Passport Information

Here you'll find all the information you need about passports.(For Indian citizens only) Know about rules and conditions, how to procure a new passport and change or renew your existing one.

First time applicant

Application form is available from the Passport Office (free of cost) or the Head Post Office (at cost INR 3). Photocopy of the form is also accepted. The application is to be submitted to the Passport Office concerned (where you are resident when applying) either in person or through a representative or by registered post.

Requirements:

1. Proof of residence (Attested photo copy):

2. Proof of date of birth and educational qualifications - any one of the following (Attested photo copy):

3. Six photographs (black & white or color):

No Objection Certificate (NOC) to be attached in original if you are in the service of Central/State Government, Public Sector Undertakings, Statutory Bodies and the like.

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Urgent Passport

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Passport for minors

It is compulsory to have a separate passport for a minor. A number of foreign Diplomatic Missions are refusing to grant visas if minor's name is included in the parents' passport. Apply for fresh passport with the following additional documents:

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Emigration Check Not Required Stamp

Following persons are entitled to get the ECNR stamp on their passports:

Gazetted Government Servants

Income-tax payees

Persons holding professional degrees

Persons staying abroad for more than 3 years

Spouses of the above mentioned categories

Persons holding graduation or higher degrees

Seamen in possession of Continuous Discharge Certificate and Sea Cadets and Deck Cadets

(i) who have passed final examination of three year B.Sc. Nautical Sciences Courses at T.S. Chanakya, Mumbai, or (ii) who have undergone three months Pre-Sea training at any of the Government approved Training Institutes after production of Identity Cards issued by the Shipping Master, Mumbai/Calcutta/Chennai

Persons holding permanent Immigration Visas, of any country e.g. Green Card in USA

Persons holding diplomas from recognized institutions like Polytechnics or certificates of vocational training from Government/recognized institutions.

The Diploma/ Certificate should be for a minimum duration of two year course.

Nurses possessing qualifications recognized under the Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947

Dependent children of parents eligible for ECNR, as above (up to 24 years of age)

All persons above the age of 60 years

All visitors to Pakistan and Bangladesh

All visitors going to any country in Europe (except the Commonwealth of Independent States) or North America.

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Emigration Clearance Rules

Even if you do not have the ECNR stamp, you can visit Bangladesh, Pakistan and all countries in Europe (except the Commonwealth of Independent States) and North America without emigration clearance.In any case, Protector of Emigrants can grant emigration clearance to certain categories of skilled/semi-skilled workers for a period of six months if application is made through authorized recruiting agent and there is a valid employment visa.

In case the person concerned is leaving the country for non-employment purposes, he can obtain suspension from emigration clearance for the specified country and for the specified period from Protector of Emigrants.

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Fees

The following are inclusive fees to be paid along with the application form either by Bank Draft in favor of Passport Officer, or in cash. Fresh passport (36 pages) of 10 years validity INR 300 Fresh passport (60 pages) of 10 years validity INR 500 Fresh passport for minor (below 15 years) of 5 years validity INR 200 Passport against lost/ damaged passport INR 2500 Miscellaneous Services Additional Booklet (36 pages) INR 300 Additional Booklet (60 pages) INR 500 Change of address/ Police clearance certificate/ Deletion of particular of children/ ECNR/ Additional endorsements INR 100 In case of Bank draft full name of the applicant should be written on the reverse of the Bank draft.

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Original Documents

It is obligatory to produce the original documents for verification in case so required by the Passport Office.

Time frame for issue of Passports

If all your documents are in order, you should get your fresh passport in 5 weeks. If you already hold a passport then your next passport should be re-issued in 2 weeks provided holding passport of same jurisdiction. In case of damaged/ lost passports (except in case of habitual losers), provided you apply to the same office which issued your original passport, you should get passport in about 5 weeks.

If you have applied for a duplicate passport to an office other than the one which issue the passport you have lost or damaged, you should get your passport in 6 weeks. If you have applied for an additional booklet for a passport issued by the same passport office then you should get your passport within 2 weeks.

For issue of passports to minors (less than 15 years) passport would be issued in 2 weeks. However, in case of emergency, your Passport Officer can expedite the issue of passport. Back to Top Delivery of Passports Passports are normally delivered only to the applicant or dispatched by registered post to the applicant's present address as given in the application form. In case a passport has already been granted, in the normal course, the applicant may approach the Passport Office for counter delivery. Such passports can then be delivered at the counter.

Loss of Passport

Apply for a duplicate passport with: Application for lost passport Copy of the FIR Affidavit (specimen at Annexure 'B' of the passport form) Copy of lost passport, if available Fee for lost passport is INR 2500.

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Damaged Passport

Requirements:

Application for a damaged passport Damaged passport Affidavit (specimen at Annexure 'B' of the application form) Fee INR 2500

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Expired Passport

If you are a holder of a passport, then you are entitled to an automatic re-issue of a passport, without prior police verification. You can apply 1 year before the passport expires or within 2 years after it expires to obtain this expeditious service. Requirements: Fresh application form Previous passport Proof of residence only if the present address is different from that given in the previous passport. (Verification Certificate or any other document - not required). Options in terms of validity and size of the booklet: You can either apply for a 36-paged normal passport booklet (Fees: INR 300 for 10 year; INR 600 for 20 year validity) or a 60-paged jumbo passport booklet (Fees: INR 500 for 10 year; INR 800 for 20 year validity).

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Miscellaneous services

Change of name

In case of marriage, re-marriage or divorce: Fresh application form Certified marriage certificate or an affidavit from husband and wife (Annexure 'A' of application form)

In case of divorce, divorce deed authenticated by a court In case of re-marriage, divorce deed or death certificate of spouse duly authenticated.

In other cases: Fresh application form Two original newspaper clippings giving notice of change of name Affidavit (Annexure 'A' of the application form)

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Change of address

For the following cases:

If you already have a passport and want to change the address recorded in it, approach your nearest passport office and apply for the same on Miscellaneous Services application from with a fee of INR 100 and proof of new address.

If you have applied for a passport but before the same is issued, you have shifted your residence, you should inform in writing to the Passport Office within whose jurisdiction your new address falls. To request the transfer of your file to the new Passport Office, the latter has to be given a written notice that you have submitted an application for a Passport at the previous Passport Office (with application numbers etc.). Proof of your new address is also required. No fee required to be paid in this case.