Q.1031 Born in India 1985, do I

have right to Indian citizenship?

Question: Hello sir, I have a query about my citizenship. My parents are srilankan citizens with oci. They came to India in 1983 as refugees and settled here. I born in India in 1985 January and brought up here itself. I did all my studies here. I am a post graduate. Sir, please clear me that whether I have the rights to be an Indian citizen by birth regardless of my parents nationality as per the Indian citizenship act 1955? Am I able to get an Indian passport? If so what are the procedures? Regards, Dhanya Answer: As per rules of citizenship: (1) By Birth (Section 3) • A person born in India on or after 26th January 1950 but before 1st July, 1987 is citizen of India by birth irrespective of the nationality of his parents. Since your birth is in India in 1985 you are already a citizen of India regardless of the nationality of your parents. You could if you wish apply for an Indian passport. To apply for Indian passport, generally a birth certificate is required, if you do not have a birth certificate you can provide other documents such as a school leaving certificate that shows your date of birth. Those born before 1989 have no compulsion to provide a birth certificate with their passport application and are allowed to use other documents in lieu of birth certificate.