Living in India: Immigration to India in 2021

Who is allowed to become an Indian citizen

India is the largest country in South Asia and is considered an ancient civilization with centuries-old monuments, traditions and culture. Founder of Buddhism and Judaism. Every year it attracts clergy practitioners from all over the world. Here mysticism intertwines with the amazing diversity of nature, which gives a unique and paradoxical holiday. Also today, more and more freelancers, winter workers, investors and businessmen who want to obtain citizenship are coming to the country. Demand is growing due to the dynamic economy. In terms of GDP growth, India already ranks 7th in the ranking of developing countries.

Many foreigners who have lived here for many years want to obtain citizenship. But the local Government is rather indifferent to immigration; to put it mildly, it is not interested in granting citizenship at all. According to popular belief, the reason lies in the demographic situation. Today, the Indian population is ahead of the Chinese by only 50 million people. In 2021, the Indian population stood at 1.339 billion, with a quarter of the population falling below the poverty threshold. Therefore, the authorities are avoiding population growth in every possible way.

But there are still some features that allow you to obtain residency. To become an Indian citizen with full citizenship, you will need:

prove your importance in the country, this could be investments, charity, opening a business;
meet the requirements of the Overseas Citizenship of India or OCI citizenship program, such persons include citizens with Indian roots who have citizenship in other countries;
naturalize after 10 years of residence and renounce Russian citizenship.

Stage one or preparation for the trip

As with any country, you need a visa to live in India. I was confused by several requirements necessary to obtain a work visa: my potential salary, a huge package of documents from outside and the translation of my diplomas. The eye fell higher on the business visa clause: “Foreign students sponsored by AIESEC and traveling to India for internships in company and industrial projects.” Brief information: Aiesec is an international NGO that organizes international internship programs and socially significant projects. After 5 months of searching with Aiesec, I found an internship in Kolkata and started packing my bags for Moscow.

By the way, due to the continuous flow of prostitutes from the countries of the former Soviet Union, the Indian government last year decided to tighten the rules for obtaining a visa for women of a certain age from these countries. This does not mean that it has become impossible to obtain a visa, it is just necessary to pay great attention to documents, that is, everything must be supported by documents. Unlike the USA, where it is difficult to get a visa, but easy to settle in, India is difficult to get a visa and also difficult to stay. For example, marrying a Hindu does not guarantee you citizenship. For those who still wish to emigrate for this reason, visit various matrimonail sites in India.

Even as a foreigner, you pay taxes. In my last job, I paid tax of 4,000 rupees, which was 25% of my salary. It is possible to return part of the amount, but to do this you need to collect all account statements and contact government organizations.

But I return to the Indian Embassy in Moscow, and that’s where I was before I got distracted by the details. After 14 days (and now the period has been reduced to 7 days), my business visa was ready.

Just in case, while still in Moscow, I began to cover myself with “straws”: I insured my life for 2 years and got vaccinated against hepatitis A and typhoid fever, although all this is not necessary to obtain a visa. The vaccination list is actually longer and includes vaccination against hepatitis B, diphtheria and tetanus, meningitis, etc., but at that time I did not have the time necessary to wait between vaccinations. Hoping for a Russian “Maybe!”, I left Russia. But it must be said that in 2 years I have never been ill or spent time in hospitals, which cannot be said about other foreigners I know. And the reason was not even that I was under the protection of some force, I was simply very careful in choosing places to eat and sometimes preferred to have a snack at home. Although I went to hospitals, the fee for a visit was about 200 rupees, or about 4 dollars, so I never used my insurance.

Choosing clothes was a particular headache. But since I was going to the country to work, I made a choice in favor of universal and long sets of clothes, parts of which could be combined and mixed with each other.

How to move to India

In recent years, the influx of immigrants from Russia has increased greatly; Russians are moving to Goa, Delhi, Mumbai, Maharashtra, and are trying to obtain citizenship here. Young expats want to settle down in the cities of Hyderabad and Bangalore, which are home to major high-tech centers.

