About Us Surrender Certificate / Renunciation of Indian Citizenship

Renunciation of Indian Citizenship and Surrender of Indian Passport

The Indian Citizenship Act, does not allow dual citizenship. The following acts constitute an offense under the Indian Passport Act, 1967, and may attract penalties, or may cause uncertain delays/rejections in processing of the applications for Surrender of Indian Passport and Renunciation of Indian Citizenship:

  • Reissue of Indian Passport after acquiring foreign citizenship.
  • Travel on Indian Passport after acquiring foreign citizenship.
  • Retention of Indian Passport beyond 3 years from the date of acquiring foreign citizenship.
  • Availing of /Applying for any Consular Service on Indian Passport (except Surrender of Indian Passport or Renunciation of Indian Citizenship) after acquiring foreign citizenship.

  • Procedure to Apply and documents required : Indian passport holder(s) in New Zealand, who have acquired foreign citizenship, should apply for the following two services: (i) “Surrender of their Indian passport" and (ii) “Renunciation of Indian Citizenship”.

(i) Surrender of Indian Passport

(ii) Renunciation of Indian Citizenship

Complete Online Application

  • All applicants must complete online Application on below link

    https://portal6.passportindia.gov.in/Online/index.html

  • After completing application online, please print the filled form. Submit the completed form to the High Commission along with relevant documents and fee payment confirmation.

  • (Best viewed in Internet Explorer 9.0 and above, Google chrome).

  • Application details should exactly match with the information in the Indian passport. Else the application will be rejected.

  • If applicant is minor, Both parents must sign on the last (declaration page) of the application form.

  • The Documents to be sent along with application to High commission of India for processing.

    1. Each Applicant must submit/send their Original Indian Passport for Surrender/Cancellation with other required documents. The Original Passport would be returned to the Applicant with cancellation stamp on it.

    2. Payment fee proof of NZD $38

    3. Link for payment

      https://www.hciwellington.gov.in/page/fee-payment/

    4. One photograph pasted(not stapled)on printed application form for Surrender of Indian Passport, The Photo should be latest (taken within last 6 months), bright and clear, with white or light background, without any shadow/dark area, 2 X 2 inches, or 51 X 51 mm in size.

      For detailed photo specifications, please visit https://www.hciwellington.gov.in/page/passport/#13

    5. NZ / Foreign Passport Copy, JP attested.

      Coloured photocopy of bio-pages of current passport duly attested from Justice of Peace or Notary or Deputy Registrar along with other required documents.

    6. Name Change Certificate (if applicable)

      If Applicant’s name is different/changed on Foreign Citizenship Certificate or Foreign Passport from that of the Indian Passport, please provide a copy of name change certificate.

    7. A copy of New Zealand/ foreign citizenship certificate
    8. Affidavit (JP Attested) for cases of Retention/Travel of/on Indian Passport after acquiring foreign citizenship:

  1. The applicants who have retained Indian Passport beyond 3 years after acquiring the foreign citizenship or travelled on Indian Passport after acquiring foreign citizenship are required to provide duly signed and duly attested Affidavit with their application.  
  2. To download the Affidavit, Click here, take a printout, fill the details along with reasons for retention/travel or both as the case may be, get the Affidavit attested from Justice of Peace or Notary or Deputy Registrar. 
  3. If applicant is minor, the affidavit should be signed by either parents(Duly attested by JP

Complete Online Application

  • Indian Passport holder is required to make a declaration in Form XXII specified in Rule 23 of the Citizenship Rules 2009. The declaration/application form for renunciation of Indian Citizenship must be filled only at the online portal of MHA at following Link:

    https://indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in/Renounce

  • After completing application online, please print the filled form. Submit the completed form to the High Commission along with relevant documents and fee payment confirmation.

  • Application details should exactly match with the information in the Indian passport, else the application will be rejected.

  • If the application is filled with any wrong / typo information than please fill a new form( Fees is not required to pay again)

Information:Click here

Step by Step Guide:Click here

The Documents to be sent along with application to High commission of India for processing.

1. Renunciation of citizenship to be made with the consular officer of the High Commission. If sending by post, then it should be attested by JP in first page of form.

2. Second page of application should be signed by any other Indian citizen.

3. Payment/fee (Please attach proof with bank account and application reference

number):

a) NZD $155 if you have not made any payment in INR;

b) NZD 5, if you have paid INR 8000.

Link for payment

https://www.hciwellington.gov.in/page/fee-payment/

4. No Photo is required

Lost Category of Indian passport documents:

If the Indian Passport of the applicant is LOST, please provide following documents against lost passport:

a) Photocopy of Indian Passport

b) Travel Summary from Immigration NZ

c) Lost Passport Police report /FIR copy with Lost Indian Passport number mentioned on it.

The applications submitted without Original Indian Passport takes time to get approvals from authorities, therefore, the time frame for processing such applications is little longer.

