Citizenship by Descent (Section 4)

To establish a claim under Section 4, you must provide a chain of evidence linking you to an Indian citizen parent.

Identity and Birth Records

• Birth Certificate: An original birth certificate issued by the local authority in the country of birth, clearly naming both parents.
• Current Passport: If you hold a foreign passport, it must be provided (though it may need to be surrendered upon acquisition of Indian citizenship).

Proof of Parental Citizenship

• Parents' Indian Passports: Valid Indian passports held by the parent(s) at the time of your birth.
• Domicile Certificate: If passports are unavailable, other "primary evidence" such as a Domicile Certificate (proof of permanent residence in an Indian state) or a birth certificate of the parent issued in India.
• Marriage Certificate: To establish the legal link between parents, especially if only one parent is an Indian citizen.

Declarations and Support

• Affidavit of Non-Citizenship: For those born after 2004, a formal declaration from the parents stating the child does not hold a foreign passport.
• Certified Translations: Any document not in English or Hindi must be accompanied by a certified translation and, depending on the country of birth, an Apostille (international document authentication) or consular legalization.