A Russian citizen can go to live in India for a short-term or long-term period. For this:

A tourist visa is issued for a period of 30-90 calendar days. The Indian Embassy allows multiple entry visas for 90-180 days. The application is submitted on the official portal https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/index.html, you will also need to attach scanned copies of documents. The application review process takes 4 business days. The visa decision is sent to the applicant’s email. The consular fee depends on the season and is set at $10-25.
For Russians, it is possible to apply for an e-visa for 1 year at a cost of $40 or for 5 years at a cost of $80. In this case, it is important to prove financial solvency, the reason for long-term residence in India.
Upon arrival for a period of more than a month, you can take a closer look at the area, culture, look for a job or industry to develop your own business. Due to high poverty rates, volunteer organizations are being created in which any foreigner can participate.
To stay and live here, you must provide the Migration and Citizenship Service with compelling arguments - a work contract, an invitation from an educational institution, a registration document for a company, a marriage certificate with an Indian. If approved, a residence permit is issued for a year with the right of extension. The review period is 10 working days.
To move to the next stage of immigration, you must live in residence permit status for 5 years. After this period, an application for permanent residence is written. State authorities carefully study the identity of the applicant, his method of emigration, and only then confirm permanent residence with citizenship.

Features of immigration to India and Goa

To cross the Indian border, Russians will need an entry permit. Visas to India are single-entry, double-entry and multiple-entry (multiple-entry), which require a corresponding number of entries into the country. India is one of the countries of the British Commonwealth. As a rule, the immigration laws of these countries are quite strict and strictly regulated. Moving to Goa, which is considered the most colorful of the 28 Indian states, has its own characteristics, however, Indian immigration laws apply.

What advantages does a Russian acquire who decides to settle on ancient Indian soil? Let us briefly list the main ones:

legal long-term residence in India, a country with rich cultural traditions, Buddhist philosophy and mysterious history;
the opportunity to legally work in India;
the right to purchase real estate in Indian territory;
the opportunity to do business and invest in the Indian economy;
life in India is incredibly cheap (by Western standards), so a resident of the country can feel rich even with minimal funds;
the right to receive higher education in India.

India is not a priority immigration destination for Russians. The number of compatriots moving to the Hindustan Peninsula is stable from year to year.

India is a mysterious and enigmatic country with a thousand-year history

Obtaining a residence permit in India

India is called a country of immigrants with a stretch. While its popularity among downshifters has been observed for ten years, interest among expats and businessmen is only now growing. Today, Russian emigrants talk with caution about moving to the colorful state forever. To a large extent, they want to move here temporarily - to study culture, religion, sights, gain international experience, enjoy the warm ocean and local beauty. For this purpose, they use various methods of obtaining a residence permit and citizenship.

Employment in an IT company

The revolution in the IT industry has made India attractive for outsourcing information technology and services. The country is considered a leader in the export of IT products. The local labor market employs a large number of qualified specialists. Back in the early 90s, the Government of India launched programs with benefits and tax breaks for technology firms for investors. This became the reason to build about fifty technology parks in the cities of Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Allahabad, Kanpur, Mumbai, Gandhinagar, Kolkata. This refers to research complexes equipped and designed for developments in the field of electronics. A large number of national companies and branches of global conglomerates Microsoft, Intel, Siemens, AMD, Cisco, Ericsson, Motorola, Kyocera were also formed.

Russian-speaking programmers, analysts, developers find work here through recruiting agencies or directly upon arrival. Many do not expect high salaries, much less they are not offered them; the opportunity to work here is regarded as global experience in the IT field. According to the rules of the Ministry of Labor and Employment, the hiring party is obliged to provide a package of documents for a foreigner and pay him a salary of at least $25,000 per year. But in reality the situation is different, locals do not have the opportunity to pay monthly salaries of $2000, so shady ways are often used. The actual salary of a programmer is $1000, which is why India is considered a representative of cheap intellectual resources.

Studying at the university, language courses

University applicants and language course students can obtain a residence permit and then citizenship. Students from Russia often go abroad to become competitive specialists in some field or improve their English. India is now a good alternative to Malaysia and China. We can say that some citizens from the CIS come here for knowledge, while others seek retraining or a second diploma.

In the large cities of New Delhi and Mumbai, there are a large number of national and international schools, institutes, and universities. They often look like campuses where it is convenient to live and study at the same time.

Common faculties are Humanities and Arts, Technology and Engineering, Computer Science, Management and Social Sciences, Tourism and Hospitality. A Russian student should choose one of them, receive an invitation letter from the university, then apply for a visa from Russia. Upon arrival, a temporary resident card is issued for a new applicant.

