Can I keep my Indian citizenship after becoming a German citizen?
No. Germany now permits dual citizenship, but India does not. Under Section 9 of the Citizenship Act 1955, your Indian citizenship terminates automatically the moment you become German. You can, however, apply for Overseas Citizen of India status afterwards to keep strong ties.
This is the one place the pathway gets strict, and it comes from the Indian side, not the German one. Germany happily allows dual citizenship under its recent reform, but India does not. The moment you naturalise as German, your Indian citizenship terminates automatically under Section 9 of the Citizenship Act 1955.
Dual Citizenship Rules
| Country | Position |
|---|---|
| Germany | Allows dual citizenship (recent reform) |
| India | Does not allow it (Section 9, Citizenship Act 1955) |
Your Timeline And Options
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Eligible for German citizenship | After 5 years of residence |
| Indian citizenship on naturalisation | Terminates automatically |
| OCI card | Available after you become German |
My Advice
Weigh this carefully before you apply, because you cannot legally hold both passports. Many Indian software engineers instead keep permanent residency in Germany long-term, which gives near-full rights without giving up their Indian passport. If you do naturalise, apply for an OCI card straight after so you retain lifelong access to India.
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