Pakistani National, Living In Goa Since 2006, Granted Indian Citizenship Under CAA

Last Updated:August 25, 2025, 17:00 IST

Brenden Valentine Crasto, a Christian by faith, migrated to India nearly two decades ago and married Goa-based Merilyn Fernandes in 2014.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who personally congratulated Crasto on getting Indian citizenship.

In a significant development under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019, Pakistani national Brenden Valentine Crasto, who has been residing in Anjuna, Goa since 2006, was formally granted Indian citizenship on Monday. The citizenship certificate was handed over to him at a ceremony held at Mantralaya, Porvorim, in the presence of senior state officials.

Crasto, a Christian by faith, migrated to India nearly two decades ago and married Goa-based Merilyn Fernandes in 2014. Over the years, he has established his home and livelihood in the coastal state. His application was processed under the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024, which streamline the process for individuals from Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi, and Christian communities who entered India from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, or Pakistan before December 31, 2014, to acquire Indian citizenship.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who personally congratulated Crasto, lauded the implementation of the Act. “I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji for ensuring the Citizenship (Amendment) Act is being implemented in its true spirit. This is the third case of citizenship granted under CAA in Goa. The Act has given hope and a rightful place in our nation to those who sought refuge here,” he said. The ceremony was attended by the Chief Secretary of Goa and Secretary (Home) Chesta Yadav, IAS.

This marks yet another instance of the CAA being applied in Goa, a state that has seen a small but notable number of long-term residents from Pakistan and other neighbouring countries seeking legal status in India. Earlier this year, two Pakistani-origin Christians residing in Margao were also granted citizenship under the same provisions.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, passed by Parliament in December 2019, amends India’s Citizenship Act, 1955. It provides a pathway to Indian nationality for non-Muslim minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who faced religious persecution and entered India before the cut-off date. While the Act has sparked debates nationally, for individuals like Crasto, it represents the end of years of uncertainty and the beginning of a secure future in India.

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