The state practices cooperation between educational institutions and companies; after completing the basic course, some students receive a job offer. And they use this chance as an option to obtain citizenship.

Today, the Ministry of Education is interested in foreign students, so it is opening more and more language schools. It must be said that English and Hindi are the official languages. In the past, India was a British colony, so the education system here is at a decent level.

Starting a business

Gradually, business immigration with the acquisition of citizenship is becoming possible. Business activity is controlled by the main law The Companies Act. According to its terms, a foreigner is allowed to open a company by choosing the organizational and legal form:

Limited company – a limited liability company, closed and open. In the first case, the minimum capital amount is set at $2000, in the second up to $400,000 or higher. The annual income tax rate is from 35% to 36.59%.
Branch - opening a branch of a foreign company, you can represent the products and services of the Russian head office, conduct export and import transactions with India. The production of goods and services is excluded; the branch is only an intermediary between the home state. The annual income tax rate is 41.82%.

To carry out activities, you need to obtain a registration document “Certificate of Commencement of Business” or an authorization certificate from the Reserve Bank of India. As elsewhere, an entrepreneur must report to Indian business authorities. It is important that the business generates income not only for the foreigner, but also for the Indian treasury in the form of taxes. Also, the foreigner is obliged to provide jobs for Indians, the number of people is decided upon registration of the company. By following the laws and regulations, you can apply for permanent residence and then citizenship.

Obtaining permanent residence in India

Obtaining permanent resident status in India is quite difficult. Sufficient reasons are needed for this. Firstly, you must live in India on the basis of a residence permit for at least five years, unless you are married to a citizen. Secondly, you will need to justify your desire to become a permanent resident. Thirdly, it is necessary to obtain a positive test result for knowledge of English or Hindi, as well as for integration into Indian society (knowledge of the basic legislation of the country, the traditions of the Indian people, the main events of Indian history, the names of its leaders, etc.). Permanent residence in India is called a permanent residence permit and gives more rights to a foreigner than a temporary type of residence permit. But it does not at all equate him to a citizen. Permanent residence in Indian realities can become a variable value, as discussed above.

To obtain a permanent residence permit, you should apply to the same Department for Migration Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The authorities make a decision on granting or refusing permanent residence within two to three months. Indian permanent resident status does not require renewal. But every five or ten years it will have to be confirmed. The confirmation period directly depends on the reasons for issuing permanent residence. For example, if you are employed in India, it will be five years, and if you are married to an Indian citizen, it will be ten years. To obtain permanent resident status, the applicant will need to live in India for the last year without leaving it at all.

The cost of obtaining a permanent residence permit is slightly higher than a temporary one. Confirmation is free, you will need to confirm your presence in the country and provide documents about the source of your livelihood, as well as provide a certificate from the police about the absence of problems with Indian laws. Status in the same Department is confirmed.

Obtaining Indian citizenship becomes possible only after ten years of legal residence of a foreigner in the country, of which the last five must be spent as a permanent resident. Consideration of an application for citizenship takes a long time, sometimes up to two or three years.

Ways to Obtain Indian Citizenship in 2021

Indian citizenship has its advantages and disadvantages; on the one hand, it attracts with life in a tropical climate, on the other hand, its own rules have been established here. Initially, you need to understand that local authorities do not recognize dual citizenship, so the foreigner must renounce his native citizenship.

If you firmly decide to emigrate to Mumbai, Delhi or another city, you should use one of the following methods of obtaining citizenship:

Naturalization. According to immigrants, the period of legal residence in India should be from 5-10 years, the last year without leaving. At first, they move for the purposes of education, work, or business. The Migration Service issues a temporary resident card and then renews it annually. After 3-5 years, a citizen of the Russian Federation can apply for permanent residence or citizenship. For scientists and qualified specialists, citizenship is granted after 5 years, in other cases they wait up to 10 years. Due to bureaucratic schemes, sometimes the process is accelerated by shady methods.
Marrying an Indian. According to popular belief, the Asian country values family traditions; in most cases, parents themselves choose a couple for their children. But in fact, society is gradually changing; in large cities, with the advent of foreigners, it is not uncommon to see mixed marriages. Often, Indian parents are not friendly to such a choice, but they do not interfere much. It is possible to obtain citizenship through marriage after 5 years of residence in it; if the family has a child, then much earlier.
Birth of a child. India is one of the countries where, upon birth, citizenship is issued not only to the child, but also to the parents. There are clinics in Delhi, Bangalore, Gurgaon, Mumbai. Before leaving for childbirth, you should carefully read the conditions of the clinic, choose a doctor, and consult on all questions. After the birth of a child, parents must apply for citizenship for the newborn or for the entire family themselves. Without a proper application, citizenship is not assigned.

