The document provides information about obtaining an Indian passport, including the basic requirements and application process. It states that Indian citizens require a valid passport to depart India, and outlines the supporting documents needed for an application, such as proof of identity, birthdate, residence and nationality. It describes the online registration and appointment system for submitting applications at Passport Seva Kendras, and notes that photographs and biometrics are now captured at these centers.

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Welcome Message | Passport Seva
passportindia.gov.in
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Welcome Message | Passport Seva
Getting Started
Welcome to the official website of the Consular, Passport and Visa (CPV) division of the Ministry of
External Affairs, Government of India! This portal has been designed to provide comprehensive,
reliable, user-friendly and one-stop source of information on obtaining a passport by a citizen in India.
If you are visiting this website for the first time and are intending to apply for a passport or related
service, you may spend a few minutes in reading this advisory.
Requirement of a Passport:
All Indian citizens who depart or intend to depart from India are required to be in possession of a valid
passport or travel document. Under the Passports Act 1967, the Government of India may issue
different types of passports and travel documents such as Ordinary Passport, Diplomatic Passport,
Official Passport, Emergency Certificate and Certificate of Identity for the purpose.
Passport Application: Basic Requirements:
The prescribed passport application duly filled in should be with all prescribed documents and fees.
Merely submission of an application, however, does not constitute a claim for issue of a passport. It
remains a request/requisition for a passport, which may be rejected due to deficiency in the supporting
documents, not following the prescribed procedures or any other reason. The basic supporting
documents required with passport application include:
Proof of Date of Birth i.e. Birth Certificate, etc
Identity proof with photograph (to be verified by Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) Officials from the
address proof and other documents)
Proof of residence
Proof of nationality (to be verified by Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) Officials from the supporting
documents submitted).
For more information, please refer to the sections 'Quick Guides'
Questions (FAQs)'.
and 'Frequently Asked
Passport Issuing Authorities:
The Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India provides passport services through Central
Passport Organisation (CPO) and its network of Passport Offices and Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs);
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Welcome Message | Passport Seva
and consular, passport and visa services to overseas Indians/foreign nationals through the Indian
Missions and Posts abroad. Indian passports are issued through a network of 37 Passport Offices,
CPV Division (only for Diplomatic and Official passports) and the Andaman and Nicobar
Islands Administration. This network has been expanded by addition of 77 Passport Seva
Kendras as extended arms of Passport Offices. For Indians living abroad, passport and other
miscellaneous services are rendered by 180 Indian Missions/Posts.
An applicant may confirm the jurisdiction of Regional Passport Office and Passport Seva Kendra (PSK)
before submitting an application.
Procedures:
Under Passport Seva, new measures and procedures have been introduced in order to improve
governance in Passport Offices. The new measures and procedures are aimed at ensuring citizens'
comfort, improvement in delivery of passport services, transparency and enhanced security.
Applicants are now required to present themselves at the respective Passport Seva Kendra
(PSK) for enabling the Passport Issuing Authority to obtain applicants' photographs,
biometrics and granting decision in their presence.
Online Registration and Appointment:
The Online Appointment system has been introduced to ensure avoiding congestion at the Passport
Seva Kendras (PSKs) and cutting down the waiting time for applicants. Appointments are allotted
according to handling capacity of a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) and are based on an Electronic
Queue Management System. The following steps are involved in applying for a passport: online
registration, filling up and submitting online application form, (alternatively, download e-form,
fill up and upload the same at the Online Portal), scheduling an appointment and finally, the
visiting a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK).
For more details, please refer to section by clicking the 'Appointment Booking Process' link under
'Quick Guides' on the Online Portal Home Page.
Online Fee Payment:
Online Payment has been made mandatory for booking appointment to visit a Passport Seva Kendra
(PSK). Online Payment can be made through any one of the following modes: Credit/Debit Card
(MasterCard and Visa), Internet Banking (State Bank of India (SBI) and Associate Banks only)
and SBI Bank Challan. Applicants applying under Tatkaal service need to pay only the fee as
applicable under the Normal service while making Online Payment. The balance fee as applicable for
Tatkaal will be payable in cash at Passport Seva Kendra (PSK)/Passport Office, once Tatkaal
application is accepted by Officials. Online Payment will remain valid for one year from the first
appointment date. The fee will be forfeited if applicants do not submit application at Passport Seva
Kendra (PSK) within this period. No claim for refund, return or exchange of fee will be entertained for
passport-related services. In case of multiple payments for the same Application Reference Number
(ARN), for Passport-related services including miscellaneous services, the claims for refund will be
dealt with as per the extant policy governing them.
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Cancelling/Rescheduling a Visit:
Applicants with confirmed appointments and if unable to visit Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) due to
some
reason,
are
advised
to
reschedule/cancel
their
appointments. Appointment
rescheduling/cancellation for an application are allowed up to two times only within a year of
the first appointment date.
Visit to a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK):
Visit the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) with requisite original documents and their
photocopie s. Photograph is not required. The list of requisite documents is available at the
website. Applicants who, despite booked appointment, have been 'refused token' due to nonavailability of required set of documents can revisit the same Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) as 'Walk-in'
within next three working days from the date of appointment and as per the time mentioned in the
appointment slip. Online appointment is not mandatory for these applicants.
The Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) provides a world class ambience. Amenities in every Passport
Seva Kendra (PSK) include helpful executives, information kiosks, photocopying, food and beverage
facilities, public phone booth, baby care, newspapers, journals and television in a comfortable airconditioned waiting hall. The Electronic Queue Management System ensures the 'first-in-first-out'
principle in application processing.
Walk-in Applicants:
In order to facilitate submission of passport applications at Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs), some
types of services such as 'Tatkaal', Police Clearance Certificates and some distinct categories of
applicants such as senior citizens, minors and differently-abled applicants are allowed to submit their
duly registered online applications with ARN as Walk-in applicants. Applicants coming under these
categories are also required to submit their applications online and obtain an ARN, and then visit the
nearest Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) during prescribed hours (no prior appointment is required). In
addition, applicants should also refer to any advisory issued by the concerned Passport Offices from
time to time.
Say No to Touts:
The public is advised to desist from dealing with touts/agents who may be making false promises about
arranging urgent appointment or faster passport service delivery. The Government has not authorised
any intermediary/representative to undertake such activity or to give such assurances. Such incidents
may be reported to the concerned Regional Passport Office.
Passport Applicants: General Obligations:
Statutorily, all passport applicants are required to submit their applications with correct
information and valid and genuine documents. As per provisions of the Passports Act, 1967, an
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applicant should not furnish any false information or suppress any material information with a view to
obtain passport or travel document. Any such action shall be punishable with imprisonment for
a term up to two years or fine up to Rs. 5000/-; or both.
Carrying corrosive substances or explosives, arms, cudgels, sticks or lathis, or any sharp objects,
which may cause physical harm or violence, is prohibited inside the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK).
Carrying electronic devices such as Laptop, iPad and cameras, is also prohibited inside the Passport
Seva Kendra (PSK).
Easy to Track Application Status:
A multi-lingual National Call Centre operating in 17 Indian languages enables citizens to obtain
passport service-related information and receive updates on their passport applications, round the
clock, seven days a week. An e-mail based helpdesk besides a mobile based application
'mPassport Seva', provides information on passport services.
Contact Us:
Please contact us for additional information, feedback, suggestions and grievances, if any.
Feedback/suggestion boxes are also kept in all Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs).
Last Updated: 06 September 2013
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