Baby born in india

[CitizenBane]

Hi there,

I hope someone can kindly assist on this matter as I have been getting conflicting answers.

- I am a British citizen by birth and reside here in the UK
- My wife is an Indian national with permanent resident status. She also works and lives here in the UK
- My wife gave birth to my son (in India) in 2023. He is British citizen by birth through me

I believe my son has two options:

1) To apply for a British passport in India - I am told this is an extremely long process which I am not particular keen on
2) To apply for an Indian passport in India - Takes less time and he can arrive in the UK in a relatively shorter time.

I am unsure if 2) is possible i.e. Can my son (who is a British citizen by birth born in India) apply for an Indian passport to travel to UK? If so are there any drawbacks?

Your help would be much appreciated.

Many thanks

[Frontier Mole]

As a dual national I think he can hold both passports until he reaches 18. I believe at that point he has give up his Indian passport if he wants to remain a British Citizen. The Indian government does not subscribe to dual nationality.

[secret.simon]

As a dual national I think he can hold both passports until he reaches 18.

I think it is more nuanced than that.

My understanding (and I could very well be wrong) is that Indian law allows dual citizenship, so long as the child does not have any non-Indian passport. So an Indian passport with a CoE-RoA is perfectly possible in this case and has been advised multiple times on these forums.

But if the child applies for a British passport, they lose their Indian citizenship automatically, as I understand it.

[Frontier Mole]

https://www.cgisf.gov.in/page/notice-re ... ltaneously.

[secret.simon]

https://www.cgisf.gov.in/page/notice-re ... ltaneously.

My understanding (and I could very well be wrong) is that Indian law allows dual citizenship, so long as the child does not have any non-Indian passport. So an Indian passport with a CoE-RoA is perfectly possible in this case and has been advised multiple times on these forums.

I should have been clearer in my formulation.

Any child born with (i.e. not acquired after birth, such as by registration) Indian and foreign citizenship (such as to a British and an Indian parent in India, or to an Indian parent with ILR in the UK) can hold both citizenships, so long as the child does not have any non-Indian passport, til the age of 18 (at which time they must elect to hold either one). So it applies only to children (not adults) in very specific circumstances.