Is Indian Passport Proof Of Citizenship? MEA Says It's Just A Travel Document
Is Indian Passport Proof Of Citizenship? MEA Says It's Just A Travel Document Published By, Last Updated: June 24, 2026, 19:21 IST Clarifying the legal
Is Indian Passport Proof Of Citizenship? MEA Says It's Just A Travel Document Published By, Last Updated: June 24, 2026, 19:21 IST Clarifying the legal status of passports, the MEA said the document attests an Indian's nationality abroad but is not, in itself, proof of citizenship. The MEA said an Indian passport is primarily a travel document and not a citizenship certificate, clarifying that it attests a person's nationality while overseas. (IMAGE: NEWS18 FILES) The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday said that an Indian passport is a travel document and not a document of citizenship.
Officials explained that the passport attests the nationality of Indian citizens when they are abroad. The remarks were made on the occasion of Passport Seva Divas, observed on June 24 to commemorate the enactment of the Passports Act, 1967. Highlighting the government’s efforts to modernise passport services, the ministry said the rollout of chip-enabled e-passports marked a significant technological shift in passport issuance. The e-passports, which meet international benchmarks, enhance security and authentication while leveraging advanced technologies and integration with platforms such as DigiLocker to make the application process faster, more transparent and user-friendly.
News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has c... Read More First Published: June 24, 2026, 19:13 IST News india Is Indian Passport Proof Of Citizenship? MEA Says It's Just A Travel Document Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s.
Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
The BriefWire