India does not permit dual citizenship. What the statute actually says, the notification duties that go with it, and what it means if you are considering a second passport.
Whether you can keep your Indian passport while holding another one is decided by India, not by the country issuing the second document. This page sets out the current position, the statute behind it, and what it means in practice for someone considering a second citizenship.
Short answer: India does not permit dual citizenship. The detail below matters more than the headline, because the consequences of getting it wrong fall on the individual — usually years later, at a passport renewal or a border.
No. India does not permit dual citizenship. Acquiring another nationality voluntarily terminates Indian citizenship automatically, by operation of law.
The rule to establish first is always the one that applies to you at home. A second country can only grant its own status; it cannot preserve a nationality that your own law terminates. What a prohibition means in practice — and what it does not — is explained in the guide to dual citizenship rules, with the country-by-country table.
| Question | Position in India |
|---|---|
| Dual citizenship | Not permitted |
| Governing law | Constitution art. 9; Citizenship Act 1955 s. 9 |
| Status of a second nationality | Not recognised — the Indian passport must be surrendered |
| Effect on the original nationality | Automatic loss of Indian citizenship |
| Basis of taxation | Residence |
| Military service obligation | No |
Article 9 of the Constitution and section 9 of the Citizenship Act, 1955 provide that a citizen of India who voluntarily acquires the citizenship of another country ceases to be an Indian citizen. No decision or notification is required for this to take effect — it happens on the date the foreign nationality is acquired.
The authoritative source is the Ministry of Home Affairs citizenship portal. Rules in this area change by amendment and by notification, so the position should be confirmed at the time you act, not from any article.
The mistakes below account for most of the cases where people discover a problem years after the event, typically when renewing a passport or crossing a border.
For Indian nationals this is the decisive fact: a Vanuatu passport cannot be added to an Indian one. It replaces it. Anyone marketing Vanuatu citizenship to Indians as a "second passport you keep alongside" is describing something Indian law does not allow. The honest framing is a choice, usually made by people who have already settled abroad and intend to convert to OCI.
If you are weighing this up anyway, start with a conversation rather than with the price list: the first question is whether you would be giving up a status you intend to keep.
The same question, answered for comparable jurisdictions:
Before applying anywhere, get the rule for your own citizenship confirmed in writing. We do that check first and tell you if the answer is no.