The Passport is an essential travel document issued by the Indian Government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Indian citizens for international travel. Moreover, it is a valuable document and proves your identity and Indian citizenship. In India all passport applications are processed and issued by the Passport Seva Unit. There are nearly 93 passport offices located across India and 197 Indian diplomatic missions abroad. Personal appearance of the applicant is mandatory for all types of passport applications in India.
Whatever trip you may be planning, applying for a new passport or renewing an expired one can be quite tedious, complex and mind numbing. While you'll find everything you need to know about the often complicated process on the government website, Akbar Travels has made things much easier for you by breaking down the basics—from online forms to passport fees to booking appointments—and providing a checklist of the mandatory documents, we have you covered. Our trusted Passport Experts are skilled at outlining everything that will be needed to facilitate getting your Indian passport online smoothly and quickly.
The Government of India issues three types of passports as follows:
Ordinary Passport: An ordinary passport is issued for ordinary travel which can be for leisure, business or study trips. It is navy blue in color, valid for 10 years and consists of 36/60 pages. For minors' passport, the validity is restricted to five years or till they attain the age of 18, whichever is earlier.
Diplomatic Passport: A Diplomatic passport is issued to Indian diplomats, members of parliament and any high ranking government officials having a diplomatic status and travelling on official duty for the Indian Government. The passport is maroon in color and is valid for 5 years or less depending upon the designation of the official and the type of visit. It is a “Type D” and stands for diplomat.
Official Passport: Issued to individuals representing the Indian Government traveling abroad for official assignments and visits. The passport is white in color and is valid for 5 years or less depending upon the designation of the official and the type of visit. It is a “type S” passport which stands for service.
The purpose of the Diplomatic and Official passports is for the immigration and custom officials of the destination country to know that the holder is entering the country on official business.
Emergency Certificate (EC): The Emergency travel document is issued when one’s current passport booklet is unavailable because it is either lost, stolen, mutilated or expired. The EC authorises Indians to enter India under such circumstances.
Processing time can take anywhere between eight to eleven weeks for a standard application. Under the Tatkal passport system, passport is dispatched strictly within 3 business days. It can take longer if more information is needed or your application hasn’t been filled out correctly.
Tip: To minimize the passport processing time, make sure your application includes everything you need. It is always advisable to build in some buffer time and allow ample time for the process.
Need your passport sooner? If you need a passport on urgent basis, Tatkal passport service can be a live saver. You can get your passport expedited within roughly three days for an extra fee in addition to the standard processing fees.
Tatkal Passport service is a fast track passport issuance facility provided by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for quick dispensation of passports under the ‘Tatkal scheme’. Passport applications under the tatkal scheme guarantee early appointment, quick verification and faster verification through a separate queue. If a traveler needs to travel urgently, he/she can apply for and receive passport within 1-3* days. Applications that dont require police verification will be processed within 1 working day, while for applications that require police verification, passport will be submitted on the third working day and police verification will happen after the issuance of passport.
The fees and requirements for getting an Indian passport are a little different than those for adults. Physical presence of both parents is required while submitting the application along with Annexure-D signed by both parents. In case, either parent is abroad, the available parent should obtain consent of the other parent in Annexure-D. In the event, where consent of both parents is not possible, declaration in form of Annexure-C should be provided along with the passport application India.
A Police clearance certificate (PCC) is required to prove your moral character as the Indian Government wants to ensure only ethical, responsible applicants are approved. This document is issued by the Police officials as part of your background check. In case of any criminal record, your passport application may be denied.
Depending upon the type of passport application; fresh issuance or reissue of passport, the Passport Office (PO) will decide whether police verification is required or not.
If your passport has expired, lost or or the pages have been exhausted, its time to renew your passport. For passport renewal process in India, you must submit your old passport along with the supporting documents. The old passport is then returned with a hole punched in the cover and a canceled stamp, which invalidates it (in case of reissue of passport). Once you’ve submitted your application for renewal of passport, it generally takes lesser amount of time than a first-time fresh passport application — four to six weeks. With reference to passport renewal process in India, police verification is not required or only post police verification may be required. There can be exceptions for reissue in lieu of complete change of name / lost passport / change in the particulars on the first or last cover page of the passport, depending on records available in the Passport Office System. It is very important to renew the passport before it expires for a hassle-free international travel.
Waiting until last minute to get or renew the passport cause extra money and result into canceling or delaying the trip
Renew or reissue your passport easily. Try our paperless online service. No forms, no fuss.
