HOW TO GET PASSPORT IN INDIA

If you are visiting this website for the first time and are intending to apply for a passport or related service, you may spend a few minutes in reading this advisory.

Locate A.P. Passport Seva Kendras and Laghu Kendras

LOCATE PASSPORT OFFICES IN INDIA

                   National Call Centre 1800-258-1800

Requirement of a Passport:

All Indian citizens who depart or intend to depart from India are required to be in possession of a valid passport or travel document. Under the Passports Act 1967, the Government of India may issue different types of passports and travel documents such as Ordinary Passport, Diplomatic Passport, Official Passport, Emergency Certificate and Certificate of Identity for the purpose.

Passport Application: Basic Requirements:

The prescribed passport application duly filled in should be with all prescribed documents and fees. Merely submission of an application, however, does not constitute a claim for issue of a passport. It remains a request/requisition for a passport, which may be rejected due to deficiency in the supporting documents, not following the prescribed procedures or any other reason. 

The basic supporting documents required with passport application include:

# Proof of Date of Birth i.e. Birth Certificate, etc

#Identity proof with photograph (to be verified by Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) Officials from the address proof and other documents)

#Proof of residence

#Proof of nationality (to be verified by Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) Officials from the supporting documents submitted).

Passport Issuing Authorities:

The Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India provides passport services through Central Passport Organisation (CPO) and its network of Passport Offices and Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs); and consular, passport and visa services to overseas Indians/foreign nationals through the Indian Missions and Posts abroad. Indian passports are issued through a network of 37 Passport Offices, CPV Division (only for Diplomatic and Official passports) and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Administration. This network has been expanded by addition of 77 Passport Seva Kendras as extended arms of Passport Offices. For Indians living abroad, passport and other miscellaneous services are rendered by 180 Indian Missions/Posts.

An applicant may confirm the jurisdiction of Regional Passport Office and Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) before submitting an application.

Procedures:

Under Passport Seva, new measures and procedures have been introduced in order to improve governance in Passport Offices. The new measures and procedures are aimed at ensuring citizens' comfort, improvement in delivery of passport services, transparency and enhanced security. Applicants are now required to present themselves at the respective Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) for enabling the Passport Issuing Authority to obtain applicants' photographs, biometrics and granting decision in their presence.

Online Registration and Appointment:

The Online Appointment system has been introduced to ensure avoiding congestion at the Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) and cutting down the waiting time for applicants. Appointments are allotted according to handling capacity of a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) and are based on an Electronic Queue Management System. The following steps are involved in applying for a passport: online registration, filling up and submitting online application form, (alternatively, download e-form, fill up and upload the same at the Online Portal), scheduling an appointment and finally, the visiting a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK).

For more details, please refer to section by clicking the 'Appointment Booking Process' link under 'Quick Guides' on the Online Portal Home Page.

For fast login in this  URL - http://passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/user/userLogin

Online Fee Payment:

Online Payment has been made mandatory for booking appointment to visit a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK). Online Payment can be made through any one of the following modes: Credit/Debit Card (MasterCard and Visa), Internet Banking (State Bank of India (SBI) and Associate Banks only) and SBI Bank Challan. Applicants applying under Tatkaal service need to pay only the fee as applicable under the Normal service while making Online Payment. The balance fee as applicable for Tatkaal will be payable in cash at Passport Seva Kendra (PSK)/Passport Office, once Tatkaal application is accepted by Officials. Online Payment will remain valid for one year from the first appointment date. The fee will be forfeited if applicants do not submit application at Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) within this period. No claim for refund, return or exchange of fee will be entertained for passport-related services. In case of multiple payments for the same Application Reference Number (ARN), for Passport-related services including miscellaneous services, the claims for refund will be dealt with as per the extant policy governing them.

National Call Centre/IVRS

For any information and suggestions on Passport services, please call at 1800-258-1800 (Toll Free) or write to us through accessing the "Feedback" link on the Home Page.

National Call Centre Timings:

    Citizen Service Executive Support: 8 AM to 10 PM

Office of the Chief Passport Officer
The Central Passport Organization which is a subordinate office of the Ministry of External Affairs is headed by Joint Secretary and Chief Passport Officer, who also acts as Appellate Authority under the Passports Act, 1967 and the Head of Department under the Delegation of Financial Powers Rules 1978.

Shri Arun K. Chatterjee

Joint Secretary (PSP) and CPO

CPV Division, Ministry of External Affairs

Room No. 8, Patiala House, Tilak Marg

New Delhi - 110001

Tel. No.: /23384536

Fax No.: +91-11-23071370

E-mail: jscpo@mea.gov.in

Application Form Overview

Q1: What are the various passport services and which form has to be filled in?

A:The various passport services are:

Issue of Fresh Passport: You can apply for fresh passport if applying for the first time.

