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.
Will a German master's actually pay off?
Job market, post-study work visa and PR options. Get a straight answer.
More Post-study work questions
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- Can an Indian student get a job in Germany after a master's without prior work experience, especially with good German skills?
- How good is the post masters job market in the UK and Europe for Indian students, especially after an MSc in Finance?
- Is the negativity about Germany's job market for Indian students accurate, or does effort make the real difference?
- What are the differences in career opportunities and PR options between Germany and Canada?
More Germany questions
- Other than Canada and Netherlands, are there better countries to study science and technology in Germany/Singapore?
- What are some effective online German language classes for Indian students preparing to study in Germany?
- Why is the dMAT subject module called Battery Science and Technology in Engineering?
- Is it better to spend 12 lakhs in India or go abroad for higher studies in Germany for a Master's?
- Can I target Germany, Italy, or the Netherlands for a master's in computer science without a computer science background?
- Is it possible to get a fully funded scholarship if he scores seven or above (seventy percent) in the third year in Germany?
- Does my 12th grade percentage affect my master's application in Germany/France for a Bachelor's?
- Would you suggest me to give IELTS first before starting the application process in Germany/Italy for a Master's?