By Kavita Mistry 
A growing number of Indians are turning overseas migration into permanent settlement, with record numbers acquiring foreign citizenship across developed nations. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), over 2.25 lakh Indians became citizens of OECD countries in 2023, the highest figure among all nationalities worldwide.
This trend underscores India’s deepening global mobility and the evolving aspirations of its skilled workforce, as more professionals opt for citizenship over temporary visas amid tightening immigration policies.
Indians Top Global Citizenship Charts
Of the 2.8 million people who acquired citizenship in OECD member countries in 2023, Indians led the list, followed by Filipinos (1.32 lakh) and Chinese (92,400).
India has consistently topped this chart for the past two years, with citizenship grants rising steadily — from 2.06 lakh in 2021 to 2.14 lakh in 2022, and 2.25 lakh in 2023.
The OECD described naturalisation as both “an indicator of long-term settlement and a driver of better integration outcomes,” reflecting how Indians are embedding themselves more permanently in host nations.
Migration Patterns: U.K. and Canada Lead, U.S. Sees Sharp Drop
The year also saw a robust 8% rise in Indian migration to OECD countries, totalling 6 lakh individuals moving abroad for employment, education, or family reunification.
- United Kingdom: Accounted for 1.44 lakh migrants, driven by the Health and Care Worker visa route, which included 39,000 primary applicants and 57,000 dependents.
- Canada: Welcomed 1.4 lakh Indians, marking an 18% increase from 2022.
- United States: Witnessed a steep 45% decline, with only 68,000 arrivals, amid stricter H-1B rules and soaring fees under the Trump administration.
By comparison, China’s migration to OECD nations stood at 3.7 lakh, led by the U.S., South Korea, and Japan.
Why Citizenship Is Rising
Analysts say the shift reflects a strategic move by Indian migrants toward long-term stability and global mobility. With many Western nations tightening work visa regimes, citizenship offers more security, access to welfare systems, and freedom to move within blocs like the European Union.
OECD data also shows that Canada and Australia, which have relatively short residency requirements (three to four years), are becoming increasingly preferred destinations for Indian professionals seeking permanence.
India’s Global Mobility Story
The numbers paint a powerful picture of India’s changing relationship with global migration. Once driven primarily by temporary work visas, Indian migration is now marked by permanent settlement, higher integration, and greater economic contribution abroad.
Even as destination countries grow more selective, India’s vast skilled talent pool continues to make it the largest source of global migrants and new citizens in the OECD world — a trend that shows no sign of slowing down.