The Citizenship Act of 1955, provides for acquiring and losing the citizenship of India. Till now this act has been amended in 1986, 1992, 2003 and 2005. The various ways of acquiring an Indian citizenship are as :
| Ways of Getting Indian Citizenship | Description |
|---|
| 1. By Birth | a. A person born in India on or after 26th January 1950 but before 1st July 1987 is a citizen of India by birth. |
| | b. A person born in India on or after 1st July 1987 is a citizen of India only if either of parents is a citizen of India at the time of his birth. |
| | c. A person born in India on or after 3rd December 2004 is a citizen of India only if both parents are citizens of India or one of whose parents is a citizen of India and other is not an illegal migrant at the time of birth. |
| | NOTE : Children of Foreign Diplomats posted in India and enemy aliens cannot acquire Indian Citizenship by Birth. |
| 2. By Descent | a. A person born outside India on or after 26th January 1950 but before 10th December 1992 is a citizen of India, by descent, if his FATHER was a citizen of India at the time of his birth. |
| | b. A person born outside India on or after 10th Dec 1992 is a citizen of India, by descent, if either of parents is a citizen of India at the time of birth. |
| | c. A person born outside India, after 3rd December 2004 shall not be a citizen of India by descent, unless his birth is registered at an Indian Consulate within one year of the date of birth or with the permission of the Central Government, after expiry of the said period. |
| 3. By Registration | a. A person of Indian origin who is ordinarily resident in India for seven years before making an application for registration. |
| | b. A person of Indian origin who is ordinarily resident in any country or place outside undivided India. |
| | c. A person who is married to a citizen of India and is ordinarily resident in India for seven years before making an application for registration. |
| | d. Minor children of persons who are citizens of India. |
| | e. A person whose parents are registered as a citizen of India. |
| | f. A person who himself, or either of his parents, were earlier citizen of Independent India, and has been residing in India for 1 year immediately before making an application. |
| | g. A person, registered as an overseas citizen of India for 5 years, and has been residing in India for 1 year before making an application. |
| | Note: An applicant is an ordinarily resident of India if he resided in India throughout the period of 12 months immediately before making an application for registration, and has also resided in India during 8 years immediately preceding the period of 12 months for a period of not less than 6 years. |
| 4. By Naturalization | a. Must be a person of full age and capacity and of good character. |
| | b. Must take an oath of allegiance |
| | c. Must renounce / undertake to renounce the citizenship of other country/countries in the event of his application being accepted. |
| | d. Must not be a citizen of a country where Indian Citizens are prevented from becoming citizens by naturalization. |
| | e. Either resided in India or been in the service of a Government in India or partly the one and partly the other, throughout the period of 12 months immediately preceding the date of the application. |
| | f. During the 14 years immediately preceding the said period of 12 months, he has either resided in India or been in the service of a Government in India, or partly the one and partly the other, for periods amounting in the aggregate to not less than 11 years. |
| | g. Has an adequate knowledge of a language specified in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution. |
| | h. If naturalization being granted, the person intends to reside in India, or to enter into or continue in, service under a Government in India or under an international organization of which India is a member of under a society, company or body established in India. |
| 5. By Incorporation of Territory | If any new foreign territory becomes a part of India, after a popular verdict, the Government of India shall specify the person of that territory to be the citizen of India, as India is a country of single Citizenship. |