Documentation

Each method of obtaining citizenship requires compliance with the rules of the Migration Services - the applicant is required to submit documents according to the list:

application for citizenship, completed according to the sample;
photographs size 35*45 mm;
foreign passport and passport of existing citizenship;
proof of legal residence in the country for 5-10 years (for naturalization);
document confirming marriage with an Indian;
certificates of financial solvency of the receiving party (for spouses);
child's birth certificate (at birth);
renunciation of native citizenship;
a certificate of no criminal record obtained from the police;
medical examination;
other documents for citizenship.

Price

The main costs of citizenship include obtaining a passport. Its cost ranges from $85-115 for adults, $58 for minors. A newborn passport with registration will cost $80. Additional citizenship costs include translations and other consular services.

Deadlines

The processing time for citizenship applications is not fixed, so please be patient. Sometimes they receive citizenship within a year, in other cases it can take up to three years. This is due to the fact that emigration and migration within the country are not established processes. In the future, it is planned to establish a system for obtaining citizenship, with a loyal approach to those wishing to immigrate.

Available ways to move

There are several ways to move to India from the Russian Federation for permanent residence. At the same time, having a large number of its own residents, the Indian state is in no hurry to open its arms to everyone; on the contrary, it creates all sorts of bureaucratic difficulties to complicate the process of obtaining Indian citizenship. Not everyone succeeds in immigration.

You can become a citizen of India only after ten years of residence in this country. This period includes living on a work visa and years of university study. You can come to the country on a tourist visa. Its maximum period is 1800 days, that is, six months. However, you cannot stay in the country on such a visa for more than three months without leaving. Therefore, most tourists cross the border and then return to India.

Job

The reason for immigration may be employment. You can come with a work visa. To do this, the employer must issue an invitation - this document confirming the existence of an employment relationship plays a big role in obtaining a residence permit. Keeping in mind the fact that in India the situation with jobs is difficult, only specialists who are in short supply in the country can come on a work visa. This applies to the IT sector and medicine. The country's legislation allows immigrants to work only legally.

Education

There are many universities in India that provide a high level of education. They are highly rated all over the world. Students go to this country not only for knowledge, but also for new experiences. Residents of Russia have the opportunity to study for free through a student exchange program, but there are no more than 1000 such places.

For others who enroll to study for a fee, the cost of training usually does not exceed 15 thousand dollars for the entire time. To obtain a residence permit (residence permit) for study, you need to show a certificate from the place of study, as well as present a receipt for the first year’s payment (the cost must be paid in full). Based on this, a residence permit is issued; the student must not have passes, pass the exams on time and have no debts for passing exams.

Marriage

In India, fictitious marriages are persecuted, so you should not use this method to obtain citizenship of the country if you do not intend to live with your chosen one for the rest of your life. The institution of marriage in India is highly valued. The fictitiousness of a marriage can be proven either with the help of official information or obtained unofficially with the help of observers. In this case, the testimony of many witnesses is taken into account.

You can get a residence permit after a year of living together. If the marriage is dissolved before the end of three years, the spouse loses all rights to further naturalization. After three years of cohabitation, you can apply for Indian citizenship. When entering into a marriage, you may encounter many difficulties, including inaccurate translations of documents, the need to provide a large number of certificates - certificates of the absence of a spouse, permission from parents on both sides, an extract from the registry office.

Often, future spouses are faced with bureaucratic red tape associated with the need to have the translation of documents certified not only by accredited specialists, but also by representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In some cases, the red tape drags on for quite a long time, and those getting married are willing to pay a lot of money to lawyers who can handle this matter much faster. It is possible to marry an Indian, but it comes with many difficulties.

