CAA Rules: Who Is Eligible To Apply For Indian Citizenship Under Which Form, All You Need To Know

Applicants with Indian origin, married to an Indian citizen, a minor child of an Indian citizen are eligible to apply for Indian nationality under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.

The Centre notified rules for CAA on Monday

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The Modi government on Monday notified the rules for the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019. This came four years after the law was passed to pave the way for citizenship of undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who came to India before December 31, 2014.

As per the law, the Centre will now grant India nationality to persecuted minorities — Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians — from the three countries. The move comes just days ahead of the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

The rules mandate that those seeking Indian nationality under the Act will be eligible to apply after spending at least 12 months in the country preceding the date of the application.

Also, during the eight years immediately preceding the 12 months, the applicants will have to spend not less than six years in the country to be eligible to get Indian citizenship, as per the rules.

Who Can Apply For CAA And Under What Forms?

Form IIA: Anyone with Indian origin seeking registration as an Indian citizen. Applicants of Indian origin who are seeking registration as a citizen of India will fill this form where they will have to furnish their details such as place of their birth, and place of birth of parents and spouse. They will also have to give the details of their residence in India. 

Form IIIA: A person married to a citizen of India, seeking registration as a citizen of India. The applicant will have to give details of their and their parents' citizenship, the place of birth and the type of naturalisation of their spouse. 

Form IVA: Application by a minor child of an Indian citizen, seeking registration as an Indian citizen. Besides personal details such as full name, sex, and country of birth, the applicant will give the details about their parents.

Form VA: An individual whose parents are registered as citizens of India. 

Form VIA: Any person who or either of their parents was a citizen of Independent India. 

Form VIIA: Individuals registered as an Overseas Citizen of India. 

Documents Needed For CAA

• Individuals applying for the registration as citizen of India would need to keep ready an affidavit verifying the accuracy of the statements made in the application. Another affidavit would be required from an Indian citizen who would testify the character of the applicant.
• An applicant will have to furnish a declaration form stating that they have adequate knowledge of one of the languages mentioned in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution.

For language proficiency, the rule specifically mentions: "The applicant shall be considered to have adequate knowledge of the concerned language if he can speak or read or write that language."

Affidavits Needed For CAA

Language Declaration: The applicant would declare that they possess adequate knowledge of one of the languages as mentioned in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India.

Submission of Form VIIIA: The applicant will first submit Form VIIIA which would contain all-important personal details and information required for the naturalization process.

Character Affidavit: The applicant will produce an affidavit verifying the accuracy of the statements made in the application.