A Brief Overview of Indian Passport

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of Government of India is the passport issuing authority in India. Passport to Indian Citizens will be issued under Passport Act, 1967. Indian Passport is an official government document which serves as an Identity Proof and a document to travel for Indian Citizens. Passport is mandatorily required for those people who are travelling abroad for tourism, education, pilgrimage, business purpose, medical and family visit. Passport allows citizen of India to enter and exit foreign countries and it also confirms the citizenship status of a traveler.

Currently, Passport to Indian Citizens will be issued by Ministry of External Affairs in a Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode with Tata Consultancy Services. Verification, Granting and Issuing of Passport is done by Ministry of Extenal Affairs and Tata Consultancy Services only mantains a technological infrastructure, manages Passport Seva Online Portal, operates and manage Passport Seva Kendras.

Types of Indian Passport

• Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued different type of passport according to the eligibility of a person. Following are the types of Indian Passport which are currently issued to Indian Citizens:-
  • Ordinary Passport.(Blue Cover)
  • Official Passport.(White Cover)
  • Diplomatic Passport.(Maroon Cover)
  • E Passport.
  • Emergency Certificate.

Who Can Apply for an Indian Passport

Steps Involved in Getting Passport

1. Step 1: Fill Online Application Form :-
   

   Applicant can fill Passport Application through two ways :- Through Passport Seva Online Portal. Through mPassport Seva Mobile App. Choose any of the above mentioned mode and create an account by registerering yourself first. Login again with given User ID and Password and Choose "Apply for Fresh Passport/ Re-issue of Passport. Applicant has to fill the Personal Details, Present and Permanent Address Details and Family Details. Now choose Normal or Takaal Passport Processing Service. Upload all the documents and Pay Passport Application Fees according to the category of applicant. After confirmation of payment an Application Reference Number is generated by Passport Seva Online Portal or mPassport Seva Mobile App. Schedule an Appointment Date and Time by choosing your nearest Passport Seva Kendras or Post Office Paspsort Seva Kendra. An Appointment letter will be generated, take a print out of it.

2. Step 2: Document Verification at PSK/ POPSK :-
   

   Applicant will have to visit the Passport Seva Kendra or Post Office Seva Kendra on schedule date and time. Appointment Letter along with all the documents in original with photocopy are mandatorily required at the time of document verification. Officials present at PSK/ POPSK will capture the biometric and live photo of applicant and verify all the documents. A final acknowledgement receipt will be provided to applicant after completion of all the process.

3. Step 3: Police Verification :-
   

   PSK/ POPSK will then forward the application request of passport of applicant to Regional Passport Officer. Regional Passport Office will then initiate a process of police verification and forward the applications to LIU (Local Intelligence Unit)/ Police Station of that particular area from where the applicant is currently residing. Local Intelligence Unit will visit the residence of applicant and verify the details of passport applicant. After verification, LIU Officer submits it report back to Regional Passport Office. If the report is positive then RPO initiates a request of printing of passport.

4. Step 4: Passport Printing and Delivery :-
   

   Passport in India is only printed by Indian Security Press at Nashik. Once the passport details sent to ISP Nashik after the clearance of passport application, press will print the passport booklet. Printed Passports first sent to Regional Passport for final check then distributed among applicants through India Post. By showing any identity proof, applicant can receive their passport from postman.

Documents Required

• The following documents are required according to applicant category for passport :-
  

  Passport/ Applicant Category	Required Documents
  Ordinary Passport (General Citizens)	Any One for Identity Proof :- Aadhaar Card. Voter Identity Card. PAN Card. Any One for Address Proof :- Electricity or Water Bill. Rent Agreement. Bank Passbook or Statement. Birth Certificate. (For Minors) 10th Marksheet / PAN Card for Date of Birth Proof. Annexure E. (If Applicable)
  Government Employees	Identity Proof :- Aadhaar Card. Employee ID. No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Department. Address Proof :- Electricity Bill. Rent Agreement. Date of Birth Proof :- Birth Certificate. OR Class 10th Marksheet. Annexure D. (If Applicable) Annexure C. (If Applicable)
  Minors (Below 18 Years)	Birth Certificate Aadhaar Card for Identity & Address Proof. Parents' Passport Copies. (If Available) Annexure D. (Parental Consent Form)
  Senior Citizens	Aadhaar Card / Voter ID for Identity Proof. Address Proof (Utility Bill / Rent Agreement) Pension Documents (if applicable) Date of Birth Proof (Birth Certificate / 10th Marksheet) Annexure E. (If Applicable)
  Diplomatic / Official Passport	Government Order or Letter from Ministry. Aadhaar Card/ PAN Card for Identity Proof. Address Proof. No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Department.

