In future those Indian citizens who acquire foreign citizenship  (PIO’s) on or after June 1 2010 will have to submit declaration of renunciation of their Indian citizenship.

Persons of Indian origin (PIOs) will now have to formally renounce their citizenship and surrender their Indian passport after acquiring foreign citizenship, according to new rules circulated by the Indian high commission..

Persons of Indian origin  PIO who have already acquired foreign citizenship until 31 May 2010 will not be required to pay renunciation fees of USD 175.00, he/she will be required to pay Miscellaneous fees of USD 20.00 when getting the old Indian passport cancelled/surrendered.

On surrender of their Indian passport, PIOs will be issued a ‘surrender certificate’ which they will have to produce when seeking Indian visa or PIO card or OCI (overseas citizenship of India) card, according to the new rules.

It is a punishable offence under the Indian Passport Act 1967, to apply for an Indian passport, continue to hold an Indian passport, get an Indian passport re-issued or travel on an Indian passport after acquiring foreign citizenship.

There are stringent penalties for foreign nationals to keep Indian passports. “This is also applicable to those Indian citizens who acquired foreign citizenship,” the statement said.

The new rules also stipulate heavy penalty for retaining and travelling on Indian passports after getting foreign citizenship.