Govt tightens citizenship rules for applicants holding Pak/B’desh/Afghan passports

The Centre has notified amended Citizenship Rules 2009, making it mandatory for applicants seeking Indian citizenship to declare whether they hold a valid or expired passport issued by Pakistan, Afghanistan or Bangladesh. Applicants must also agree to surrender those passports within 15 days after Indian citizenship approval. MHA notified the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules 2026 on May 18.