Optional Grouping: Passport

The procedure for a new Passport, updating a Passport and re-issuing a Passport in case you have lost or damaged it, is the same in India. With respect to Passport, reissue refers to renewal of a passport. These can be done either online or in-person – both the procedures are described below.

Please note that you can cancel/reschedule your Passport appointment only two times in a given year, and once that is over, you must restart the process after one year.^{(( Ministry of External Affairs, Passport Seva, FAQs, Fee Payment, https://portal1.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/online/faqFeePayment))} For example, if you have booked an appointment for 16th January, 2020, and you change it to 20th January, 2020, you only have one opportunity left to change/cancel your Passport appointment.

Online Procedure

You have two modes of application i.e. via online form submission^{(( Ministry of External Affairs, Passport Seva, e-Form Submission, https://portal1.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/online/pccOnlineEForm))} or via online e-form submission.^{(( IndiaGov, Passport Seva Portal, https://www.india.gov.in/spotlight/passport-seva-portal-convenient-way-get-passport#tab=tab-2))} These are discussed in detail below:

Step 1 – For online form submission, you should register on Passport Seva Portal, and then log in to the Passport Seva Portal, where you will be able to download the e-Form for fresh/reissue of Passport. For e-form submission, you should register on Passport Seva Portal and then log in to the Passport Seva Portal, where you should click on “Apply for Fresh Passport or “Reissue of Passport”.

Step 2 – For online form submission, you should download the form, and fill it, and click it “validate and save”. This will generate an XML file, which you must upload through “upload e-form”.  For e-form submission, you should fill in the form and submit it.

Step 3 – You should click on “Pay and Schedule Appointment”, which will enable you to schedule an appointment at Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) at a branch of your preference.

Step 4 – You should make the online payment.  The fee payable also varies on the basis of what kind of Passport you are applying for, if it is a new Passport or a re-issue, etc.

Step 5 – You should take a print-out of the application receipt containing Application Reference Number (ARN) or Appointment Number, and visit the PSK where you have booked your appointment,  along with original documents. You can also check this list to find out the Passport Seva Kendras in India.

Step 6 – You should get your documents verified in the PSK. The documents required vary on the basis of whether the applicant is a major person, minor person or senior citizen, if the applicant is eligible for Non-ECR category, reason for reissue, etc. You will generally require to provide proof of birth, proof of residence, and proof for Non-ECR category, if applicable. See here for a consolidated list of documents that you will require.

Step 7 – You should get your finger impressions taken, and get your photograph clicked.

Step 8 –  You should get police verification done, where the police from your local police station will come and verify your address.

Step 9 – You can track your application status through the online account you have made on the portal.

Step 10 – Your Passport will be delivered to you. The time taken for you to get your Passport also depends on many factors, such as need for police verification, time taken for verification of documents, etc.

Procedure for Applying In-Person^{(( IndiaGov, Passport Seva Portal, https://www.india.gov.in/spotlight/passport-seva-portal-convenient-way-get-passport#tab=tab-2))}

To apply for a new Passport/reissue of Passport in person,follow the steps given below:

Step 1 – You should download the application form for new/reissue of Passport from Passport Seva Portal on an A4 size paper, or purchase the form from the local District Passport Cell (DPC) for a nominal fee. See here to find a DPC.

Step 2 –  You should fill the form, and submit it with the required documents to the DPC.

Step 3 – You should get your application and documents verified by the officials at DCP. See Step 3 of online procedure for details.

Step 4 –  You should pay the prescribed fee in the form of a demand draft. Please ensure you write your name, date of birth, and the date of submission of form behind the DD. See above for details.

Step 5 –  You should get your finger impressions taken, and get your photograph clicked.

Step 6 – Thereafter, you should collect the Acknowledgment Letter which contains a File Number, which you can use for tracking the application status.

Step 7 – You should get police verification done, where the police from your local police station will come and verify your address.

Step 8 – Your Passport will be delivered to you. The time taken for you to get your Passport also depends on many factors, such as need for police verification, time taken for verification of documents, etc.

If you require any additional help and support, please see here.

Read this government resource to know more

A Passport is an official document issued by the government that allows you to travel^{(( Section 3, Passports Act, 1967[))} internationally, and serves as a proof of identification.^{(( Section 3, Passports Act, 1967))} The Ministry of External Affairs issues Passports through the Central Passport Organisation (CPO) and you will be able to apply for a passport by approaching Passport Offices, Passport Seva Kendras (PSK) and Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSK) in India.

There are three kinds of Passports: ordinary, official and diplomatic.^{(( Section 4(1), Passports Act, 1967))} In this section, only ordinary Passports will be covered, for which only Indian nationals are eligible. Please note that you can hold only one Passport at a time.^{(( Rule 13, Passports Rules, 1980))}

Please note that a Passport will be valid for a period of 10 years,^{(( Rule 12(1A), Passports Rules, 1980))}. India-Bangladesh Passports which were valid for 3 years have been discontinued in 2013. ^{(( Rule 12(2), Passports Rules, 1980))}

Precautions to be taken in Relation to a Passport:^{(( Schedule V (Conditions 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8), Passports Rules, 1980))}

• You must not send a Passport out of any country by post.
• You should not let anyone who is not authorized to use the Passport possess it.
• You are personally responsible for its safety, so if it is damaged or lost, you must immediately report it to the nearest Passport authority, or the nearest Indian Mission or Post and to the local police, if you are abroad.
• You must not alter your Passport in any way, without authorization of the relevant official(s).
• If your children’s particulars are included in your Passport, they must not travel alone.
• A child, whose particulars are included in his guardian’s Passport, must apply for a separate one on turning 15 years of age.

If you violate these provisions, you can be punished with jail time between  3 months and 2 years and/or a fine between Rs. 500 and Rs. 5,000, on the first offence, and with double the penalty on subsequent  offence.^{(( Section 12, Passports Act, 1967))} For example, if you allow someone to use your passport, the first you will be jailed for 2 years and/or fined Rs. 5,000, and if you do it again, you will be jailed for 4 years and/or be fined Rs. 10,000.

Penalties in Relation to a Passport 

If you do any of the following, you can be punished with jail time between 1 and 5 years and a fine between Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 50,000^{(( Section 12(1), Passports Act, 1967))}:

• You travel internationally without  a valid Passport or travel documents
• You provide false information and do not disclose information, in order to get a Passport
• You do not provide your Passport for inspection to relevant authorities (i.e. any Passport authority, any police officer above and equal to the rank of Sub-Inspector, and any officer empowered by the Central Government in relation to this)
• You use a Passport or travel documents that belongs to another person
• You allow another person to use your Passport or travel documents
• You aid or help anyone in doing the points given above.

Please read here for surrender of Passport, and here for revocation and impounding of Passport.

You can get a new Passport or get it reissued and updated. There is also a facility for a Tatkal Passport. If you require any additional help and support, please see here.

Read this government resource to know more.

Tatkal Passport is a scheme available citizens who need their Passports urgently. In this scheme, the Passport is dispatched within 1 working day excluding the date of submission of application if police verification is not required, and in 3 working days, if it is required.

To apply for a Tatkal Passport, follow the procedure given for obtaining a  new Passport, and check “Tatkal” in “Type of Application” while filling out the application form.

If you require any additional help and support, please see here.

Check out this Government FAQ to know more