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Portuguese Nationality issue – Goans registered in Portugal are likely to lose their Indian citizenship

The Indian government has set up the new committee to handle the issue of Portuguese nationality and birth registration in Portugal. There are hundreds of
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The Indian government has set up the new committee to handle the issue of Portuguese nationality and birth registration in Portugal. There are hundreds of thousands of Goans who have registered themselves in Portugal and enjoying the dual nationality. But now according to the new development the Goans who have obtained the Portuguese nationality by registering their names in Portugal will  most likely lose their Indian citizenship. The orders have issued by the high-level central committee to take the action against the dual citizens as per the Indian law. How will the new development affect the Goans who still holds the Portuguese nationality? Read the complete report here.

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According to the prevailing law in Goa, anyone who is born in Goa before 18th December 1961, their children and grandchildren are eligible for the Portuguese passport and nationality. In some cases, children born in Portugal to non-citizens may be eligible for Portuguese citizenship. However, this does not apply to children born to tourists or short-term visitors. Portuguese citizenship law is complicated by the existence of numerous former colonies and in some cases, it is possible to claim Portuguese citizenship by connection with one of these jurisdictions. The most notable of this is Goa. Portugal allows dual citizenship. Hence, Portuguese citizens holding or acquiring a foreign citizenship do not lose Portuguese citizenship. Similarly, those becoming Portuguese citizens do not have to renounce their foreign citizenship and this is applicable to the Goans holding the Portuguese passport as dual citizenship.

Read: How 3,000 Indians managed to enter UK with fake papers making use of immigration loopholes

But now the things are changing with the new government in the place the law of dual nationality is no more the same as it was earlier. According to the news published by the PTI news agency, Goans, who obtained Portuguese nationality by registering their names in that country’s Central Registry, may lose Indian citizenship with a high-level central panel recommending action against them as per Indian law.

The inter-ministerial committee, headed by Additional Secretary in the Home Ministry B K Prasad, has recommended that the issue of citizenship of such persons should be decided as per the Citizenship Act 1955 and Citizenship Rules 2009.

This new development started right from the time central government had set up the panel upon the receipt of the letter from ex-governor of Goa B V Vanchoo and the then CM Manohar Parrikar who is presently holding the charge of defense Ministry who had informed the central government that there are around four lakh Goans who have registered their names with the Portugal’s Central Registry of Births, Marriage, and Death.

The above information makes it clear that around 25 percent of Goans have their names registered in Portugal and many are holding the Portuguese passports. As per Portuguese law, those who had to register their names in the Central Registry automatically become a Portuguese national and a citizen of European Nations. However, such a person ceases to be an Indian citizen as per the Citizenship Act 1955.

Read: Registration of birth in Lisbon does not amount to Portuguese citizenship

According to the sources as many as 40 thousand Goans have believed to have registered their births in Portugal and have dual citizenship, although is a controversial issue and is still under the consideration by the center. The figure includes the politicians, police personnel, bureaucrats and the common man. As per the news published by the TNN, the union ministry of law and justice has suggested the ministry of home affairs (MHA) to amend the country’s citizenship act and grant the one time AMNESTY to those Goans who have registered their births in Portugal.

However, the Inter-Ministerial Committee has made thorough groundwork on this issue and came up with the conclusion that in the case of any disputes arises pertaining to the Dual nationality it should be determined by provisions of Citizenship Act 1955 and Citizenship Rules 2009.

The panel has also made the recommendations that the issue of citizenship of such persons shall be decided by an authority designated by the Central government after receiving representations, enquire upon, in just, fair, reasonable and transparent manner and submit the report along with recommendations to central government for necessary action.

According to the sources, the law of multi-nationality is allowed in the Portugal but in India it is not and due to this there is a serious concern about the dual nationality in India. The basis advantages of the dual nationality are, those Goans who registered their names in Portugal’s Central Registry automatically become Portuguese citizens, allowing them to travel and buy property there and also in EU countries.

But the Indian inter-ministerial committee advocates that whosoever has acquired Portuguese passport automatically became a citizen of Portugal and ceases to be an Indian citizen. The new amendment if implemented effectively the many Goans will lose their Indian nationality. What is your take on this? Do you feel that the decision of the central government is good? Or it needed to be modified for the sake of Goans? Could it be also one of the forthcoming poll agenda? Please leave your comments and suggestions on this issue.

Source: various sources

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