Renewal of passport is applicable to Indian passports that are issued with a limited validity of 1 to 5 years. In case of passport renewal process in India, changes will be done on the same old passport; the passport number wont be changed, only the validity period is extended. On renewal, the passport can be extended for 10 years. All these changes will be done on the same passport and delivered as a renewed passport.
Reissue of passport is applicable when the holder needs a new passport booklet due to lost, stolen or damaged passport. The applicant will be issued a new passport booklet with a new passport number.
Note: Process for both renewal and reissue of passport is very much similar.
If you’ve gotten married, remarried, divorced or just changed your name since getting your last passport, you need to apply for a “Reissue” of passport and submit official proof of the name change, such as a marriage certificate (along with spouse’s passport copy), divorce certificate / death certificate (in respect of first spouse) along with the application.
In order to add spouse’s name on your passport, you must apply for the reissue of Passport with the marriage certificate (original and attested photocopy) along with the supporting documents (check above documents list for comprehensive list). Through this process, a new passport will be issued to you with a new passport number.
If your previous passport was lost or stolen, you'll have to apply for the reissue of passport. Through this process, a new Indian passport will be issued to you.
Please note, that your passport is a prized possession, store it safely and securely.
Relocating to a new address? In case you hold a passport with your previous residential address, you will have to update the new address in your passport. In order to change the address on your passport, you need to apply for the reissue of your passport. Through this process, a new passport will be issued to you with a new passport number and updated address.
Have your passport pages got exhausted? Do you need to travel but have no pages left for visa stamp? In this case, you will need to apply for the reissue of your passport. Through this process, a new passport will be issued.
Tip: it's the right time to apply for a new passport when you have two to four empty pages left in your passport. So keep a close eye on the status of your passport pages, especially if you're a frequent traveler.
After you’ve submitted your passport application, you can track the status of your passport online, whether it’s a first-time application, renewal or reissue.
In case of lack of documents, applicants can reapply the application within three days at the respective Passport Seva Kendra (PSK)
Tip: Always cross-check your passport application before submitting because even a small mistake of forgetting to to complete one section of the form or missing signature can derail the application process or even result into rejection. Moreover, the passport fees are not returned if the application is rejected. The final decision to issue the passport is at the discretion of the Passport officer.
A Passport is an official travel document, issued by a country to a citizen of that country, allowing that person to travel abroad and re-enter the home country. It is valid for all means of international travel and is the primary form of identification. Inside the passport on the first page is the official identification page that contains your name, date of birth, place of birth, passport issue and expiry date and your officially affixed photo. The empty pages that follow are used for exit and entry stamps. Those empty pages are also used to stamp visas.
The Indian passport validity is up to 10 years. For children up to the age of 15 years, the passport is issued with a validity of 5 years. Please note that the Passport Issuing Authority may issue passports even for a shorter duration under certain conditions.
Indian passports are issued in two booklets i.e. 36-pages passport for regular travelers and 60-pages (jumbo) passport to accommodate frequent travelers. In the case of exhaustion of passport pages, you will need to apply for the reissue of passport.
The passport cost in India differs as per application type. For a fresh issuance normal application, the passport cost in India is Rs 1,999/- (for adult) and Rs 1,499/- (for minor). For all types of application costs, you may refer to our passport fee chart above.
All applicants, including infants and children seeking passport or passport related services are required to be physically present at the time of making application at the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or the Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) for submitting their application, biometrics (fingerprints) and photograph.
All Indian citizens require passports to exit and enter India and all other countries in the world.
All Indian nationals, regardless of age, require their own passport for international travel.
As per the amended instructions, a minor should have a separate passport. Endorsement of child's name in parent's passports is not applicable anymore.
When you want another passport in lieu of existing passport, you should apply for reissue of passport. You will need to apply for reissue of passport in the below cases:
Note: In case, the applicant does not hold previously any ordinary passport, the applicant must apply under fresh category.
There is no difference except for the number of pages in the booklet and the cost. A 60-pages passport is issued for individuals who travel a lot during the year. For e.g. Frequent travelers require more pages for visa stamps, stickers and immigration entry and exit stamps. A 36-pages passport is suitable for regular citizens who do not travel much.
No, your Indian passport must be valid for minimum six (6) months to travel internationally. Some countries wont let you enter unless your passport is valid for six (6) months after you plan to leave the country. Always check your passport’s expiry date before you travel, and renew your passport early to avoid inconvenience.
