Passport is Only a Travel Document, Not Proof of Citizenship: MEA Clarifies

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HT Correspondent 

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NEW DELHI:- The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has stated that a passport is merely a travel document and cannot be considered conclusive proof of citizenship.

The statement, attributed to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar (misstated as 'Jaishankar Shah' in the local graphic source), emphasizes the legal distinction between an identity document used for international travel and the legal status of being a citizen of the country.

According to authorities, while a passport is issued to citizens to facilitate travel abroad, the determination of citizenship is governed by separate legal frameworks and criteria, and the mere possession of a passport does not automatically serve as absolute evidence of an individual's citizenship status in all legal scenarios.