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By Vipul Jain
Passport is a solution to all international travel, and the need for one has been overgrown. It helps you fulfill your dreams of going on an adventure trip, planning a business trip, seeking education, or experiencing new things abroad.
But what is an Indian passport? This is a guide for you to learn more about the world of passports, the Passport application process, types of passports, and many more things.
A passport is a worldwide officially recognized travel document, issued by the government and acts as a form of identification for Indian citizens who want to travel abroad. It allows you to exit and enter foreign countries and proves your identity and nationality.
Typically, a passport has personal information including the holder’s name, date of birth, signature, photographs, citizenship details, etc. It is required when you are traveling internationally by the immigration authorities to ensure a safe and secure journey over the borders.
The Indian passport is issued under the Passports Act (1967) by the Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India at 93 passport offices all over India and 197 Indian diplomatic missions worldwide.
The Passport Seva Kendra (PSK), part of the Consular, Passport, and Visa (CPV) Division of the Ministry of External Affairs is accountable for issuing Indian passports to all the eligible citizens.
It serves as proof of citizenship and permits an Indian citizen to travel internationally. Indian passport comes with some features to verify its security and originality. Let’s get some more knowledge about the features of an Indian passport.
To make the Indian passport more secure and hard to copy, it contains biometric information which includes a photograph and fingerprints of the passport holder.
An Indian passport is machine-readable to make the processing quick and efficient at immigration checkpoints. It has a unique barcode and information coded on the data page.
The passport is crafted using advanced security printing techniques which include watermarks, microprinting, and hidden security threads to make it difficult to be copied and interfered with.
Holographic images mean the passport has the national emblem and the passport holder’s image to add an extra layer of security against replicating the passport.
The Indian passport is secured with multi-layered lamination to increase its durability and prevent it from having any damage or wear and tear.
Every Indian passport has a personalized data page that has the holder’s photograph, signature, and other personal information. This particular page is safeguarded against modifications and tampering.
An Indian passport fulfills all the international security standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to make sure that it is accepted and recognized everywhere across the globe.
Some elements of an Indian passport are printed using fluorescent ink such as the passport number and holder's personal information. This information is only visible under particular lighting to make it easier to verify a genuine passport.
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When you apply for a passport it not only holds significance while traveling but also in several other aspects of life. These are some points to highlight the importance of having an Indian passport:
A passport is an essential travel document that acts as a primary identification when you are crossing international borders. It is important when you are traveling for a vacation, business trips, study abroad programs, etc.
Different Types of Passport verifies a person’s citizenship in their own country. It acts as proof of an individual’s legal status as a citizen in their respective nation.
Most of the countries need a valid passport when applying for a visa application. It is a basic document that is required to get permission to enter some other country for any purpose.
A passport is required to get access to several government services in one’s home country like applying for a government job or seeking assistance from a consular when you are abroad, etc.
Whenever you are opening a bank account, engaging in financial transactions, and proving your identity for different financial services, a passport is required.
The passport acts as the main identification document when you are taking part in any legal activity including getting married, adopting a child, or handling legal matters in any foreign country.
You can get access to several healthcare services and can also avail of insurance coverage while abroad with an Indian passport.
The passport has all your records which means it has information about your record of international travel and experiences.
You can travel across the globe with a valid passport which can help you in exploring different cultures, traditions, and languages to promote cultural exchange and improve global understanding.
An individual can open a door full of opportunities with an Indian passport. It can be useful for both personal and professional growth in a range of experiences and wider perspectives.
There are different types of passports in India, each to fulfill every individual’s travel requirements. Here is a list of the types of an Indian passport.
The blue passport also known as the Type P passport is the most common passport issued to regular citizens of India who wish to travel abroad for several reasons such as leisure or business. A larger part of Indian citizens hold this ordinary passport.
Such passports can be recognized by their navy blue color and are mainly issued for personal trips like educational, business, vacation, and other forms of travel.
Main Features of an Ordinary Passport
An ordinary passport is the most commonly used by the general public among all types of passports in India when they are traveling for leisure or business purposes.
It helps foreign authorities differentiate between regular citizens and government officials. The navy blue color of this passport helps in quickly identifying the non-official status of the traveler.
Every Type P passport contains some personal details that are important for identification and immigration purposes such as the passport holder’s name, date of birth, photograph, etc.
Among all the different types of passports in India, the white passport acts as a representation of significant authority because it is reserved for the officials of the Indian government who are eligible for official foreign travel.
It is white which shows a formal visual cue for the customs personnel and immigration officials to assist them in identifying the government official and treat them with proper formality.
Main Features of a White Passport
The White passport is a privilege provided only to Indian government officials to keep its status as a stamp of authenticity and authority.
Issued solely to officials who are traveling abroad for official government duties, facilitating identification for customs and immigration officials.
The main key feature of a white passport is to provide an uninterrupted traveling experience to government officials, its color helps with prompt recognition of the official’s status making sure that they get the right formal treatment.
A maroon passport also known as an official or diplomatic passport is permitted to diplomats or government employees who are traveling abroad for official duties. These are granted to individuals who are representing the government and their distinctive white color makes them easily recognizable.
The white passport and diplomat passport are different, a white passport is given to government officials for official travel purposes however a diplomat passport is provided to diplomats and high-ranking officials to represent their country and travel for official purposes.
Main Features of an Official or Diplomatic Passport
This passport is issued only to senior government employees and diplomats to show a clear difference in the type of issued passport.
