𝑷𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝑰𝒏𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: Complete Indian Passport Related Services

If you are a world traveler, you will always have your passport. But have you ever considered your passport, which is crucial in enabling your journey because you cannot reach foreign borders without it? For travelers, the passport represents freedom, adventure, and new experiences. It enables you to enter a country and discover its enchantments and mysteries. Here are some fascinating facts regarding passports. It essentially demonstrates that a person can enter and exit a nation, but its primary role is to identify where the bearer came from and where he went.

Did you know that in 2015, India ranked third in the world regarding passport issuance? In this blog, we’ll discuss all the ins and outs of the Indian passport! 

What are the Many Types of Passports Available in India?

The average Indian surely remains unaware that various types of passports exist in our country. However, just as different visas require different types of documents, persons require different types of these documents depending on their occupation. Let’s learn everything we can about these many passports in India!

Ordinary Passport

A standard passport has 36/60 pages. For adults, it is generally valid for ten years post the date of issuance and can be reissued once the passport expires. Minors’ passports have a five-year validity period or till they reach adulthood, that is, the age of 18, whichever happens first.

Diplomatic Passport

Issued to authorised members designated by the Government of India. Only Indian government personnel going outside the nation on official business are issued this sort of passport. These officers include those from the Indian Administrative Service and the Indian Police Service Department.

Official Passport

A passport issued to selected government employees or anybody else specifically authorised by the government to go abroad on official business.

What is the Procedure for Obtaining an Indian passport?

Step 1. Fill out the passport application form and submit it to the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Regional Passport Office (RPO).

Step 2: Register by visiting the Passport Seva Online Portal. (On the Home Page, click the “Register Now” link).

Step 3: Log in to the Passport Seva Online Portal using your registered Login Id and password.

Step 4: Select the “Apply for a New Passport/Reissue a Passport” link.

Step 5: Complete the application with the needed data and submit it.

Step 6: To schedule an appointment, go to the “View Saved/Submitted Applications” tab and click on the “Pay and Schedule Appointment” link. 

Step 7: For all PSK/POPSK/PO visits, online payment has become mandatory. Payments can be made online using any of the following processes:

• Debit/Credit Card (MasterCard and Visa)
• Internet Banking (SBI Associate Banks and Other Banks)
• SBI Bank Challan

Step 8: To print the application receipt with the Application Reference Number (ARN)/Appointment Number, click the “Print Application Receipt” link.

You do not need to bring a copy of the Application Receipt. Upon your trip to the Passport Office, an SMS with all of your appointment details is also considered to be a valid proof of appointment.

Step 9: Bring original documents to the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK)/Regional Passport Office (RPO) where your scheduled appointment is.

Step 10: Submit the required documents along with the application form.

Step 11: Pay the passport application fee.

Step 12: Schedule an appointment for a document verification session.

Step 13: Attend the appointment for the document verification session.

Step 14:  Attend the appointment for biometric data collection.

Step 15: Receive the passport.

What are all Documents Required to Apply for an Indian Passport?

The documents a citizen might need to apply for an Indian passport are mentioned below:

• Proof of Address such as Voter ID, Aadhar Card, or Ration Card.
• Proof of Date of Birth such as Birth Certificate, PAN Card, or Matriculation Certificate.
• Citizenship proof such as a Certificate of Registration of Birth, Citizenship Certificate, or Certificate of Domicile.
• Two passport-sized photos.
• Parents’ passport details, if applicable.
• Previous passport, if applicable.
• Police Clearance Certificate, if applicable.
• Elderly persons may need to submit Medical Certificate.

How Can I Schedule an Appointment to Apply for an Indian Passport?

The first step is to reserve a time slot by making an appointment online. It’s advisable to start at least three months before your preferred travel date to give yourself adequate time. Because of the high amount of applications, the earliest available slots may be too late for you, especially during these extraordinary times when community quarantines required government agencies to function with skeleton personnel and halted or slowed most government operations. Walk-ins are not acceptable! Walk-in or courtesy lane services have been discontinued due to the COVID-19 epidemic until further notice. This is done to manage and control pedestrian traffic.

To schedule an appointment to apply for an Indian passport, go to the official website of the Indian government’s Passport Seva Program. 

To book the appointment, you must first register and establish a profile. After you’ve created your profile, click the “Book an Appointment” button to choose a date and time for your appointment. You must bring the necessary passport documents and fees to the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) at the time of the appointment.

What is the Procedure for Checking the Status of a Passport?

There are a total of four methods that you can employ to track the status of your passport application. They have been mentioned as follows:

• To view the status of your passport application, check at what stage your passport is through the Passport Seva Portal website.
• You can also use the 1800 258 1800 toll-free number to view the status of your passport application check.
• Sending an SMS with the subject ‘STATUS FILE NUMBER’ to 9704 100 100 can also help you with your passport application check.
• Make use of the mPassport Seva smartphone app to view the status of your passport application check.

Don’t miss It

What are the Application Expenses for an Indian Passport?

Expenses for an Indian passport have been mentioned below in a tabular format below for your convenience:

Postal Passport Delivery by the Indian Government

Postal Passport Delivery is a service provided by the Indian Postal Service to citizens who require their passports outside the typical delivery cycle. This service is accessible in all major cities in India and is intended to ensure that the passport reaches the consumer as soon as feasible. The Postal Passport Delivery service can be requested online, in any approved passport office, or at any post office. The passport will be delivered to the customer’s address within two to three days of receiving the request. Customers can also check the status of their passport delivery by phone or online.

How Long is the Validity of an Indian passport?

Indian Adults are often awarded passports with a 10-year validity period. Minors’ passports have a 5-year validity period or until the minor turns 18, whichever occurs first. On the other hand, minors from 15 to 18 years old can apply for either a 10-year passport or a passport valid until they reach the age of 18. 

Different passport application fees apply for different periods of validity. Furthermore, most foreign missions/embassies need passports valid for at least six months to one year before issuing visas. As a result, it is best to request a re-issue far ahead to avoid a last-minute rush.

FAQ’s Passport Information