MEA says passport is travel document, not citizenship proof

The Ministry of External Affairs clarified on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, that an Indian passport is a travel document issued to regulate the departure of citizens from the country and is not intended as definitive proof of citizenship. The statement from MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal aimed to reinforce the legal distinction outlined in the Passports Act of 1967, amid a growing public and political debate over the document's role in verifying citizenship.

Jaiswal explained that a passport is issued by the government to regulate the departure from India of Indian citizens, following a due verification process governed by the Passports Act and its accompanying rules. He also noted that less than eight percent of Indian citizens currently hold a passport. This clarification follows remarks made by senior MEA officials during a briefing for Passport Seva Divas on June 24, who described the passport strictly as a travel document for international transit.

The officials' earlier comments were made in response to a question about whether a passport could be used as proof of citizenship for the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls being conducted by the Election Commission in...