Can You Hold Australian and Indian Citizenship? Dual Citizenship, OCI and Your Indian Passport
Updated September 2026. Australia allows dual citizenship in many circumstances, but India does not permit dual citizenship under its current constitutional and citizenship framework. This distinction is important for Indian migrants considering Australian citizenship.
For Australian citizenship advice, see our Australian Citizenship service.
Can an Indian citizen become an Australian citizen?
Yes, if the person satisfies the Australian citizenship requirements. However, the acquisition of Australian citizenship has consequences under Indian citizenship law.
Does India allow dual citizenship?
No. In August 2025, India’s Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed in Parliament that Article 9 and Article 11 of the Constitution of India, read with section 9 of the Citizenship Act 1955, do not allow dual citizenship.
What is OCI?
OCI means Overseas Citizen of India. Despite the name, OCI is not the same as holding full Indian citizenship alongside Australian citizenship. It provides eligible foreign citizens of Indian origin with significant travel and residence privileges in India, subject to the applicable OCI framework.
Do former Indian citizens need to surrender their passport first?
Yes. VFS Australia currently states that a former Indian citizen must complete surrender of the Indian passport before applying for OCI.
What rights does OCI not provide?
OCI should not be described as a second Indian citizenship. It does not provide all political and constitutional rights available to Indian citizens.
What should an Indian migrant consider before Australian citizenship?
- whether the Australian residence requirement is met;
- the effect on Indian citizenship;
- passport surrender arrangements;
- future OCI eligibility;
- travel plans around the citizenship ceremony; and
- whether identity or name records are consistent across Australian and Indian documents.
Official sources
The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed in 2025 that Indian law does not allow dual citizenship. Current Australian OCI applications are administered through VFS India Australia OCI Services.
Need help with the Australian citizenship side?
Emigrate Lawyers can assess Australian citizenship eligibility and address residence, identity, character or refusal issues. Contact our citizenship lawyers.
This article is general information only and is not legal advice about Indian citizenship or OCI eligibility.
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Madhab Kharel
Principal Lawyer & Director, Emigrate Lawyers
Madhab Kharel is the Principal Lawyer and Director of Emigrate Lawyers, an Australian law firm assisting clients across Australia and internationally. His migration law practice includes Partner Visas, Protection Visas, visa refusals and cancellations, Administrative Review Tribunal matters, health and character issues, Schedule 3, Section 48, sponsorship limitations and employer-sponsored migration. He regularly advises clients with complex immigration histories and matters requiring detailed legal submissions and evidence strategy.
Reviewed by Madhab Kharel, Principal Lawyer
Date reviewed: 21 September 2026
