The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued a directive to passport authorities, enabling individuals from Goa and Daman & Diu who had their Indian passports revoked after acquiring Portuguese citizenship to obtain a "revocation order." This change is expected to bring relief to many who were previously ineligible to apply for Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) due to stringent passport requirements.
The MEA memorandum, dated April 4, clarifies that the Ministry of Home Affairs will accept a "revocation certificate" as an alternative to the "surrender certificate" for Indian nationals hailing from the former Portuguese territories in India who have acquired Portuguese nationality under Portuguese Nationality Law.
The memo stated: "All PIAs are hereby advised to mandatorily issue a revocation order in all such cases, wherein instead of issuing a surrender certificate, PIAs decide to revoke the passport by invoking Section 10 (3) of the Passports Act, 1967."
The earlier requirement for a surrender certificate posed significant challenges for those seeking OCI cards. Following a November 30, 2022, MEA memorandum, passports of Goans who acquired Portuguese citizenship were revoked for "suppressing material information" about their foreign nationality, resulting in the cessation of surrender certificates and making many individuals ineligible for OCI cards.
This new directive provides a solution to those who had their passports revoked and allows them to use the revocation certificate to apply for OCI cards, offering them the same benefits as if they had a surrender certificate. The OCI card, akin to a passport, allows people of Indian origin who are foreign citizens to register as Overseas Citizens of India and grants them the right to live and work in India indefinitely.
Goa's Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant, welcomed the decision, expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar for their role in implementing this measure.
"Great news for people of Goa. MEA has issued clarification that Revocation Certificate will also be a valid document in lieu of Surrender Certificate for obtaining OCI Card. I thank the Union Govt led by PM @narendramodi ji, Home Minister Shri @AmitShah Ji, Minister of External Affairs @DrSJaishankar ji & MEA MoS Smt @M_Lekhi for accepting the request of the State Government that would provide huge relief to thousands of Goan & their families," Sawant said in a post on the social media platform X.
Under Portuguese law, individuals born in Goa before December 19, 1961, and their descendants for the next two generations, can register as Portuguese citizens. The ability to obtain a Portuguese passport offers visa-free entry to countries like the UK and EU, encouraging many Goans to pursue Portuguese citizenship for better employment and education opportunities overseas. However, this decision led to complex situations, with individuals facing complications due to the ..
The MEA's recent directive, which allows the acceptance of the revocation certificate as a valid document, is expected to significantly ease the OCI application process, providing a smoother path for those affected. The new policy not only provides relief to thousands of Goan citizens but also resolves a contentious issue that had caused considerable anxiety among those whose passports were revoked after acquiring Portuguese citizenship.
Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/migrate/mea-directive-eases-oci-application-process-for-goans-with-portuguese-citizenship/articleshow/109491750.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
