighbouring countries.

The notification comes amid continued implementation discussions around the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), passed by Parliament in December 2019.

Link with Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)

The Citizenship Amendment Act was introduced to provide a fast-tracked citizenship pathway for Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian minorities who migrated to India from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh after allegedly facing religious persecution.

At the time, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said the law would provide relief and legal protection to persecuted minority communities from the three neighbouring countries.

The revised disclosure norms mainly affect citizenship applicants who:

  • Previously held passports from Pakistan, Afghanistan or Bangladesh
  • Are applying under citizenship provisions linked to migration or long-term stay in India
  • Are covered under categories related to the Citizenship Amendment Act or related citizenship processes

What happens next?

The rules have already come into force following publication in the Official Gazette. Authorities are expected to implement the revised documentation process immediately for all eligible applications moving forward.

The amendment also signals the government’s continued focus on tighter citizenship verification procedures amid ongoing debates around migration, identity documentation and national security.