23,000 Gujaratis Renounced Indian Citizenship in 10 Years

The trend of surrendering Indian passports to settle abroad is increasing in Gujarat. Over the past 10 years, a total of 22,993 Gujaratis have renounced their Indian citizenship, including 181 in the past year. However, compared to 2023, there has been an almost threefold decline in passport surrenders in 2024.

15 Passports Surrendered Per Month in 2024

Between 2014 and 2022, Delhi recorded the highest number of passport surrenders (60,414), followed by Punjab (28,117), Gujarat (22,993), Goa (18,610), and Maharashtra (17,171). Nationwide, 1.288 million Indians renounced their citizenship during this period. In the last six years alone, Ahmedabad’s Regional Passport Office has processed around 3.6 million passports, indicating a rise in overseas travel, study, and permanent migration.

As per the Passport Act of 1967, individuals acquiring foreign citizenship must surrender their Indian passport. There is no penalty for immediate surrender, but a delay of over three years can result in a fine ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹50,000.

Ahmedabad’s RPO reported 181 passport surrenders in the past year. According to RPO Abhijit Shukla, the number of surrenders increased after COVID-19 in 2023 but has declined in 2024. Meanwhile, in 2024, the Ahmedabad RPO issued approximately 812,000 passports.