Around 8,400 Goans have surrendered their Indian passports after acquiring foreign nationality between 2021 and 2025, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant informed the Goa Legislative Assembly in a written reply.
According to the data shared by the government, the overwhelming majority of these individuals—8,370 in total—acquired citizenship of Portugal, accounting for nearly all the passport surrenders during the five-year period.
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A smaller number of Goans obtained citizenship in other countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, France, Germany, Mexico, Poland, Russia, Kazakhstan, Romania, Thailand and Tanzania.
Government figures also indicate a steady rise in the trend over the years. In 2021, an average of around two people per day surrendered their Indian passports. The pace increased in 2022, and by 2023 and 2024, nearly six individuals per day were giving up their Indian citizenship.
In 2025, the average declined slightly, with about five people surrendering their passports each day.
The figures highlight the continuing trend of Goans acquiring foreign citizenship—primarily Portuguese citizenship—linked to historical ties dating back to Goa’s colonial past.
