New Delhi | Updated: June 25, 2026
Amid a political controversy over the Ministry of External Affairs’ statement that a passport is not proof of citizenship, top government sources on Thursday clarified that the position is not new and does not mark any policy change.
Government sources said Indian law has never treated a passport as conclusive evidence of citizenship. The clarification came a day after remarks made during Passport Seva Divas triggered debate and criticism from opposition leaders.
According to senior government sources, it was not decided recently that a passport is not proof of citizenship. They maintained that the legal position has existed for years and is based on the framework under which passports are issued.
Sources cited the Passport Act, 1967, to support the government’s stand. They pointed out that Section 20 of the Act allows the Central Government to issue a passport or travel document even to a person who is not an Indian citizen under specific circumstances if such action is considered necessary in the public interest.
Government sources argued that this provision clearly shows that merely possessing a passport cannot automatically establish Indian citizenship.
Officials also referred to court rulings, including judgments of the Bombay High Court dating back to 2013, which they said had clarified that a passport by itself cannot be treated as proof of citizenship.
The Ministry of External Affairs had earlier stated that passports are issued after detailed verification and remain secure travel documents that establish identity and nationality for international travel. However, officials underlined that the primary purpose of a passport is to facilitate travel abroad.
The issue gained political attention after Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray questioned the government’s position. He asked whether police verification before passport issuance would lose its significance if a passport were not considered proof of citizenship.
Government sources maintained that the passport verification process remains strict and reliable. However, they said the legal status of a passport as a travel document should not be confused with the legal determination of citizenship, which is governed by the Citizenship Act and related laws.
The government has urged media organizations to explain the difference between citizenship and travel documentation instead of presenting the clarification as a new decision.
