08 Jun 2023  |   06:55am IST

620 Goans opted for Portuguese citizenship from Jan-April this year

As per the records in the e-FRRO system, as many as 531 applications were processed and 89 of them were pending with the FFRO, Mumbai

PANJIM: A total 620 persons from the State acquired foreign passport after surrendering their Indian passports during the four months i.e. from January to April this year, as per the information furnished by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), Panjim to the Election Office, Altinho.

In a letter addressed to the Joint Chief Electoral Officer and both the District Magistrates, the FFRO DySP Nutan Verenkar has stated that during the four months i.e. from January 1, 2023 to April 30, 2023, a total of 620 individuals acquired foreign passport after surrendering Indian passport in the State. All these applicants had applied for online service requesting for New Visa with the FRRO, Mumbai, which is a "Hub" for processing the Visa related services of foreign nationals residing in the State and the FRRO, Goa is the "Spoke" of FRRO, Mumbai.

As per the records in the e-FRRO system, as many as 531 applications were processed and 89 of them were pending with the FFRO, Mumbai.

A large number of Goans are acquiring Portuguese citizenship mostly for better job prospects and aspirational lifestyles. Last year 1,265 Goans gave up their Indian passports and acquired Portuguese passports. In 2021, as many as 2,835 Goans surrendered their Indian citizenship.

It is estimated that since 2015, more than 23,000 Goans surrendered their Indian citizenship and obtained Portuguese passports. However, there is a drastic drop in Goans acquiring Portuguese passports following BREXIT.