The Marron passport holder gets special treatment and extra benefits. They are not liable to hold a visa while traveling internationally.
Doesn't matter how long their duration of stay is they are exempt from visa inquiries, ensuring easy travel plans without any concern and more focus on the official duties.
This passport provides an immediate immigration process, facilitating less waiting time and swift entry or exit from any foreign country.
In the year 2018, orange-colored passports were introduced which marked a noticeable change in the issuance of Indian passports. This transformation eliminated the traditional passport design by removing the address page from the Indian passports.
The new passport is different from the ones that had been used by the citizens for several years. This updated passport has an aesthetically pleasing orange color with a glossy design and crisp pages.
Main Features of an Orange Passport
An orange passport does not include the last page, the traveler's father's name, their permanent address, etc. It makes it easier for immigration and foreign staff to recognize the citizens who have not continued their education after 10th grade.
The Ministry of External Affairs made the Emigration Check Required (ECR) compulsory for citizens to get a passport with an orange stamp. It was introduced for citizens who have limited education while looking for employment abroad.
Those who hold an orange passport are subject to a different immigration standard to ensure that their verification and emigration process aligns with the safety measures that are made for Emigration Check Required (ECR) citizens.
The eligibility requirement for obtaining different types of passports in India will vary. Here is a general idea of the eligibility criteria for each type of passport:
You can follow these steps to apply for a passport:
Note: The exact process and required documents will vary according to the type of passport and individual’s situation so, it is advised to visit any nearest Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Passport Seva website to get detailed and latest information.
To enjoy a seamless passport application process in India you have to keep the documents required for a passport ready in advance. These are the essential required documents:
Proof of address: You are required to submit a valid address proof for which you can provide your Aadhaar card, electricity bill, rent agreement, telephone or mobile bill, bank account passbook, etc.
Proof of Date of Birth: You also have to provide proof of your date of birth for which you can submit a birth certificate, school leaving or transfer certificate, PAN card, voter ID, or any document in which your date of birth is clearly stated.
For a fresh passport/re-issue of a passport with 10 years validity and an additional booklet because of exhaustion of visa pages (36 pages)
Application Fee: Rs.1500
Tatkal Fee: Rs. 2000
For a fresh passport/re-issue of a passport with 10 years validity and an additional booklet because of exhaustion of visa pages (60 pages)
Application Fee: Rs.2000
Tatkal Fee: Rs. 2000
For a fresh passport/re-issue of a passport for minors below the age of 18, with 5 years validity or till the minor turns 18 whichever is earlier (36 pages)
Application Fee: Rs.1000
Tatkal Fee: Rs. 2000
For Replacement of passport in case of lost, damaged, or stolen passport (36 pages)
Application Fee: Rs.3000
Tatkal Fee: Rs. 2000
For Duplicate passport in case of lost, damaged, or stolen passport (60 pages)
Application Fee: Rs.3500
Tatkal Fee: Rs. 2000
For a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)
Application Fee: Rs.500
Tatkal Fee: Not Applicable
For Replacement of passport for excluding ECR/ change in personal details with 10-year validity (36 pages)
Application Fee: Rs.1500
Tatkal Fee: Rs. 2000
For Replacement of passport for excluding ECR/ change in personal details with 10-year validity (60 pages)
Application Fee: Rs.2000
Tatkal Fee: Rs. 2000
For Replacement of passport for excluding ECR/ change in personal details for minors below the age of 18, with 5 years validity or till the minor turns 18 whichever is earlier (36 pages)
Application Fee: Rs.1000
Tatkal Fee: Rs. 2000
There are two online payment methods available to make the payment process easier
The applicant can easily pay the amount for fees via any electronic method such as a credit card, debit card, or Internet banking, ensuring a hassle-free and safe transaction experience.
As another option, an applicant can pay the fees through a bank challan which means generating a challan and handling the fees at any State Bank Of India (SBI) branch within the country.
The Bank Challan method also provides an offline payment option for those who wish to pay in person at the bank.
You can keep an eye on the progress of the status of your application using the official portal. Here is how you can track the status of your passport application:
The passport is dispatched via India post through speed post and is delivered to the registered address mentioned by the applicant. You can track the delivery status on the India Post’s Speed Post portal.
Here is the basic processing time for receiving a passport
Type of Service: Regular Passport
Expected Delivery time: Generally 3 or more working days, subject to police verification
Type of Service: Tatkaal Application
Expected Delivery time: 1 to 3 working days, subject to police verification
Type of Service: Complex Application
Expected Delivery time: Around 30 working days (adoption or documentation issues)
The E-passport application, verification, and information are almost identical to the traditional passports. The only difference is that these are biometric identity cards which means that they are chip-enabled to make the transparency of the travel paper more secure.
Such passports can be scanned promptly which reduces the time required for verification and the data can not be deleted as it contains the person’s biometric record. It eliminates the risk of data theft and replication
However, if the chip is broken or damaged then the authentication may even fail.
You can apply for a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) by filling out the PCC form online through the Online form submission option. You have to register as a user on the homepage of the www.passportindia.gov.in website by clicking on the ‘Register’ link to apply for a PCC application.
No, as per the new rules, all applicants need to be present physically at the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) with the print receipt of the application and original documents.
You can apply for a re-issuance of the passport at the nearest Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) if you want to make any changes to your personal information on the passport
Yes, you have to visit the Passport Seva Kendra along with all the original documents and digital copies. The copies will be kept by the PSK and the original documents will be delivered back to the applicant.