In India, passports are dispatched by India Post through Speed Post to the present address of the applicant. Collection of passport is not allowed.
Yes. Old passport is required at the time of passport renewal process in India.
Yes, as long as the passport is considered to be in good condition, the passport officer will cancel the existing passport (affix a cancel stamp) and return it along with the newly issued passport.
Passports are typically eligible for renewal within one (1) year to expiration. It is best to get your Indian passport renewed at least six (6) months prior to expiry.
Yes, The passport renewal process in India is quite similar to a fresh issuance application. The processing time is faster.
As per Government regulations, the standard time to get your Indian passport is 30 to 45 days from the date of application.
Passports must have sufficient blank pages to accommodate the visa stamp, as well as, entry and exit immigration stamps for each country of travel. Apart from one page for stamping the visa, you will need another blank page for entry and exit stamps.
Many countries don’t accept visas in the old invalid passport. In most cases, applicant will need to apply for new visas. Check with the embassy/consulate of the country you'll be visiting for detailed information.
Lost or stolen passport should be immediately reported to the police station and Indian mission. Thereafter, you will need to apply for a new passport and pay the usual fee. Your old passport will be canceled and even if you find it later, you will not be able to use it.
If you’ve lost your passport overseas, please report the issue immediately to the police station and the nearest Indian/Consular mission. Thereafter, an Emergency Certificate(EC) will be issued for returning to India.
Keep your passport in a locker and remember where you’ve kept it. When travelling, do not keep your boarding pass between the passport pages as ink from the boarding pass can transfer to the page and damage the details. Always keep a photo or photocopy of the passport photo page with you in case of loss of passport.
The fastest way to apply for your passport is online – no paperwork or visits to the office needed.
Akbar Travels provides an online platform for Indians to apply for a new passport or renew their passport with the least amount of headaches or hassle.
Our Online Passport Service is an exclusive service for facilitating the complete passport application process online. Our Expert team will complete your application error-free, set up your passport appointment and share the document checklist with you. We will confirm to all the application requirements online without the need for you to visit our office. Our online passport service makes the entire passport application process as easy as 1,2,3.
The Home Passport Service is our convenient and personalised service which brings the passport application process to the applicant’s doorstep at their preferred time irrespective of location. Our Home assistance is extremely suitable for senior citizens and persons who have a busy schedule. Opting for our home assistance allows individuals to apply for their Indian passports without interrupting their schedules.
Whatever service you opt for, you can trust us for a more convenient and secure experience.
We charge a nominal service charge for processing your passport application and you can be rest assured that your passport will be processed without any hiccups.
Our Indian passport service makes the application process easy to understand, while also saving a lot of time. The applicant can be at ease while our trained Experts guide them through each step of the application process, ensuring complete peace of mind. Our meticulously designed passport service provides the applicants personalised attention and assistance, ensuring a more effortless passport application process.
We have you covered across India with presence in all the major cities like Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Lucknow among others to solve all your Indian passport application queries.
Akbar Travels has been a part of more than one million travel dreams. We offer a superior, quick and hassle-free Passport application service. With a highly professional and dedicated team of Experts, we are here to cater to all your passport application requirements. Read more
Throughout your Indian passport application process, you will have a dedicated Expert handling your application.Here are the steps to apply for an Indian Passport online through Akbar Travels:
Akbartravels.com,
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Mumbai - 400 003 Maharashtra.
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New Delhi – 110005.
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This service is a truly a LIFE saver!! I checked 10 days before my trip that my passport was about to expire and as informed by Akbar Travels you need 6 months of validity in order to travel internationally. I had no idea how passport processing works and was very stressed. Then I found out about Akbar Travels from my friend who had processed her visa through them. Their Passport officers were very responsive and helpful. This was truly an experience I will never forget and I am very grateful for Akbar Travels’ great service!
Akbar Travels Passport service made it really easy for me to get my passport within a few days when I was heading out of the country on a business trip. The staff was friendly and helped me with any questions I had in completing the documents.I highly recommend them. I usually never write a review, but theywere so good, I had to! Thanks Akbar Travels Team!
I was very happy with the service I received. Poonam was very helpful with getting my documents in order for my expedited passport. She was also very friendly and welcoming as well as informative and efficient. Overall experience was nice and I am definitely coming back there to do my son’s passport.