New 𝑷𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝑨𝒑𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑹𝒖𝒍𝒆𝒔 In India 2024

The Indian government issues legal documents that work as identity proof in foreign lands. This legal document is known as a passport. There are several passport rules under the Passport Act 1967 that applicants have to follow. These passport laws incorporate the issuance of passports to individuals. 

The Passport Act of 1967 has had several modifications and expansions over all these years. This brings the new passport rules into action. All the authorities that issue passports fall under the Ministry of External Affairs. 

There are strict rules for a passport and they are only bestowed on eligible citizens of the nation. All the applicants have to follow the passport rules before their issuance. 

Let’s read here to learn more about the passport rules or passport renewal rules.

Remember the Following Passport Rules

Given the passport rules, one should be aware of: 

You need a proper passport before departing from your country. A passport must be a legal, valid, and recent document issued by the Passport Authority under the Passport Act, 1980. 

Passport Categories

There are three types of passport categories, which are as follows:

• Ordinary Passport
• Official Passport
• Diplomatic Passport

Travel Documents Categories

Here are the travel documents enabled refer to under passport rules.

• An emergency certificate that enables an individual to enter the country.
• An identity certificate to identify the person.
• All the certificates and documents are asked for.

Rules for Applying for a Passport

If an individual requires a passport, then he or she must apply to the passport authority by following the prescribed channels. They have to make sure to submit all the documents and pay the charges to let the application proceed further. Your passport can be rejected if it didn’t pass the passport laws, and the passport authority has this right. You can read the rules for applying for a passport below.

Kinds of Passport Applications

There are two types of passport applications:

• Fresh Passport: Passport applied for the first time.
• Re-issue of Passport: For renewing or modifying or updating any information on the current passport.

Where Will You Submit the Passport Application?

The passport application can be submitted online. But, if you want to submit it by filing an offline application form, you can submit it at the following places.

• Any Passport Seva Kendra or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra that falls within the area of your passport office.
• To District Passport Cell of your ward.
• You can select any Speed Post Centre in your ward.
• You can submit the passport application in your area at the Citizen Service Centre. 

How to Fill the Application Form?

Name: Write your name neatly and your initials must be expanded. 

Name of Parents: As per the passport renewal rules, a candidate can enter the parent’s name or the name of their legal guardian. It helps single parents to successfully apply for their under-18 child without struggle.

Partner’s Name: Both divorced and separated individuals don’t have to give their spouse’s name or submit a divorce document.

Proof of Birth Date

As per the passport renewal rules and passport travel rules, now candidates can provide the following documents as proof of birth:

• Birth certificates are issued by the Registrar of Birth and DeatMunicipal Corporation.
• Transfer or matriculation by last attended school, etc.
• PAN card is issued by the IT (Income Tax) department with DOB.
• Aadhaar cards or eaadhar with the date of birth.
• Driving licence
• EPIC (Election Photo Identity Card) with the date of birth.
• Policy bonds are issued by Life Insurance Corporations/Companies with DOB (Date of Birth).
• A service record copy of the applicant (government employees) or pay pension order (for retired government employees), attested or certified by an officer or administrative charge from the concerned department with DOB.

Birth Proof for Minors

• Orphaned children can provide their matriculation certificate, birth certificate, court order declaration, or declaration from the chairperson of the orphanage or child care.
• If the child is born without the wedding, that child can submit Annexure G along with a passport application.
• For adopted children in your own country, you have to submit the decree on a paper about the confirmation of adoption. A legal adoption deed is not required anymore. 

Updates

• Most of the annexures are removed. It can be on plain paper or on a self-declaration form. As per the passport rules, you don’t have to attest, swear by, or register these self-declaration forms.
• Married couples don’t have to provide marriage certificates or Annexures K.
• You can apply from any corner of the country. 

Appointment Scheduling

After filling out your passport application and submitting it, you have to pay the fees. After that, you can fix an appointment and visit the passport office for the validation of all the documents. You can also schedule an appointment online via the Passport Seva Portal.

After you apply and schedule a visit, police verification will take place. There are types of police verification. 

• No PV: No application verification is needed.
• Pre PV: Pre Police Verification.
• Post PV: Post Police Verification.

Verification Rules for Passports by Police

There are three types of verification rules for passport applicants. They are as follows:

• No Police Validation
• Pre-Police Verification
• Post-Police Verification

No Police Validation

As per the passport renewal rules, no police verification is required for the reissue or renewal of a passport if the passport is offered before the passport expires or within 3 years of the passport expiry. 

• Also, police verification is not required for government officials if an NOC (No Objection Certificate) is needed and other documents are submitted with the passport application.
• Government or PSU or statutory body personnel who need a passport have to send a form normally known as an identity card by using Annex B and are eligible to receive a passport without police verification.
• Police validation will not be important for the diplomatic or authorised passport of the candidates while applying for the standard passport as the applying process is for an identity certificate by using Annex B.