Re-issue of Passport: You can apply for re-issue of passport if you are applying for another passport in lieu of an existing passport for any of the following reasons:

Your passport has either expired or is about to expire. You can apply for re-issue of passport up to one year before expiry or within three years after the expiry of the existing passport without fresh police verification, provided there is clear police report with respect to your previous passport and there is no adverse entry in the system.

Your last passport has expired more than three years ago

You want to change the personal particulars or other details specified in the passport

Pages in the existing passport booklet have exhausted

Passport booklet is lost

Passport booklet is damaged. The booklet may be damaged beyond recognition or damaged but recognizable (i.e. Passport number is readable, name is legible and photograph is intact

Miscellaneous Service: Issue of Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)

Main Application Form

Q2:The Surname field is blank on my passport. And my full name is written in the Given Name field. Could anybody tell the process to add the surname to my passport?

A: If you find any mistake/error in the particulars printed in the passport booklet and the application form you submitted, please return the passport for necessary rectification. Any additional fees required to be paid would depend solely on Assistant Passport Officers (APOs)/ Passport Officers (POs) decision. If there is a misrepresentation of facts, then penalty could also be imposed. Applicants are requested to apply online which will ensure that the passports are delivered without any typographical errors since the applicants have themselves fed the data. If you have done a mistake while filling your passport application form i.e. you have filled your full name in the "Given Name" field, then you will need to apply for re-issue of passport for change in personal particulars.

Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) Form

Q3:Can Police Clearance Certificate be issued for more than one country through one application form?

A: Police Clearance Certificate can only be issued for one country through one application form.

Diplomatic/Official Form

Q4:Is it necessary to paste the photograph in the printed copy of online filled Diplomatic/Official Passport Application Form? If yes, what should be the specifications of the photograph?

A:Yes, All applicants need to carry two coloured photographs (size 4.5 x 3.5 cm) with white background. Applicants should affix photographs on the printed copy of the online filled application form.

First photograph needs to be affixed on the first page of the application form without any signature/stamp.

Second photograph needs to be affixed on the third page of the application form, and then stamped across with office stamp and signature of the Head of Office.

Documents to be attached with the application form

Q5:Do I need to provide original documents or will certified copies or extract be enough?

A:Applicants are required to attach self -attested photocopies of all the required documents with the application form. Original documents must be produced at the counter; which will be returned after verification.

Q6:Is Identity Certificate mandatory for Government/Public Sector/Statutory body employees?

OR

Can a government employee apply as an ordinary citizen without submitting the additional documents?

OR

In what cases Annexure B,M and N have to be submitted and is it mandatory to submit these documents?

A:For issuance of fresh passport, Government/Public Sector/Statutory body employees need to submit either Identity Certificate in original as per Annexure "B" or No Objection Certificate (NOC) as per Annexure "M" or Prior Intimation Letter (PI) as per Annexure "N" as an additional document along with the application form. If he/she submits Annexure "B", passport will be issued without police verification and if he/she submits Annexure "M", then passport will be issued on post police verification basis and if he/she submits Annexure "N" then passport will be issued on pre police verification basis. For re-issue of passport, Government/Public Sector/Statutory body employees need to submit No Objection Certificate (NOC) as per Annexure "M" or Prior Intimation Letter (PI) as per Annexure "N" as an additional document along with the application form.

Q7:I am working in a private bank. ? Am I required to furnish my Identity Certificate?

A:Only Government/Public Sector/Statutory body employees need to submit their Identity Certificate. Employees of private banks are not required to submit Identity Certificate while applying for passport.

Q8:If a government employee wants to apply for major change in name in passport, is advertisement/declaration/announcement in a leading newspaper required to be submitted?

A:If Government/Public Sector/Statutory body employee wants to go for major change in name, then he/she has to submit the following additional documents:

Gazette Notification changing name in applicant's department.

Fresh ID Certificate in changed name.

Deed poll/sworn affidavit as per Annexure "E".

Hence, advertisement/declaration/announcement in leading newspaper is not required

Q9: Is No Police Verification (PV) possible in case of change in name of Govt. /PSU/Statutory Body employees? If yes, what documents are required?

A:The documents required rare:

Issue of fresh passport: In case of change in name of Govt./PSU/statutory body employees, Pre-PV will be done. Post-PV will be done on submission of Tatkaal documents.

To know the document details, please click on "Documents Required" link on Home page.

Q10:Can dependents of Government/Public Sector/Statutory body employees apply for the passport in the normal process without submitting any affidavits?

A:Dependent family members of Government/Public Sector/Statutory body employees can be issued passport without police verification, if they submit the following additional documents along with their application form:

"Identity Certificate" in original as per Annexure "B" (of dependent)

Standard Affidavit as per Annexure "I"

Otherwise, passport would be issued to them on pre police verification basis, or post police verification basis - if they apply under the Tatkaal scheme.

