MEA Key Decision: Orders passport offices to facilitate OCI application process for Goans with Portuguese citizenship
MEA Issues Directions to Passport Offices to Issue Revocation Orders; Eases OCI Application Process for Goans with Portuguese Citizenship
In a significant move, the Ministry of External Affairs has issued directions to passport offices to issue revocation orders to individuals from Goa and Daman & Diu, who had their Indian passports revoked after acquiring Portuguese citizenship.
Ministry of Home Affairs has now decided to accept Revocation Certificate as an alternative documents in lieu of surrender certificate in case of Indian nationals hailing from erstwhile Portuguese territories of India -Goa, Daman and Diu, who have acquired Portuguese nationality as per Portuguese Nationality Law, and who have been issued ‘Revocation Order’ by the RPOs (regional passport offices) instead of Surrender Certificate.
This decision could offer relief to many who were rendered ineligible to apply for Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) due to the previous passport requirements.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said, the Ministry of External Affairs circular on revocation certificate to be a valid document in lieu of surrender certificate for obtaining Overseas Citizen of India card would be a relief to thousands of Goans.
In a social media post, he said, this is great news for the people of Goa. Mr. Sawant thanked the Union Government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar for accepting the request of the State Government that would provide huge relief to thousands of Goan and their families.