Pre-Police Verification

It is one of the most popular passport validation methods among passport applicants. The police authentication is done before the issuance of a passport. This method is even preferable in Takal passport scenarios. 

Post-Police Verification

After the passport is issued, a police review will be carried out in the following circumstances:

• If the submission of the form for re-issue is done within 3 years of the passport’s expiry. 
• PV column is blank or incomplete.
• Application submitted for re-issue after 18 years of age of a minor.
• Lost or damaged the passport.
• Or specifics are not issued.

Don’t miss It!

Rules for Tatkal Passports

Tatkal applications include both new and re-issuance of passport applications. Previously, a Verification Certificate was required for a Takal passport, that too from a Gazetted officer. But the rule has been changed in recent years to allow applicants to get passports during any emergency. 

The Tatkal passport applications are submitted online using the Passport Seva Portal. During this, the candidates have to give an interview to validate the documents. Your passport will be granted and dispatched to your place in a few days after the documents are verified. 

However, the Tatkal passport issue will depend on the following categories to be processed:

• No police verification will be required within a single working day. The submission date of the application is excluded.
• Police validation is a must for a Post-Passport Issuance based on the 3rd working day. The submission date of the application will be excluded. 

Rules for Passport Renewal

There is a difference between passport renewal and passport re-issue. For passport renewal, the passport authority provides the existing one as the renewed one. However, for passport re-issue, you will receive a brand-new passport. 

You will be eligible for a passport renewal when its validity expires. Whereas, a passport re-issued can be done in the following circumstances:

• If you lose your passport.
• The passport is stolen.
• The passport is damaged.
• Page exhaustion.
• Any changes in personal information.

Passport Rules Already in Use

Here are the significant changes made by the MEA that are already in effect: 

Common Passport Applicants Opt for Post-Police Verification

The MEA has explained the facility of post-police verification. Previously, the option was available only to applicants who had applied for a Tatkal passport. But now, anyone can avail of this benefit without paying extra charges. Applicants will receive their passport 1 week from the appointment date. However, the tentative time frame will be 21 days due to police verification, the application process, and passport issuance.

No Birth Certificate Required

Any applicant born before January 1, 1989, has to submit their birth certificates. But, as per the latest changes, they are now submitting any document that has their birth details. The documents that can be used as a substitute are: PAN card, voter’s ID, Aadhaar card, driving licence, life insurance policy with the birth date, transfer certificate, matriculation certificate, or school leaving certificate. 

Name of Any Legal Guardians or Parent

For new or re-issue passports: For minors, both parents or guardians have to sign Annexure ‘D.’ This is to protect the interests of minor applicants.

While applying for a passport for minors, both parents have to be present at the PSK/POPSK or at least one parent has to be there. 

If any parents live outside India, the parent submitting the application in India has to sign the form and acquire the approval of the parent living outside the country. If any parent’s permission is not obtained, a statement in the form of Annexure-C might need to be submitted with a proper explanation of events. 

Divorced or Married Individuals

Applicants who are divorced or married don’t need to provide a marriage certificate or a joint affidavit.

Urgent Job-Related Passports

Any government official can submit a self-declaration if they haven’t acquired any identity certificate or NoC (No Objection Certificate) from their employer. 

Further, the self-declaration form is given to the passport issuing authorities, stating that the applicant has provided all the information required by the employer when applying for a general passport. 

Latest New Passport Rules

Read the latest passport rules given below by the Indian government:

Parent’s Name and Resident Address Will Be On the Passport

It is announced that the address and parent’s name will not be mentioned on the final page of any passport. This step is taken to avoid disclosing any personal data about the passport candidates.

Change in Passport Colour

In India, there are different types of passports issued. Instead of blue, the ECR (Emigration Check Required) type will have orange colour passports to make their immigration checks more efficient. 

• Maroon is for government officials and diplomats.
• Navy Blue for general citizens of India.
• Orange for ECR (Emigration Check Required)

Passport Photo Rules on Your Application Form

If you have submitted your passport application to Passport Seva Kendra or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra, there will be no requirement for a photograph. Only one passport photograph will be attached to other applications and sent to other centres like the Approved Speed Post Centre (SPC), Collection Center at District Passport Cell (DPC), or other CSC (Citizen Service Centre).

Post Passport Issuance Police Verification

Applicants who need a fresh passport under the general quota can opt for the post-police verification option without paying anything extra. The passport will be released under police verification, and post-issuance police checking will be carried out. It is important to include 28 digit Aadhar enrollment number.

FAQ’s about Passport Rules