Q11: Is it mandatory to submit Birth Certificate for applicants who are born on or after 26.01.1989?

A:Yes, for applicants born on or after 26.01.89, only Birth Certificate issued by the Municipal Authority or any office authorized to issue Birth and Death Certificate by the Registrar of Births and Deaths is acceptable.

Q12:Do I need to submit a Birth Certificate for re-issue of a passport?

A:In case of re-issue of passport, you need to submit a date of birth proof, if either your old passport is lost/damaged or you want to change date of birth details in the passport.

Q13:I am a salaried person and Income tax is deducted from salary. What are the documents I need to submit for Non-ECR status?

A:Following documents have to be submitted for Non-ECR (previously ECNR) status:

Proof of assessment of income tax and actual payment of income tax for the last one year; OR

Income Tax return statement (with income tax being paid by the applicant) for the last one year that is stamped by income tax authorities and a copy of your PAN card.

To know the document details, please click on "Documents Required" link on Home page.

Q14: What documents are required when there is a change in name on account of divorce?

A:Following additional documents have to be submitted:-

Court certified copy of Divorce decree or self attested copy of Divorce certificate

Deed Poll or Sworn Affidavit as per Annexure "E" given in the Passport Instruction booklet

To know the document details, please click on "Documents Required" link on Home page.

Q15:What documents have to be submitted for applicants who are unable to provide the prescribed marriage certificate or joint affidavit due to marital discord or separation and are applying for fresh passport?

A:Such applicants have to submit an affidavit sworn before First Class Judicial Magistrate or Executive Magistrate on a Non-Judicial stamp paper as per specimen provided in Annexure 'K'. For format of Annexure 'K', please Click Here (Instruction Booklet)

Q16:What are the requirements /documents needed for getting the date of birth changed in my passport?

A:To change the date of birth in your passport, you have to apply for re-issue of passport and get the specified change done in the personal particulars. To know the document details, please click on "Documents Required" link on Home page.

Q17: I want to apply for a passport. I have changed my address last month. What documents should I submit along with the application form?

A:You need to submit the following documents:

Old passport in original with self-attested photocopy of its first two and last two pages, including ECR/Non-ECR page (previously ECNR), the page of observation (if any) made by Passport Issuing Authority and validity extension page, if any, in respect of short validity passport

Proof of present address

Also, provide your "Previous Residence with Reference Details" in Column 3 of the supplementary form.

Q18:Can I apply for change in my gender or change in father's/mother's name in the passport? What additional documents do I have to submit?

A: To change your gender or your father's/mother's name, you have to apply for re-issue of passport and get the specified change done in personal particulars. To know the document details, please click on "Documents Required" link on Home page.

Q19:An applicant has repatriated from abroad at Government cost and wants to apply for a fresh passport. However he does not have a proof of refund of repatriation cost to Ministry of External Affairs. What should he do?

A: Meet the Assistant Passport Officer (APO) at his/her nearest Passport Seva Kendra (PSK).

Q20:In case of Christians, Muslims and Parsis, will marriage certificate issued by Qazi/Church be accepted as a valid proof for marriage certificate?

A:An attested copy of marriage certificate issued by Registrar of Marriage would only be accepted as a valid proof for marriage certificate. If you have marriage certificate issued by Qazi/Church, then you need to meet Assistant Passport Officer (APO) at your nearest Passport Seva Kendra (PSK).

Q21:What should be the value of the stamp paper on which the various affidavits required are to be executed?

A: An affidavit needs to be prepared on a non-judicial stamp paper of minimum value.

Q22:I am a self employed person and have recently shifted to Bangalore from Delhi. I want to apply for a passport on Tatkaal basis, but I don't have any address proof. What should I do?

A:It is mandatory to submit proof of address to apply for a passport. For Proof of Address, attach one of the following documents:

Water/Telephone (landline or post paid mobile bill)/Electricity bill/Statement of running bank account (Scheduled Commercial bank excluding Regional Rural banks and local area banks)/Income Tax Assessment Order/Election Commission Photo Id card/Gas connection bill/Certificate from Employer of reputed and widely known companies on letter head

Spouse's passport copy (First and last page including family details), (provided the applicant's present address matches the address mentioned in the spouse's passport)

Parent's passport copy, in case of minors (First and last page)

Aadhaar Card

Registered Rent Agreement

Note: Any of the remaining documents containing address out of sixteen documents listed under Tatkaal application, could also be accepted as proof of residence if such documents have the same present residential address as given by the applicant in the Passport Application Form.

Q23:Can I use Passbook/statement of banks as a proof of address?

A:Bank statement will not be accepted as proof of address. Click here to view the list of banks whose photo passbook is acceptable as proof of address.

