DUTCH NATIONALITY AND OVERSEAS INDIAN CITIZENSHIP

In January 2006, during the last Pravasi Bharatiya Divas the government of India finally introduced the Overseas Indian Citizenship. In July 2005 a letter was sent by a prominent Dutch PIO to the Dutch Ministry of Justice requesting them to clarify the policy of the Dutch government regarding the impact of OCI on the People of Indian Origin with a Dutch nationality. It was then difficult for the Dutch government to decide on the exact legal status of the OCI, as the GOI itself had stated that it is neither dual nationality nor dual citizenship granting political rights. In essence it is only a lifelong visa.

After pursuing the matter continuously, the Dutch government engaged in a long process of internal consultation/discussion and finally on 23rd August 2006 the Dutch Ministry of Justice informed that they have taken a decision regarding the Overseas Indian Citizenship in relation to the Dutch nationality. The Dutch policy can be summarized as follows: 

Under the present circumstances, acquiring the Overseas Citizenship of India is not considered as a nationality issue. As such application or voluntary acquisition of OCI does not fall under the legislative provision which implies a voluntary acquisition of another nationality leading to loss of the Dutch nationality. If and when some additional rights and/or obligations are granted by the Indian government then the present policy will be reviewed.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is going to inform the Indian Embassy in The Hague about this policy. The Embassy of India in The Hague has introduced the necessary procedures to process the applications for OCI.