Summary of this article
MEA clarifies passport is a travel document, not citizenship proof.
Citizenship is determined under Citizenship Act, 1955, with conditions.
Passport services expanded, with wider visa access and issuance growth.
An Indian passport is primarily issued as a travel document and does not act as conclusive proof of citizenship, a senior official from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Wednesday.
Addressing the 14th Passport Seva Divas, which marked the expansion of passport-related services. According to media reports, the official outlined its legal position, stating that while a passport can establish nationality for Indians abroad, it is not a certificate of citizenship.
Other than the passport, Aadhaar and voter ID cards are also not considered conclusive proof of citizenship. The Supreme Court and various judicial rulings have held that Aadhaar serves only as an identity document, while voter ID is meant for electoral purposes.
What Does the Passports Act, 1967 Say
The Passports Act, 1967, generally provides for the issuance of passports to Indian citizens. Section 6(2) lays down conditions for the refusal of a passport, which includes cases where the applicant is not an Indian citizen. Section 20 empowers the Central Government to issue a passport or travel document to a person who is not a citizen of India if it is considered necessary in the public interest.
How Does Indian Law Define Citizenship by Birth
Under the Citizenship Act, 1955, a person born in India is generally considered a citizen by birth, subject to certain conditions.
Those born between 26 January 1950 and 1 July 1987 are considered citizens by birth. For those born between 1 July 1987 and 3 December 2004, citizenship depends on at least one parent being an Indian citizen at the time of birth.
For births on or after 3 December 2004, citizenship is granted if both parents are Indian citizens, or if one parent is a citizen and the other is not an illegal migrant. The law also excludes cases involving children of foreign diplomats or persons belonging to enemy countries in territory under occupation.
The MEA official said that Indian passport holders now enjoy visa-free access to 27 countries, up from 16 in 2019. He added that 47 countries offer visa-on-arrival facilities for Indians, while 66 countries provide e-visa options.
The ministry also noted that the network has grown to over 545 Passport Seva Kendras and Post Office Passport Seva Kendras, supported by mobile vans to improve access across regions. It also mentioned that annual passport issuance has reached around 1.39 crore in FY 2025–26.
