Surrender Certificate

Surrender Certificate

What is a Surrender Certificate?

A person who has ceased to be an Indian citizen by virtue of Section 8 or Section 9 of the Citizenship Act, 1955 is required to surrender the documents such as Indian Passport, PAN Card and Aadhaar Card etc. which he had acquired on the basis of his Indian citizenship to the authorities concerned. Indian Passport is one such document which needs to be surrendered after acquiring foreign nationality.

Under Indian law, the primary document that must be surrendered after acquiring foreign citizenship is the Indian Passport. This is because Indian citizenship automatically ceases upon voluntary acquisition of another country's citizenship under the Citizenship Act, 1955, and the Indian Passport can no longer be held or used.

A Surrender Certificate is issued after the Indian passport has been cancelled.

Important

You should not:

Travel using an Indian passport after acquiring foreign citizenship.
Apply for passport services using an Indian passport after acquiring foreign citizenship.
Seek consular services on the Indian passport (except surrender of passport).
Retain the Indian passport for more than three years after acquiring foreign citizenship.

Who Needs to Apply?

You should apply for a Surrender Certificate if you:

Previously held an Indian passport; and
Have acquired foreign citizenship.

How to Apply

Step 1: Register / Login

Visit the https://mportal.passportindia.gov.in/mission/.

Existing Passport Seva login credentials may be used only if the account is registered with CGI Auckland. Applicants whose accounts are registered with another Indian Mission/Post must create a new registration under CGI Auckland before submitting an application.

Step 2: Complete Online Application

Select “Surrender of Indian Passport”
Complete the online application form
Upload photograph, signature and supporting documents
Submit the application
Print and sign the completed application form

Photograph Requirements (ICAO Compliant)

The uploaded photograph must:

✓ Be in colour

✓ Have a plain white background

✓ Show a full front-facing view of the applicant

✓ Have eyes open and clearly visible

✓ Have a neutral facial expression

✓ Be free from shadows, glare and red-eye effect

✓ Show the face clearly without hair covering the eyes

Technical Specifications

Photo size: 630 x 810 pixels
Maximum file size: 250 KB
Face should occupy approximately 80-85% of the photograph
Image should be clear and properly lit

Head Coverings

Head coverings are permitted only for religious reasons. The forehead, facial features and both sides of the face must remain clearly visible.

Useful Resources

ICAO Photograph Guidelines (ICAO guidelines)
Document Upload Guidelines (Document Upload Guidelines)

Applicants who are unable to visit a professional studio may use basic editing tools to make the background white, crop the image appropriately and resize it to ICAO specifications.

Step 3: Prepare Documents

Arrange the required documents according to the checklist below.

Step 4: Pay the Fee

Fee: NZD 72

(Effective from 01 July 2026)

Payment must be made by bank transfer.

Log into your internet banking account [Some MOBILE banking apps do not have this option and you may have to log into ONLINE banking]
Navigate to Bill payment or Pay a bill or Pay a company section
Search & select “CONSULATE GENERAL OF INDIA, AUCKLAND”
While making the payment, the applicant must ensure the following information is entered in the Particulars, Code and Reference Fields for each payment

Payment Particulars

Reference: Name of Applicant
Particulars: Surrender Certificate
Code: ARN Number

Please ensure that all payment details are entered correctly so that your payment can be identified and linked to your application without delay.

Important Payment Notes

Personal cheques, money orders and credit card payments are not accepted.
A copy of the payment confirmation/receipt must be attached with the application.
Separate payment must be made for each service application.
Applications should be submitted within 7 working days of making the payment.
Fees are non-refundable under any circumstances, including withdrawal of the application or ineligibility for the service.
Some mobile banking applications may not display all payment fields. In such cases, please use your online banking portal.

Important Fraud Warning: CGI Auckland does not contact applicants requesting money transfers and does not publish bank account details for ad-hoc payments. Applicants must remain vigilant against fraudulent calls, emails or messages and should never share personal or banking information with unknown persons.

Step 5: Submit Your Application

Applications may be submitted:

In person (by appointment); or
By courier with a prepaid return courier envelope and tracking facility.

Document Checklist

Mandatory Documents

☐ Printed and signed application form

☐ Original Indian passport (latest passport held)

☐ Photocopy of Indian passport

☐ Copy of foreign/New Zealand citizenship certificate

☐ Attested colour copy of foreign passport biodata page

☐ Payment receipt (for bank transfer)

☐ Self-addressed prepaid return courier envelope with tracking

If Your Name Has Changed

☐ Name Change Certificate

☐ Supporting documents linking previous and current names

Note: The Surrender Certificate will normally be issued in the name appearing on the Indian passport being surrendered.

Applicants must provide adequate documentary evidence to establish the link between their former and current names.

If Your Indian Passport Is Lost

☐ Copy of lost Indian passport (if available)

☐ Immigration New Zealand travel summary

☐ Police report mentioning passport details

☐ Written explanation regarding the loss

Important: If the original Indian passport is unavailable, a Surrender Certificate cannot be issued. A File Closure Certificate may be issued after verification and may be used as proof of Indian origin for OCI applications, subject to applicable requirements.

For Minor Applicants (Under 18 Years)

☐ Signatures of both parents

☐ Attested copies of both parents' passport biodata pages

Additional documents may be required in cases involving sole custody or other special circumstances.

If Indian Passport Was Retained Beyond Three Years or Used After Acquiring Foreign Citizenship

☐ Affidavit explaining retention/use of passport attested by a Justice of the Peace

Such applications are subject to additional verification, and processing timelines cannot be prescribed.

Processing Time

Processing time is approximately 90 days from the date complete documents are received by CGI Auckland.

The above timeframe is indicative only and applies to straightforward cases. Applications requiring additional verification, including cases involving retention or use of an Indian passport after acquisition of foreign citizenship, may take longer.

Track Your Application

Applicants can track their application status through the Passport Seva Portal using their Registration ID and Password.

Please note:

No separate acknowledgement email is issued upon receipt of applications.
Applicants should track courier delivery using their courier provider.
Status enquiries should not be made before expiry of the normal processing period.

Online Status Messages

Application Submitted

Application has been received and is awaiting initial scrutiny.

Application Under Review

Application and documents have been verified and processing has commenced.

Application Granted

Application has been approved and the certificate is awaiting printing.

Surrender Certificate Printed

Certificate has been issued and is ready for collection or dispatch.

Collection of Documents

Collection Time:

Monday to Friday: 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM (on working days only)