Others Application Form Related Queries

Q24:What are the major defects noticed at the PSK/ Passport Office , when an application is scrutinized?

A:The major defects noticed at the PSK/ Passport Office , when an application is scrutinized are as follows:

If an applicant has stayed at more than one place during the last one year from the date of submission of his/her application, all the addresses should be indicated. Any incomplete residential information when noticed during the Police Verification not only attracts penalty but also leads to considerable delay in processing the case. Applicants are required to attach self-attested copies of all documents with the application form. Original documents must also be produced at the counter; these will be returned after verification.

Whenever, there is addition of spouse name in the form and if the applicant's previous passport did not have the spouse name, attach the required documents.

Similarly, whenever the spouse name is not being mentioned in the new application whereas the earlier passport had the Spouse name, then the Divorce deed/Death certificate etc. has to be enclosed, to enable the Passport Office (PO) to accede to the request of the applicant.

For applicants born on or after 26.01.89, only Birth Certificate issued by the Municipal Authority or any office authorized to issue Birth and Death Certificate by the Registrar of Births and Deaths is acceptable. The Birth Certificate should contain the name of the child, name of father and mother, date of birth, place of birth, gender, registration number and date of registration. If the Birth Certificate doesn't contain the name of the child, a declaration on plain paper signed by parents, is required to be submitted specifying the name of the child.

All other applicants born before 26.1.1989, should either submit Birth certificate issued by a Municipal Authority or any office authorized to issue Birth and Death Certificate by the Registrar of Births and Deaths or School leaving certificate/Secondary School leaving certificate/Certificate of Recognized Boards from the school last attended by the applicant or any other recognized educational institution. Illiterate or semi-illiterate applicants (Less than 5th class) can submit notarized affidavits indicating their place and date of birth as per specimen provided in Annexure "A".

Photograph is not required for applications submitted at Passport Seva Kendra (PSK). For applications submitted at other collection centers, ensure that the photograph is front facing with both ears visible, and has a plain white background. Photograph is not to be signed. For details refer "Table 1: Dos and Don'ts concerning Photograph to be submitted at Speed Post Centre (SPC)/Citizen Service Centre (CSC)" in the passport instruction booklet.

Single parent of the child born out of wedlock should submit a declaration affirming the particulars furnished in the application about the minor child as per: Annexure "C".

Use black or blue ball point pen only. Do NOT fill the application form with ink-pen or pencil.

Self attested photocopies of documents have to be submitted with the application form.

Under the Tatkaal scheme, you need to submit a Standard Affidavit as per the specimen provided in Annexure 'I' along with Verification Certificate as per specimen provided in Annexure 'F' or three documents out of the list of sixteen documents mentioned below. The Passport Issuing Authority has the right to verify the authenticity of the Verification Certificate from the official who has issued it. For three documents to be submitted from the sixteen documents listed below, one of the three documents should be a photo identity document and at least one of the three must be amongst the documents indicated as (a) to (i) below and name in all the three documents should be same.

Electors Photo Identity Card

Service Identity Card issued by State/Central Government, Public Sector Undertakings, local bodies or public Limited Companies

SC/ST/OBC Certificates

Freedom Fighter Identity Cards

Arms Licenses

Property Documents such as Pattas, Registered Deeds etc.

Ration cards

Service Identity Card issued by State/Central Government, Public Sector Undertakings, local bodies or public Limited Companies

Railway Identity Cards

Income Tax Identity (PAN) cards

Student Photo Identity Cards issued by Government Recognized Educational Institutions in respect of full time courses

Driving Licenses (valid and within the jurisdiction of State of submission of application)

Birth Certificates issued under the RBD act

Gas Connection Bill.

Bank/ Kisan/ Post Office Passbooks

Aadhaar card

TATKAAL applications which are accompanied by Verification Certificate as per Annexure "F" should always be in the Official Stationery of the officer issuing the certificate, and invariably enclose the official and residence telephone no. of the officer along with mobile no., copy of the Identity card with photograph of the officer and the photo of the applicant should be stamped with the office seal. Defense officials who need not submit their photo ID should submit any other photo ID for record. The applicants are also advised to bring an affidavit on non-judicial stamp paper duly attested by a Notary Public, as per the specimen provided in Annexure "I".

Q25: I have printed my online form and have found a mistake. How can I correct it?

A: At the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) please ask the Citizen Service Executive (CSE) to make the required changes in the application form.

 #Download Instructions Booklet here
#Locate Passport Seva Kendra and Laghu Kendra.

Download e-Form

• Fresh or Re-issue of Passport Click here    Updated on 14/04/2016
• Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) Click here    Updated on 14/04/2016
• Identity Certificate e-Form (applicable to Tibetan Refugees and Stateless People) Click here    Updated on 14/04/2016
• Surrender Certificate e-Form  Click here    Updated on 14/04/2016