Validity of Passport

• Indian Passport Validity vary according to the category of Applicant. Following are the minimum validity of Indian Passport according to applicant's category :-
  

  Applicant Category	Validity of Passport
  Adults (18 years & above)	10 Years.
  Minors (Below 18 years)	5 Years or until they turns 18 years of age, whichever is earlier
  Senior Citizens (Above 60 years)	10 Years.
  Short Validity Passport (SVP)	1 to 5 years. (Issued in special cases such as emergencies or incomplete documentation)
  Diplomatic Passport	Issued based on the tenure of the assignment given.
  Official Passport	Valid for the duration of the official government duty.

Renewal of Passport

• Passport Holder can renew their passport minimum 1 year before the expiry of Passport.
• If Passport Holder renew their passport after 3 years of expiry then he/ she has to apply for a fresh passport.
• However, passport of minor will be renewed once he/ she turn to 18 years of age.

Passport/ Other Services Fees

• Following are the charges/ fees charged according to the category of service provided by Passport Seva :-
  

  Service Category	Fees
  Fresh/ Renewal of Normal Passport (36 pages)	Rs. 1500/-
  Fresh/ Renewal of Passport in Tatkaal (36 pages)	Rs. 1500/-
  Minor Applicant (0-5 years)	Rs. 900/-
  Minor Applicant (6-15 years)	Rs. 1000/-
  Minor Applicant (15-18 years, if applying for 10 years validity)	Rs. 1500/-
  Senior Citizens (60 years and above)	Rs. 1350/-
  Fresh/ Renewal of Normal Passport (60 pages) Jumbo Fees	Rs. 2000/-
  Fresh/ Renewal of Passport in Tatkaal (36 pages) Jumbo Fees	Rs. 2000/-
  Lost Passport (Validity Expired)	Rs. 1500/-
  Lost Valid Passport	Rs. 3000/-
  Damaged Passport (Validity Expired)	Rs. 1500/-
  Damaged Valid Passport	Rs. 3000/-
  Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)	Rs. 500/-
  Identity Certificate	Rs. 1000/-
  Surrender Certificate	Rs. 500/-

Processing Time

• Passport delivery time is also vary according to the category in which passport is applied by Applicant. Following are the expected time period in which applicant received their passport :-
  

  Passport Type	Processing Time
  Fresh/ Renewal Normal Passport (36 pages)	15 Days to 30 Days
  Minor Passport
  Senior Citizen Passport
  Fresh/Renewal Normal Passport (60 pages, Jumbo
  Lost Passport (Validity Expired)
  Lost Valid Passport
  Damaged Passport (Validity Expired)
  Damaged Valid Passport
  Identity Certificate
  Fresh/ Renewal Passport in Tatkaal (36 pages)	1 Day to 3 Days
  Fresh/Renewal Tatkaal Passport (60 pages, Jumbo)	1 Day to 3 Days
  Diplomatic Passport	7 Days to 14 Days
  Official Passport
  Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)
  Surrender Certificate

List of Regional Passport Offices in India

• Following are the list of all Regional Passport Offices in India which are currently operational. Multiple Passport Seva Kendra's (PSK) and Post Office Passport Seva Kendra's (POPSK) are operational under these 37 RPOs in which applicants can submit their passport application :-
  

  Ahmedabad. Amritsar. Bareilly. Bengaluru. Bhopal. Bhubaneswar. Chandigarh. Chennai. Coachin. Coimbatore. Dehradun. Delhi. Ghaziabad. Goa. Guwahati. Hyderabad. Jaipur. Jalandhar. Jammu. Kolkata. Kota. Kozhikode. Lucknow. Madurai. Mumbai. Nagpur. Patna. Pune. Raipur. Ranchi. Shimla. Srinagar. Surat. Tiruchirappally. Trivandrum. Vijaywada. Vishakhapatnam.

Important Form Applicable for Passport

• At the time of passport application some annexures is needed to be attached as per requirement. Following are the annexure forms which are important for any passport applicant as per eligibility :-

  Category	Annexure Needed
  Identity Certificate	Annexure "A"
  Declaration of Parent/ Guardian for Passport of Minor(One Parent not given Consent)	Annexure "C"
  Declaration of Parent/ Guardian for Minor Passports	Annexure "D"
  Specimen Affidavit for a Passport in lieu of Lost/ Damaged Passport	Annexure "F"
  No Objection Certificate for Government Employee	Annexure "G"
  Prior Intimation Letter	Annexure "H"
  A Declaration affirming the particulars furnished in the Application about the Minor	Annexure "I"
  Special cases of Minors Requiring Passports	Annexure "12"
  Joint Declaration in lieu of Marriage Certificate	Annexure "J"

Important Links

• Passport Seva Online Portal.
• mPassport Mobile Application for Android.
• mPassport Mobile Application for IOS.