Business

You can obtain Indian citizenship if you open your own business in this country. This event is quite complex, since all industries have their own giants who have become almost monopolists in the market. A big plus for a positive decision on the application will be the desire to open new jobs for local residents. In this case, the entrepreneur must provide:

Business plan.
Confirmation of the availability of sufficient funds to conduct the business.

To open a business, you will need to obtain permission from the Ministry of Economy from the department that is responsible for the area of the chosen activity. For example, to open a hotel, you will need to obtain permission from the tourism department. Once approved, you can obtain a residence permit valid for one year. An annual renewal is possible if the entrepreneur can prove his profitability and fulfillment of all promises to provide jobs.

Investments

To obtain citizenship, you can invest your funds in one or more enterprises in the country. The investment amount must be at least $500,000. The investment is made in the public or private sector of the economy. She must work for at least five years. The application is approved by the Ministry of Economy, which issues an invitation.

After this, you can obtain a residence permit for a period of one year, subsequently renewing it annually. After five years, the investor can apply for permanent residence, but approval can only occur if the investment can be proven to be effective.

Family reunification

In India, the family reunification program is viewed positively. Many Russians left for this country back in 1917 after the revolution. To be able to reunite, you need to prove your family relationship and receive an invitation to move from relatives living in India. They must guarantee that they can provide for the emigrant. After this, those moving must submit an application for a residence permit within three months. It is issued for a year and is renewed annually until it becomes possible to obtain citizenship of the country.

Reasons for refusal to issue Indian citizenship

Currently, India is on the periphery - economic analysts and experts give positive forecasts, but World Organizations point to a large number of internal problems. They are associated with poverty, mentality, and the system of power. That is why the issue of emigration with obtaining citizenship among Russians living in Goa and Mumbai is in doubt. If we talk in general about obtaining a local passport, then according to the Migrants and Citizenship of India Act, the process is quite limited.

The government has the right to refuse and deprive a foreigner of a residence permit, permanent residence, or citizenship in the following cases:

lack of reasons for legal presence;
failure to provide a complete package of documents;
violation of Indian laws, traditions, culture;
concealing the fictitiousness of a work visa, marriage, or other information;
lack of financial viability;
having a criminal record in Russia, India, or a foreign country.

Refusal to receive

If the Indian authorities decided to give a negative answer in a request for a new or extension of an existing residence permit, then the reasons will be indicated in the letter to the applicant. They may be as follows:

service in government agencies in the country from which the citizen came;
discrepancy between the stated data and the actual data;
presence of offenses while living in India;
an enterprise opened by a foreign citizen is recognized as unprofitable.

If the decision is negative, the applicant may file an appeal with the court. There he will be considered for no more than a month. When a residence permit is denied, you can stay in India on the basis of a certificate from the court.

Ours in Goa, or How to make money in paradise

Ours in Goa, or How to make money in paradise
People who exchanged the Moscow hassle in prefabricated high-rise buildings for a quiet life in the Goan tropics are labeled as downshifters
: they quit their jobs, moved to India, lie on the beach, do nothing - kind of lazy people unadapted to life and romantics who escaped from real life.
However, our Russian diaspora in Goa, contrary to popular stereotypes, not only enjoys a productive holiday, but also earns money just as successfully. Our correspondent, who visited the paradise tropics, was convinced of this. CHEAP BUT NOT GREAT

The Russian community in Goa is huge. Our guys practically do not communicate in English. So the problem of the language barrier is removed. The budget story is also attractive - everything is really cheap in India. A two-story house next to the sea with a beautiful courtyard costs about $400 a month. Smaller apartments can easily be rented for $200. Another 300 dollars for a normal life. In total, about 15 thousand - half the cost of an apartment for rent in Moscow. Many people do just that: they rent out housing in Moscow for the season and use this money to live for their own pleasure, traveling all over India and nearby countries.

But it also happens that, coming to Goa just to relax, our energetic citizens soon open a business there that they never dreamed of in Moscow. And they receive not only moral satisfaction from their favorite activity, but also a good profit.

As a rule, people from creative professions who are not bound by a rigid schedule and can easily work anywhere in the world - artists, writers, musicians, journalists - find good jobs in Goa. Russians who have a stable source of income or their own business in their homeland feel quite good. And finally, some compatriots, going to Goa for spiritual growth, unexpectedly open a business or promote a project.

