125. How to get Indian

Passport for baby born in

Canada

Q: Mr. Chand, I am an Indian citizen in Canada with my wife and we both hold Indian passports. I am here work and have a valid Canadian work permit. We recently had a baby here in Canada and would like to know few things about citizenship. 1. I would like to get an Indian passport for my child and that essentially means Indian citizenship, since I am permanently going back to India soon. - The Indian consulate in Toronto does not have a set rule and procedure for this. - I was asked to get a letter from Canadian government stating that my baby doesn't hold a Canadian passport. So, I have requested the same thru a search. Do you have any advise on this front? 2. Since my child is Canadian born, she is a citizen of Canada by birth and I can not renounce her citizenship till she is 18 years of age. I am okay with this if I can do the same after 18 years from India. But, will there be any issue by Canadian government while she is in India, since Canada considers her as a citizen? 3. (After acquiring Indian passport) Is there any procedure to follow if my child wants to come back to Canada before the age of 18? like, can she surrender her Indian passport in India, acquired Canadian passport in India and travel? or does Canada provide any kind of travel document on Indian passport without Canadian passport? Appreciate any other information on this regard. Best Regards, Vinaya Alva Answer: The Indian consulate in Ottawa, Canada clearly spells out the requirements for getting a Indian passport for a baby born in Canada to Indian parents. Here is an excerpt from their website on this topic: NEW PASSPORT FOR A CHILD BORN IN CANADA OF PARENTS HOLDING INDIAN PASSPORTS (source:http://www.hciottawa.ca/counsularservices.htm#PASSP ORT) (i) For the children born in Canada where the parents wish to obtain Indian passport for them, birth registration (Click HERE to view Sample Form) with the Indian Mission is required before applying for passport for the newborn. (ii) Application form (EAP-I) duly filled in and countersigned by both parents. (iii) 3 identical, recent color photographs (3.5 cm x 3.5 cm), showing frontal view of full face against a light background. (iv) Original record of landing or immigration document/PR card of the child, and of parents, with a photocopy. (v) Declaration for non-acquisition of foreign nationality/Canadian passport for the child. (vi) Birth certificate showing names of parents. (vii) Consent of both parents for issue of Indian passport. Personal appearance of the child may be required in some cases. As for your question number two, I don't quite understand what you mean by 'will there be any issue by Canadian government while she is in India, since Canada considers her as a citizen?' If your concern is that the Canadian government would have problems with your daughter living in Indian as she is born in Canada, then you need not worry. As long as both parents are agreeable and their is no child custody dispute there should be no problem. Canada in fact allows dual citizenship, where as India does not. As far as renunciation of Canadian citizenship is concerned, your daughter will have to decide when she reaches the legal adult age whether she wants to renounce Canadian citizenship. Parents cannot do this for their children. Renunciation of citizenship, if decided upon can be done by filling the appropriate forms and paying the required fee even at the Canadian consular offices in India. Your third question is a tricky one! Your daughter once she goes to India on a Indian passport and wishes to travel back to Canada, she will need a Canadian Visa. In her case she will not be able to get a Canadian visa as being born in Canada she would be considered a Canadian citizen and citizens don't need visas to enter their country of birth. In such a scenario you daughter would have to get a Canadian Passport to travel to Canada. This puts her Indian passport in jeopardy as India does not allow dual citizenship and keeping two passports is illegal for Indian citizens. Things become simpler if your daughter stays in India until reaching age of maturity and then decides what she wants to do. I would suggest that you get a Canadian passport for your daughter, get her registered as an Overseas Indian Citizen (OCI) before returning to India. This way she can travel freely and also live in India. On reaching age of maturity, she can decide what she wants to do.