A passport is a travel document, not proof of citizenship; Big statement of Foreign Ministry

New Delhi: Passports are often considered the strongest proof of Indian citizenship, but a senior official of the Ministry of External Affairs recently clarified that the basic purpose of a passport is to serve as a travel document and not as a final proof of citizenship. The ministry says that in the process of issuing a passport, identity and other information are checked on the basis of available documents and prescribed rules, but the legal provisions related to citizenship are different.

What information did the officer give?

The official informed that during the year 2025, about 1.5 crore passports and related services were provided across the country. Of these, about 1.39 crore were related to issuing passports only. He said that excluding the police verification process, under normal circumstances it takes about six working days for the passport to be issued. Whereas in Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) and Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK), the process of applicants is completed in less than 45 minutes.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, at present there are 545 passport centers operating in the country, whereas about a decade ago their number was only 77. Thus, there has been a significant increase in the expansion of passport services. The ministry said that 10 new post office passport service centers were started last year and there are plans to open 10 additional centers this year.

The ministry also shared important data regarding international travel facilities. Currently 27 countries allow visa-free entry for Indian citizens, while 47 countries provide ‘Visa on Arrival’ facility to Indian travellers. Apart from this, 66 countries provide e-Visa to Indian passport holders. The ministry says that the mobility agreements signed with various countries are helping to ease the movement of students, researchers, tourists and businessmen.

However, the law takes a different approach to the question of citizenship. According to the Indian Citizenship Act, a person born in India after July 1, 1987 will not automatically be considered an Indian citizen merely on the basis of birth. It is necessary for him that at least one of his parents is an Indian citizen.

What do legal experts say?

Legal experts say that in cases of proving citizenship, mere passport, Aadhar card or birth certificate cannot be sufficient. In such cases, the citizenship and other related documents of the parents are also verified. Therefore, passport can be considered an important travel document, but not the final and only proof of citizenship.