Everyone finds something to their liking

Most of our people make money in Goa by doing things that are interesting to them - some arrange photo shoots, conduct various practices and yoga seminars, organize children's centers, and work part-time as a scooter driving instructor. A couple of photo shoots or a hatha yoga seminar with Russian tourists - and you can live comfortably in Goa for about a month. Those who have more scope and ambition open restaurants and their own yoga centers. As the old-timers say, 10 years ago, when no Russian had ever set foot in Goa, it was possible to do large-scale projects - the niche was not occupied. It was not so difficult to promote your business in Goa - it all comes down not so much to money, but to the feature of the project. For example, one of the first and most famous yoga centers in Goa was founded by Muscovite Timofey: “We appeared in Goa in 2004, when Goa was not popular. Even then, I was seriously involved in yoga and thought: why not try to open my own yoga center here. We were one of the first. The project turned out to be successful. And it brings good profits. We live here with the whole family seasonally, do what we love and don’t feel constrained in any way.”

And, of course, it cannot do without intermediary services - our people quickly began to make money by reletting Indian houses as realtors. “Many Russians make a living by renting out housing to their own compatriots. Most people coming from Russia travel at random, they practically don’t know English,” says businessman Sergei, who comes to Goa for the winter. — And here are kind fellow countrymen offering to help in finding and renting housing. And the prices seem low, but in fact Indians ask 4-5 times less. I somehow decided to help my friends on both sides resolve rental issues without these markups, so these self-appointed realtors on social networks began to blacklist me. People are struggling to earn a living. However, such fishing among our compatriots, fortunately, is not universal.”

“THE MAIN PROJECT IS OUR CHILDREN”

But, no matter what Russians in Goa do, almost everyone has one thing in common - the desire to raise their children healthy and harmonious. “I don’t know why we chose Goa, I don’t have a romantic fascination with Indian culture,” says my interlocutor Maria, who has been living in India for several winters. “For me, first of all, this is the sea - the children grow up healthy, developed, cheerful, and the community - there are many friends here, people of creative professions, like-minded people with whom it is a pleasure to communicate. We have such a big Goan family here with very warm relationships.”

“It’s impossible to rest for more than a month and a half: you get fed up and get bored. I want to serve something, give people what we have, what we can... Many people here do this: they come and start working, doing something new, developing, learning,” says Maria. “But our main project is raising our children.” We are like a big tribe - everyone has their own role.” Russians in Goa are very friendly. Everyone helps each other and does joint projects. For example, my husband Sergei, together with friends who also live in Goa, is developing a system of educational children's applications for Indigo Kids tablets. This is how they make money. Many people know each other from Moscow. And now families come to Goa, travel, work, and take care of their children.”

By the way, many Russian Goans whose children are over 6 years old have signed an agreement with the school. The boys are home schooled. They undergo certification via Skype, and all year round parents study using school textbooks. In Goa you rarely see children older than the second grade (parents go to warmer climes mainly with their children), families can easily cope with the program.

In my opinion, home education in Goa is similar to education in pre-revolutionary Russia - parents attach greater importance to the cultural development of the child. What is considered unnecessary in our school - music, modeling skills, drawing, choreography, acting, art history - ours in Goa put in first place, and already at the age of 6 children play Grieg and freely distinguish Levitan from Savrasov. Teachers in these subjects are located within the same Russian diaspora. For example, one of my interlocutor’s friends, Anna, is an art critic, another, Yulia, is a musician. And they happily share their knowledge with children. By the way, while Maria was telling her story, the guys, under the supervision of art critic Anna, were studying the masterpieces of the Tretyakov Gallery.

Renting such a bungalow is several times cheaper than an apartment in Moscow

TO MOSCOW - FOR NOTHING!

In the case of Masha’s improvised school, everything is carried out on a voluntary basis - parents joined forces with their children to give them the most comprehensive education possible. However, you can also make money from kindergartens, development clubs and educational centers in Goa. For example, art critic Anna successfully combines creativity and income: “In Moscow, I taught art history and worked at the Philharmonic. And in Goa I had the idea to make a fabulous boat. I rented a boat, decorated it myself, painted it - it was a pleasure for me. And now twice a week she walks along the Chapora River, we land on the islands, act out scenes in the spirit of myths and fairy tales of the peoples of the world, and look for treasures. Children get acquainted with that era, have fun, and also learn and expand their horizons. By the way, boat trips began to bring in good income - I live in Goa with this money.”

