tanmaysinhapatnaNew Delhi: Discussions about the reasons behind the consistent migration of Indian citizens, especially from the skilled and professional class, have been revived after the government revealed that 2,06,378 Indians gave up their citizenship in 2024.
Despite the Ministry of External Affairs’ insistence that the causes of giving up are “personal and known only to the individual,” historical data, expert analysis, and migration trends all clearly identify a number of contributing factors.
1. Career Opportunities and Higher Salaries Abroad
For many, the most significant draw is the promise of better-paying jobs in developed economies.
In addition to higher wages, nations like the US, Canada, Australia, and Germany also provide better working conditions and more robust labour laws.
- IT & Tech: Under initiatives like the Global Talent Visa (Australia/UK) and the H-1B visa (US), highly qualified tech workers are still migrating.
- Healthcare: With pay that is frequently several times greater than in India, Indian physicians and nurses are in great demand in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the Gulf nations.
2. Educational Access for Families
In order to provide their children with access to top-notch educational systems without having to pay excessive international student fees, parents frequently opt for foreign citizenship.
For citizens and permanent residents, nations such as Canada and New Zealand provide subsidized tuition, which is a substantial long-term financial advantage.
3. Quality of Life and Social Security
On international quality-of-life indexes many developed countries have higher rankings, providing:
- Universal health care
- Social welfare programs
- Improved facilities
- Reduced levels of pollution
These are important motivators for Indian families looking for a safer and cleaner environment.
4. Post-Pandemic Immigration Policies
A number of countries modified their immigration policies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in order to draw in foreign talent for economic recovery.
- After 2021, Canada’s Express Entry draw sizes grew dramatically.
- In order to solve labour shortages, Australia loosened its requirements for skilled migration.
The increase in citizenship renunciations in India has paralleled these policy changes.
5. Countries Indians are Choosing
The top destinations for former Indian citizens are as follows, according to previous government reports and international migration records, even though the official data for 2024 did not reveal country-specific numbers:
- United States
- Canada
- Australia
- United Kingdom
- New Zealand
- Germany
- Singapore
- Italy and other EU nations
Additionally, despite their difficulty in granting citizenship, Gulf nations like the United Arab Emirates and Qatar draw Indian workers for jobs.
6. The “Second Passport” Advantage
In nations like Malta, Cyprus, or the Caribbean, some high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) seek citizenship through investment programs. One major benefit for international businesspeople is that these passports allow visa-free travel to dozens of countries.
The Brain Drain Debate
Critics contend that India is losing a generation of top talent to other economies, despite the fact that payments from the Indian diaspora are still strong and will reach the highest amount in the world in 2023, over $125 billion.
According to migration experts, the government has to find a careful balance between promoting international mobility and making sure that domestic opportunities are attractive enough to draw in talented individuals.
What Lies Ahead
With global demand for skilled professionals rising and many countries actively courting Indian talent, the trend of high citizenship renunciation is unlikely to slow in the near term. Unless India addresses the wage gap, work environment challenges, and infrastructural concerns, the lure of foreign passports will remain strong.
