Passport Query

🧾 Identity Certificate (IC)

• In India, the Identity Certificate (a yellow colour booklet) is generally issued to Tibetan refugees and stateless people residing in the country.
• It is an official travel document issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
• Under the Passport Act, 1947, it is treated as an identity certificate.

👤 An Identity Certificate is generally issued to

• Tibetan Refugees, on the recommendation of the Dalai Lama.
• Stateless people residing in India.

🖥️ How to Apply Online?

A passport issued to an Indian carries various types of particulars. Of these, various passports have a small stamp mentioning ECR, while the other passports have an ECNR stamp. So what is ECR and ECNR, and what does it mean?

Passport applications can generally be submitted under two categories: Normal (General) and Tatkal. Applications submitted under the Normal category usually take more time to process, while the Tatkal service ensures the quickest passport issuance. The Tatkal service can be used for various purposes, including applying for a new passport, renewing the existing one or availing of other services.

NRIS (Non-Resident Indians) living abroad for work, education or other purposes and still an Indian Citizen can apply for an Indian Passport. Such NRIs must possess a valid passport for International Travel or other purposes.

Ques 1: What documents should NRIs submit to apply for a passport?

Ans: To apply for a passport, NRIs must submit proof of Indian citizenship, a residence certificate, a birth certificate, and a 10th class certificate.

Before submitting a passport application, applicants must read the details carefully. If they missed any information or have any discrepancies in it, their submitted application is likely to be rejected. Here are some things you need to do if your passport application is rejected.

Most passport-related services, such as application submission, PCC, passport renewal, and others, are carried out online. To access these services, applicants must have a login account, which can be created by registering online at the Passport Seva Portal.

In the future, if you forget your user ID, you won't be able to perform any tasks. However, you can retrieve the same by following the given methods: -

Along with the passport applications, applicants should also pay their application fee online. This application fee can be paid through various available modes. Upon paying the application fee through Debit or Credit Card, applicants need to share the card details, whereas applicants paying their fees through net banking or UPI also provide their details.

📖 The Indian Passport Department generally issues passports with either 36 or 60 pages. While applying for the passport online, applicants must choose whether they need a 36-page or a 60-page passport. A 36-page passport is sufficient for people who travel occasionally. However, for frequent travellers, a 36-page passport is not worthwhile, as it may require early renewal once the pages are exhausted. Therefore, a 60-page passport is a good choice for such individuals.

• In India, the passport validity for adults is 10 years, while for minors it is 5 years. Generally, a passport should be renewed within 12 months or 6 months before its expiry.
• However, if a person's passport has expired a long time ago and they have not renewed it, they can also renew their passport.
• Individuals whose passports have expired years ago can apply for passport renewal under the normal category.
• The renewal application can be submitted online through the Passport Seva Portal.

• After completing the entire Passport Application Process, the Regional Passport Office (RPO) dispatches the passport to the applicant's address.
• Generally, the RPO uses India Post Speed Post services for passport delivery.
• Once the passport is dispatched, both India Post and RPO send the passport tracking number to track the passport status.
• The passport is usually delivered to the applicant's address within 3 to 6 days.

What should I do if my passport is delayed or not received within the expected time?

You can submit your Aadhaar card when applying for the passport, but it is not mandatory. Most applicants use their Aadhaar card as both identity and address proof. Instead of an Aadhaar card, you can provide other documents such as a Driving License, Voter ID, PAN Card, Electricity/Water Bill, etc. However, the Aadhaar card generally expedites the processing of a passport application.

A passport is an important and official document that verifies your identity and nationality. It allows you to travel freely anywhere in the world, as it enables legal entry and exit from foreign countries. In India, it is issued by the Ministry of External Affairs and can be used as identity proof whenever required. Besides this, a passport serves various purposes in India, including the following: -

In case of a lost or stolen passport, you need to obtain an affidavit from the court and file an FIR at the nearest Police Station. In the submitted FIR, the police officials will mention a GD Number, which is essential to reissue a lost passport. Based on this FIR and affidavit, you can apply for a re-issue of your passport. The application can be submitted online through the Passport Seva Portal.

Ques: Do I need to register a police complaint if I lost my passport?