“It’s generally more comfortable to live in Goa, especially with children,” Timofey continues the topic. — I visit Moscow only on business. And this is natural. We are not limited in anything and are not trying to play savages - we have the Internet, the ability to communicate and work. This is what civilization is, and not the presence of concrete buildings around.”

Children in Goa do not know what vitamin deficiency and physical inactivity are

Our Goans do not want to return back for permanent residence to Moscow, even if life in Goa was not always a joy. And all because, according to them, Goa itself leads a person on his path and everyone gets what they are going to, even through thorny paths.

Approximately according to this algorithm, the life of Vasily Karavaev developed, who became a writer in Goa and thanks to him: “I have lived in Goa for 9 years. I haven't been to Russia for 8 years. He once opened the first Russian restaurant in the north, “Hemp”. And then he served 1.5 years in an Indian prison for drugs. There he wrote the book “Goa. Confessions of a Psychedelic Oyster.” Now I live by selling my book and preparing 2 more books for release.” Among Russians in Goa, Vasily is a celebrity - they even take excursions to him as the author of a sensational book. “I was released on bail, so I have to live in Goa for another 7 years, but even if I have the opportunity to return to Moscow, I won’t go. I feel comfortable here. In India, people are becoming calmer and more peaceful. Even notorious bandits and thugs, after a couple of years, plunge into such blissful cotton wool and become good-natured. But this is exactly a Goan phenomenon.”

Ekaterina Lyulchak

Photo FOTOBANK.COM

How can I get Indian citizenship?

The issue of obtaining an Indian passport is considered in various legal acts of India, the main one being the Citizenship Law, which has been in force since 1955. In accordance with it, citizenship can be obtained in various ways in this country. Among the most famous, which in principle coincide with those found in world practice, the following can be noted: citizenship by birth; citizenship by descent; citizenship through naturalization.

These are the main ways to obtain civil rights, but each of them has its own characteristics. For example, the right of birth, on the one hand, makes it possible for a newborn to obtain citizenship, regardless of which country his parents have a passport from.

On the other hand, this process does not occur automatically, that is, there must be an expression of the will of the parents and an appeal to the appropriate services.

If this does not happen, then the child is not considered a subject of India. Although, according to existing laws, he has the right, up to the age of 18, to apply to the Indian authorities at any time to obtain citizenship of the country, even after leaving its borders and returning.

Indian citizenship by descent

The issue of a child obtaining the rights of an Indian citizen through descent also has its own nuances.

The issue of a child obtaining the rights of an Indian citizen through descent also has its own nuances. A special point is that the father must have an Indian passport; in this case, it does not matter where in the world the child was born, he is recognized by the Indian authorities as a citizen of the country.

If the situation is different, that is, the mother is an Indian citizen and the father is a foreigner, then in order for the child to obtain civil rights in India, his parents must remain living and working in the country. In this case, the father should not give his citizenship to the heir. When a baby is born abroad, he must be registered at the consular mission.

Naturalization is the most difficult process to obtain citizenship in India

For immigrants, the only option left to become an Indian citizen is to go through the naturalization process. To do this, it is necessary to comply with a number of conditions that are provided for by Indian law. Among the most important requirements for foreigners applying for an Indian passport are the following: the period of residence on Indian territory must be at least five years; An applicant for an Indian passport must renounce his previous citizenship, since dual citizenship does not exist in India.

However, one should be prepared for the fact that before applying for citizenship, a person must go through other bureaucratic systems, since the naturalization process begins with obtaining a residence permit in India. The next stage is obtaining permanent residence, and only completing this procedure will allow you to think about Indian citizenship.

In addition to a period of continuous residence in the country and renunciation of the citizenship of the previous country of residence, an applicant for Indian citizenship must show his deep integration into the local society. Among the main requirements for him are law-abiding, real sources of income, opportunities to provide for himself and his family, knowledge of the basics of the state language, history and traditions of the country.