Documents Required for Indian Passport Surrender: Complete Checklist

Every Indian citizen who has obtained foreign citizenship needs to surrender their Indian passport. This is because, under the Indian Citizenship Act, an Indian citizen cannot hold dual citizenship. If you get citizenship in another country, you need to surrender your Indian passport. After this, you can get your surrender certificate.

Also, you need to submit the required documents, based on whether you are an adult or a minor. The original passport and proof of nationality are considered two main documents.

In this blog, we will cover all the requirements for surrendering an Indian passport and provide you with a smooth, easy process.

Mandatory Documents Required for Indian Passport Surrender

An individual who has obtained citizenship of any foreign country must surrender an Indian passport. This will help ensure smooth travel and avoid complications.

Here are the latest Indian passport surrender documents that you need to submit, such as:

• Your original passport
• A completed Indian passport surrender application
• Proof of foreign nationality
• Surrender certificate form or application
• Foreign passport copy (if applicable)
• Passport-size photos, if required
• Proof of address according to your jurisdiction
• Extra Document or declaration required by the authorities

Check the latest document checklist from the official website.

What are the Documents Required for Indian Passport Surrender for Adults?

Provide the following documents:

• Original Indian Passport
  
  • All Indian citizens who have obtained new foreign citizenship need to surrender a valid Indian passport.
  • Foreign nationals of Indian origin can also provide Indian passport surrender expired passport.
  • A seized or canceled passport will not be accepted.
• Proof of Foreign Citizenship
  • • Foreign citizenship
    • Citizenship certificate
    • Naturalization certificate
    • More documents for foreign nationality issued by the government
  • Depends on the individual circumstances and the relevant Indian mission or Indian authority.
• Complete Surrender Application
  • Submit a completely filled-out surrender application form.
  • Every surrender application is processed through the Passport Seva Kendra in India.
  • After submitting, you can start the process of getting a surrender certificate. It can be used for various OCI-related purposes. You can apply for the Surrender application via the Passport Seva portal. 
• Photograph
  • Provide a valid passport-size photo with a plain white background.
  • Follow all the passport photo specifications.
  • Make sure the photo was taken recently and is 2x2 inches.
• Proof of Address
  • • Utility bill, such as water, gas, or electricity
    • Valid lease agreement
    • Income tax return

Key Points Related to Document Submission for Indian Passport Surrender for Adults

Here are some points to keep in mind when submitting the documents.

• Follow the document checklist provided by the authorities.
• Submit all the extra documents requested by the Indian Embassy or Consulates.
• Submit one copy of the checklist with the documents.
• Do not print the document on both sides of the paper.
• Handwritten documents will not be accepted for the surrender of an Indian passport.
• Not providing all documents will put your application on hold for 21 days. If you do not submit all documents, then your application will be abandoned and returned to you.
• If your application is rejected, your consular and ICWF fees will be refunded.
• VFS service, convenience, or courier charges will not be refunded in any situation for Indian passport surrender.

What are the Documents Required for Minor Indian Passport Surrender?

You will need to provide the following documents.

• Provide a valid original Indian passport of the minor.
• Submit a foreign passport
• Proof of foreign citizenship of the minor
• Proof of address
• Completed surrender application form
• Passport-size photo taken recently
• Identity and parents' address, if applicable
• Parents authorization form
• Signed declaration or affidavit forms by parents.
• Authorities or service providers can request additional documents.
• Provide a valid parental authorization form or the declaration forms.

Does the Minor Need to Sign the Indian Passport Surrender Application?

Yes, the minor needs to upload the signature on the Indian passport surrender application online. As with the physical application, there is no need for the minor applicant's signature. However, you need to upload the valid thumbprint and signature in the relevant field.

You need to sign the last page of the form, or have the minor's parent sign it.

The unsigned application will not be processed and will be returned to you.

Parents should check the latest document checklist before submitting a minor surrender application.

