MHA introduces new online application system for grant of Indian Citizenship

NEW DELHI - The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has introduced a new online application system for faster, simpler and transparent processing/tracking of the applications for grant of Indian Citizenship.

The new system aims to achieve the centralized data base of citizenship applications will be available with the Ministry of Home Affairs, there will be uniformity in processing of applications, citizenship cases will be processed faster, better monitoring and tracking of the cases, the applicant would be able to track progress of his or her case.

As per earlier procedure available under Rule 11 and 12 of the Citizenship Rules, 2009, an application for grant of Indian Citizenship was to be submitted to the Collector/Deputy Commissioner/District Magistrate of the area where the applicant is ordinarily a resident.

The applicant along with a report on the eligibility and suitability of the applicant was to be sent by the Collector/Deputy Commissioner/District Magistrate to the State Government within sixty days.

Thereafter, the application along with the recommendation of the State Government was to be sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs within thirty days.

Each application was examined in the Ministry in terms of the provisions of the Citizenship Act, 1955 and Rules framed there-under and each applicant whose case was found to be complete with the prescribed requirements was informed about the acceptance of his/her application through the State Government.

Thereafter, a certificate of Indian Citizenship was issued to the applicant through the State Government on receipt of the requisite documents as mentioned in the acceptance letter viz. a certificate of renunciation of his/her foreign citizenship issued by the Mission of the concerned country, prescribed fee, three passport size photographs, three specimen signatures and personal particulars of the applicant.

As per new procedure recently introduced, the applicants can apply online at the website https://mha.nic.in/icweb/ic firstpage.aspx for quick processing of the same by the concerned agencies and the Central Government.

Each application form is meant for one person only. Once the online application form is submitted by the applicant, an Internet File Number will be generated automatically and the applicant has to preserve this generated number for printing of the online application form and for status tracking.

The applicant is required to submit the duly signed/self attested hard copy of the computer generated application form and supporting documents to his/her nearest Collector/DC/DM Office personally. Thereafter, the Collector/DC/DM concerned, as the case may be, will process the application as per the procedure laid down in the Citizenship Act, 1955 and rules made there-under.

The proposed procedure for “Applying Online for Indian Citizenship” is available at the MHA’s website: www.mha.nic.inThe Citizenship Act, 1955 provides for the acquisition of Citizenship by birth, descent, registration, naturalization. The Citizenship Rules, 2009 provides the procedure, forms of application, fee. (ANI)