In September 2016, the Delhi High Court ruled that the nationality of Tibetans born in India between 1950 and 1987 cannot be questioned under the Citizenship Act of 1955. This ruling came into effect in March 2017, upon acceptance by India's Ministry of External Affairs. Hence, all Tibetans born in India between 1950 and 1987 are eligible to apply for Indian citizenship and receive Indian passports.
Currently, Tibetans-in-Exile are classified as 'foreigners' in India. And though there have been a number of Tibetans who have applied for and/or received Indian citizenship till date, there are several today who are on the fence, and are unsure of whether or not to apply for Indian citizenship.
This website strives to provide unbiased information on the rights that one would receive with Indian citizenship and the rights one currently has with 'foreigner' status in India. We sincerely hope that all the information provided here will help many Tibetans in India come closer to a decision.
Finally, we would like to thank the Government of India for their generosity and graciousness in embracing over 130,000 Tibetans, providing refuge to them, and allowing for the fostering and development of Tibetan culture and tradition.