What are the Documents for Indian Passport Surrender for a Lost Passport?

You need to provide the additional documents for your relevant jurisdiction.

• Submit a copy of the lost Indian passport (if available).
• Valid foreign passport
• Submit proof of the foreign passport
• A copy of the police report or loss report related to the lost Indian passport.
• Provide declaration and affidavits related to the lost indian passport.
• Declaration related to the Surrender or renunciation.
• Proof of address.
• If any documents are requested by the relevant authority.

Note: Do not assume that documents for passport surrender are the same as for a lost Indian passport.

Can You Apply for Surrender of an Expired Indian Passport?

Yes, you can apply for surrender of an expired Indian passport. This is stated in the Passport Seva Surrender guidelines. After this, you will get a surrender certificate, as it was the last Indian passport you held.

Can I Surrender a Damaged Indian Passport?

Yes, you can apply to surrender a damaged Indian passport. However, for this, you need to apply for re-issue under the damaged section on the Passport Seva portal. Also, you need to follow all the official guidelines.

Provide a signed letter detailing the damage to the passport. A valid affidavit using Annexure F to legally declare the damage.

Different Requirements Related to the Adult and Minor Indian Passport Surrender

See the table mentioned below to check the documents required for Indian passport surrender. 

This table will give you an idea of the differences between adult and minor Indian passport surrender applications.

Do You Need a Police Verification for an Indian Passport Surrender Certificate?

For a normal Indian passport surrender certificate, you don't need valid police verification.

Many individuals are confused about whether police verification is required.

This clears up the difference between passport surrender and fresh passport applications.

What Happens After the Indian Passport Surrender Documents Submission?

The authorities will further process your application after you provide all the documents.

Once you submit the application, your appointment process starts. You need to submit all relevant documents and details for the surrender of your Indian passport at the passport office.

The submission and processing time depends on the service provider and relevant authority.

Once the application process is complete, you will receive a final decision about your surrender.

Do You Need an Indian Passport Surrender for OCI?

Yes, you need to submit your Indian passport and get a surrender certificate to apply for an OCI card.

The document requirements depend on the applicant's situation and the applicable OCI guidelines and rules issued by the authority.

You will understand why a surrender certificate is required for the OCI application by reading the manual.

Here is a quick process for getting a certificate of Indian passport surrender for OCI.

1. Get foreign citizenship
2. Complete the Indian passport surrender form surrender
3. Enter all the documents and formalities for the surrender certificate
4. Get your surrender certificate
5. Apply for OCI

Common Mistakes to Avoid During Document Submission for Indian Passport Surrender

See these common mistakes made by applicants.

• Providing an old passport rather than the latest passport
  • One of the most common mistakes applicants make is providing an outdated passport.
  • You should provide the latest passport for the surrender application.
• Thinking the adult documents checklist applies to minors
  • Many applicants assume that the same checklist for adult passport surrender also applies to minors.
  • Check the additional requirements for the surrender of Indian passports by minors on the official website.
• Ignoring a lost Passport 
  • Some applicants ignore the lost passport requirement, but you can apply for an Indian passport.
• Using an old Documents checklist 
  • Another common mistake made by applicants is using outdated documents. It can affect the processing of their surrender application.
  • Before submitting the documents, always check the Indian passport surrender checklist.
• Confused Surrender with OCI application
  • Both the surrender application and the OCI application have separate processes. For these applications, you will need to provide separate documentation.
• Using an Indian Passport After Getting Foreign Citizenship
  • Some applicants still use their Indian passport for various travel and identification purposes. It can lead to various legal and strict penalties.

Final Thoughts

When an Indian citizen obtains foreign citizenship, they must surrender their Indian passport. This is because India does not provide dual citizenship. So you need to submit your valid Indian passport to the concerned authorities. By submitting all required documents and the application, you can get a surrender certificate. For more information, you can visit our website. We will help you with the full process and documentation.