Return Courier Bag (if applying by post)

Self-addressed prepaid courier envelope to return your cancelled passport.

The applicant may use any courier service (with tracking facility) of their choice and are advised to keep the tracking numbers with them as High Commission of India will not take any responsibility in case the courier is lost/misplaced/damaged or delayed.


The postal address of the High Commission of India is as follows:

High Commission of India,

Citizenship Section

72 Pipitea Street, Thorndon,

PO Box 12211, Wellington 6011

  2. More information on Payment :

•   Online Bank Transfer Click here

•    Personal Cheques or Money Orders/Credit Card are not accepted.

•    Fee once received will not be refunded under any circumstances, even if the application is withdrawn by the applicant or services are not provided to the individual if his/her case does not qualify for that particular services

•    Please put Surrender Application/ARN number in the reference field. Please do not make single payment for 2 or multiple applications. Please attach both payment proofs with the required documents, the bank account number of the applicant must be visible on the payment proof to locate the payments.

 

  1. Address for Delivery and Instructions for Courier Delivery
  • The applicants can submit their applications in person between 9:30 am to 12:30 pm on any working day or may send the applications by courier with a tracking facility to at HCI, Wellington on the following address:

                      High Commission of India, Citizenship Section, 72, Pipitea Street, Thorndon, Wellington 6011, New Zealand, PO Box 12211

  • For the Applications being sent to HCI, Wellington by courier, the applicants are requested to write Complete Sender Address (Applicant’s Address with contact number) on the courier bags.
  • For the Return Courier bag to be provided with the documents, the applicants are requested to write before sending the Complete Sender Address (High Commission of India, Citizenship Section, 72, Pipitea Street, Thorndon, Wellington 6011, New Zealand, PO Box 12211) and Complete Delivery Address (Applicant’s Address and contact number).
  • The Courier bags being delivered to HCI, Wellington and the Return Courier Bags submitted with the applications to receive the documents, must be with tracking facility. Please do not send or attach a courier bag without tracking facility. It is the responsibility of the applicants to note down/retain the tracking details of their both (incoming/outgoing) courier bags. HCI Wellington would be unable to provide the tracking details of the couriers.

 4. Status Enquiry

  • Please note that no separate acknowledgement email is sent for the applications delivered at HCI Wellington via courier or submitted in person over the reception.
  • No telephonic/e-mail queries regarding receipt or status of applications will be entertained before the time frame limit indicated for processing of the applications.
  • All the applicants are advised to track their courier bag to check the delivery date of their documents at HCI Wellington and wait for 30 days for initial processing of the application.
  • To track online status of your application for Surrender/Cancellation of Indian Passport, please click on the given link https://portal6.passportindia.gov.in/Online/index.html and login with your Registration ID and Password which was used to submit your online application form for Surrender of Indian Passport, to understand the status of your Surrender and Renunciation application better, please read the information given in the below table:

Sr. No.

ONLINE STAUS shown in the PSP Portal for Surrender of Indian Passport

The real time status, indicative time frame and next steps (Total Time Frame: approx. 90 days from the date of receipt of complete applications)

1.

Surrender Application form has been submitted.

Applicant has submitted the online application. All the applications received at HCI Wellington by courier or in person, are checked and entered in the system for further processing. The online Status will be changed in first 30 days after delivery of your complete documents at HCI Wellington. If the application is received incomplete, you may receive an email in first 30 days to send remaining documents or your documents may be returned in first 30 days. The time frame is counted only from the date, the complete/remaining documents are received.

2

Surrender application is under review at Indian Embassy/Consulate.

All the checks for your application and documents have been made, your Surrender and Renunciation application have been assigned to an Official and online processing have been started.

The applications for Surrender of Indian Passport and applications for Renunciation of Indian Citizenship would be processed simultaneously in r/o each applicant.

3

Surrender application is granted.

The application has been granted, the Surrender Certificate is ready for print.

4

Surrender Certificate is Printed.

The Surrender Certificate has been issued and would be e-mailed on mail ID provided in the application form.

The applicants who have requested for the collection of their documents in person, will receive the email for collection in next 5-7 days after this status. If no email is received by the applicant from this status, they can come to collect their cancelled passports in person after 7 days.

  1. Approximate Processing time
  • Processing time for Surrender of Indian Passport and Renunciation of Indian citizenship is approx. 90 days after receipt of complete documents at HCI, Wellington either by courier or submitted in person over the reception.
  • The processing times mentioned above are indicative only. The above processing time is for the clear cut cases, whose clearance has been received from competent authorities
  • Processing time for cases involving retention of Indian Passport beyond 3 Years after acquiring foreign citizenship and/or travel on Indian Passport after acquiring foreign citizenship cannot be prescribed. These cases would be processed consequent upon following due procedures and are subject to approval from the competent authorities.