Central government has started dedicated India CAA Portal at indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in. One day after notifying the rules for Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA, the portal for six minority communities from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan to apply for Indian citizenship has been launched.
This article has details on eligibility criteria under the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019. CAA Act in Hindi is called as नागरिकता संशोधन अधिनियम. Read this article till the end to know how foreign nationals can apply online for Indian citizenship under new CAA law.
The online portal for CAA allows applicants to create a login and then submit their applications. You can make India CAA Portal Registration 2024 & then make CAA Portal Login through the official link - https://indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in/Login
India CAA Portal Registration 2024 & Login
The application from the person covered under the CAA will have to be made under section 6B of the Citizenship Act, 1955. This application will be available online at CAA Official Website https://indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in/ and mobile application namely CAA-2019. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Union home ministry said, "The Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024 under the CAA-2019 have been notified. A new portal has been launched; persons eligible under CAA-2019 can apply for citizenship on this portal. A mobile app 'CAA-2019' will also be launched shortly to facilitate applications through mobile".
The CAA rules, notified after four years of passing the new law in December 2019, pave the way for granting citizenship to persecuted minorities belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi and Christian communities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who entered India on or before December 31, 2014.
List of Documents Required for CAA Application
CAA-2019 rules say that the CAA application will have to be submitted in electronic form to an empowered committee through the district-level committee, which may be notified by the central government, and be supported by documents.
Copy of passport issued by Pakistan, Afghanistan or Bangladesh governments -- birth certificate, an identity document of any other kind, land or tenancy records, or any document that shows that either of the parents or grandparents or great grandparents of the applicant were a citizen of one of the three countries. The rules state that these documents will be admissible even beyond their validity period.
Applicants also have to provide proof that they entered India before December 31, 2014, which can take the form of either a visa and immigration stamp, registration certificate from the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO), or slip issued by the Census enumerators in India , government-issued licence or certificate or permit in India (including Driving License, Aadhaar number, ration card , or marriage certificate issued in India etc).
The rules also state the applicants will have to provide an eligibilty certificate issued by a locally reputed community institution confirming that he/she belongs to “Hindu/ Sikh/ Buddhist/ Jain/ Parsi/ Christian community and continues to be a member of the community.
Applicants also have to provide proof that they entered India before December 31, 2014, which can take the form of either a visa and immigration stamp, registration certificate from the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO), or slip issued by the Census enumerators in India , government-issued licence or certificate or permit in India (including Driving License, Aadhaar number, ration card , or marriage certificate issued in India etc).
The rules also state the applicants will have to provide an eligibilty certificate issued by a locally reputed community institution confirming that he/she belongs to “Hindu/ Sikh/ Buddhist/ Jain/ Parsi/ Christian community and continues to be a member of the community.
Eligibility to Apply for Indian Citizenship under CAA 2019
Persons belonging to Hindu or Sikh or Buddhist or Jain or Parsi or Christian community from Afghanistan or Bangladesh or Pakistan, and- Who entered into India on or before 31.12.2014; and
- Who has been exempted by or under section 3(2)(c) of the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 or from the application of the provisions of the Foreigners Act, 1946 or any rule or order made thereunder.
How to Get Indian Citizenship Certificate under CAA
The applicant who has applied for grant of citizenship by registration or naturalisation will be issued a digital certificate of registration. Ink signed copy of the certificate of registration or naturalisation will be issued only if the applicant has opted for the same at the application stage and this will have to be collected by the applicant from the office of the Empowered Committee i.e. the office of the Director (Census Operations) of the State/Union Territory concerned located in the State/ UT capital.
The new CAA portal will help those who are eligible to apply under new CAA law without any state government's intervention and will weed out corruption as witnessed in several cases of long-term visa (LTV) grants. LTV is given to eligible Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan. However, several state governments including West Bengal, Kerala, Punjab, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Bihar have adopted resolutions against CAA.
It is worth noting that CAA does not apply to Indian citizens. Accordingly, it does not in any way take away or abridge the rights of any Indian citizen. The present legal process of acquiring Indian citizenship by any foreigner of any category as provided in the Citizenship Act, 1955, is operational and CAA does not amend or alter this legal position in any manner. Furthermore, CAA has excluded areas under Sixth Schedule and areas covered by Inner Line Permit under Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873.
What is CAA Law for Indian Citizenship
CAA aims to facilitate grant of citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan who came to India on or before December 31, 2014. CAA also facilitates citizenship for those who had been exempted by the Centre by or under clause (c) of sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920, or from the application of the provisions of the Foreigners Act, 1946, or any rule or order made there under.It is worth noting that CAA does not apply to Indian citizens. Accordingly, it does not in any way take away or abridge the rights of any Indian citizen. The present legal process of acquiring Indian citizenship by any foreigner of any category as provided in the Citizenship Act, 1955, is operational and CAA does not amend or alter this legal position in any manner. Furthermore, CAA has excluded areas under Sixth Schedule and areas covered by Inner Line Permit under Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873.
Download CAA Act PDF - https://indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in/UserGuide/E-gazette_2019_20122019.pdf
Tags
Central Government