Indian Passport Surrender - Beyond 3 years

[forevermore76]

Just reposting this in case someone with similar experience would like to share how they navigated.

Here's my situation.

2006 - Indian Passport was issued with 10 year validity.
2011 - Acquired first foreign citizenship.
2016 - Indian Passport renewed for 10 year validity from India.
2020 - Acquired second foreign citizenship.

It's been 13 years since 1st foreign citizenship and almost 4 years since 2nd foreign citizenship. The information Indian immigration has provided on their website revolves around a 3 year timeline but nothing past that.

I've used Indian passport once for traveling since 2006(one trip to India in 2016) and have renewed it once between 2006 till now. The current passport expires in 2026. I would like to surrender and be done once and for all but surely it sounds like opening a can of worms.

I have no idea how much financial penalty they will try to impose as there are no clear rules to deal with this situation. Also, if I just traveled to India in 2026 and renewed the passport I would probably be good for another 10 years but if caught, they will probably try to charge me criminally and detain me in India. Honestly don't know if I'll ever travel to India again but I would like to keep the possibility open.

TLDR: Please share your experience surrendering an Indian Passport beyond 3 year standard surrender window.

 

[abbas.pasha]

Just reposting this in case someone with similar experience would like to share how they navigated.

Here's my situation.

2006 - Indian Passport was issued with 10 year validity.
2011 - Acquired first foreign citizenship.
2016 - Indian Passport renewed for 10 year validity from India.
2020 - Acquired second foreign citizenship.

It's been 13 years since 1st foreign citizenship and almost 4 years since 2nd foreign citizenship. The information Indian immigration has provided on their website revolves around a 3 year timeline but nothing past that.

I've used Indian passport once for traveling since 2006(one trip to India in 2016) and have renewed it once between 2006 till now. The current passport expires in 2026. I would like to surrender and be done once and for all but surely it sounds like opening a can of worms.

I have no idea how much financial penalty they will try to impose as there are no clear rules to deal with this situation. Also, if I just traveled to India in 2026 and renewed the passport I would probably be good for another 10 years but if caught, they will probably try to charge me criminally and detain me in India. Honestly don't know if I'll ever travel to India again but I would like to keep the possibility open.

TLDR: Please share your experience surrendering an Indian Passport beyond 3 year standard surrender window.

That's interesting that you renewed the Indian passport in 2016 even after acquiring foreign citizenship in 2011.
Better to contact the HCI Ottawa or CGI Toronto or Vancouver in this case depending where you are residing

 

[forevermore76]

Bump

 

[forw.jane]

Bump

@abbas.pasha already suggested you the best way fwd.

 

[forevermore76]

@abbas.pasha already suggested you the best way fwd.

I know but I'm hoping someone who might have been through this would bump in to my post. Contacting the Indian immigration is pretty much opening myself to exposure so I want to wait. Thanks!

 

[abbas.pasha]

I know but I'm hoping someone who might have been through this would bump in to my post. Contacting the Indian immigration is pretty much opening myself to exposure so I want to wait. Thanks!

No one will be able to help you with this scenario on this forum... specially when renewed your Indian passport in 2016 even after acquiring the 1st foreign citizenship 5 years before in 2011

 

[Lammergeier16]

I agree with @abbas.pasha . This is a forum for Canadian immigration. No one in this forum will be in this situation. No one got 2 more different foreign citizenship + Indian citizenship. You renewed your Indian passport after getting a foreign citizenship. That is a straight - breaking of the Indian Citizenship laws.

The only way you can get correct and clear answer is to contact High Commission of India, Ottawa or Consulate General of India, Vancouver or Consulate General of India, Toronto.

 

[abbas.pasha]

Btw @forevermore76 in 2 years your Indian passport will be due for renewal..

 

[forevermore76]

Btw @forevermore76 in 2 years your Indian passport will be due for renewal..

That's exactly why I need to deal with it. I have thought about just returning it through mail directly to CGI in Canada or the states but that will pretty much close any prospects of me visiting India ever again. And it's also kinda pointless but at least I would have returned the passport.

 

[Becksterd]

Hello, do you have any update on this?
did you surrender your passport?

I have forgotten to do it now past 3 yrs but I have not travelled on it.

 

[abff08f4813c]

Hello, do you have any update on this?
did you surrender your passport?

I have forgotten to do it now past 3 yrs but I have not travelled on it.

I assume your situation is different from OP (who managed to renew the passport after getting a citizenship). You could claim extreme tardiness instead of misrepresentation. I'm curious about the 3 year timeline though .. why three years such a significant date for surrendering the passport?

 

[forw.jane]

I assume your situation is different from OP (who managed to renew the passport after getting a citizenship). You could claim extreme tardiness instead of misrepresentation. I'm curious about the 3 year timeline though .. why three years such a significant date for surrendering the passport?

You are liable for an additional penalty if you surrender the passport after three years as per official documentation. However, consulate say that document is quite old, so you might experience different rules and penalty.

 

[forevermore76]

Hello, do you have any update on this?
did you surrender your passport?

I have forgotten to do it now past 3 yrs but I have not travelled on it.

Never did, I'll probably just end up renewing it yet again for 10 years. If you haven't used your passport in the three years, you shouldn't have any issues though. There are no rules mentioned past 3 years so it should be same rules.