Citizenship by investment consultants in Bangalore

What an Indian applicant gives up first

India does not allow dual citizenship. Under Section 9 of the Citizenship Act, 1955, an Indian citizen who voluntarily acquires the citizenship of another country stops being an Indian citizen. The Indian passport has to be surrendered, and the usual way back to long-term rights in India is the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, which has its own eligibility rules.

So the first question in any citizenship-by-investment conversation is whether citizenship is what you actually need. If the goal is a place to live, study or run a business, a residence permit — a golden visa — often does the job while you keep your Indian passport. If the goal is a passport for travel, banking or a family plan B, citizenship may be the right tool. We will tell you which one your situation points to before anything else.

How a citizenship-by-investment case runs

It starts with eligibility: nationality, age of dependants, source of funds and any past refusal or record are checked against the rules of the programme you are considering. Every programme runs its own due diligence on the main applicant and adult family members, and that check is the step most cases are decided on.

For an Indian applicant the source-of-funds file is usually the longest job. Income-tax returns, business distributions, property sale deeds and inheritance papers have to show, in a way a foreign government can follow, where the money came from. Starting this early saves more time than anything else.

Applications are lodged through an agent authorised by that country's citizenship unit. After approval in principle, the contribution or investment is paid, any oath or interview is completed, and the certificate and passport are issued. Published processing times range from a few months to about a year, depending on the programme — the table below shows each one as its programme page states it.

What it costs beyond the headline figure

The minimum contribution or investment is not the total. Each programme adds government application, due-diligence and processing fees per family member, passport and certificate fees, and professional fees. Real-estate routes add purchase costs and a holding period before the property can be sold.

The money also has to leave India lawfully. Under the Reserve Bank of India's Liberalised Remittance Scheme, every resident individual — minors included — can send up to USD 250,000 per financial year (April to March). Family members can combine their limits for buying property abroad if each of them meets the scheme's conditions; for other investments, combining is only allowed where they co-own the investment. Ask your bank how your specific payment will be classified before you sign anything with a deadline.

Questions to ask any citizenship consultant in Bangalore

Who is the authorised agent lodging my file, and with which government unit? Are your professional fees written down separately from the government fees? Are you paid a commission by any developer, fund or project you are recommending? What happens to the money already paid if due diligence is not passed?

A firm that answers all four in writing, before taking a fee, is a firm worth continuing with — whoever it is. CICC and MARA licences, which we hold for Canada and Australia, do not cover citizenship programmes; for these, the authorised-agent question is the one that matters.

Visiting the Koramangala office

The office is on 80 Feet Road in 4th Block, Koramangala. Citizenship conversations are private by default — appointments are preferred so a senior advisor has the time set aside.

If you are outside Bangalore, the consultation is available online and the written summary is the same.