The government prepares to resume granting of dual citizenships from this month with a tougher screening procedure.

According to media reports applicants for dual citizenship will face a tough screening procedure including a one-to-one interview with a panel.

Reportedly some 2,000 applications for dual citizenship are pending before the Immigration and Emigration Department.

Processing dual citizenship applications was suspended in early 2011 in order to draft the new stringent criteria.

The dual citizenship scheme was introduced in 1987 and over 4,000 persons have been granted the facility.