Passport Dispatched but Not Received? Reasons, Tracking & Solutions

If you are still waiting for your passport delivery after seeing the passport status "Passport dispatched," and you still have not received it. It generally means that your passport has been processed further and handed over to the courier for delivery.

However, many passport applicants face this problem where their passport status shows that their passport was dispatched but not delivered after waiting for many days. It can be due to the incorrect address, courier delay, or failed delivery attempts. For some applicants, you may also need to think about the passport being lost in the courier or lost during delivery.

In this guide, we will provide you with a detailed explanation about why your passport was dispatched but not received. Along with this, we will track the passport delivery status and see the necessary steps to take for a passport sent but not received.

What Does "Passport Dispatched" Mean?

If your passport status is changed to Dispatched, then it means that your passport application process has been completed, and your passport is printed and handed over to the authorized courier service provider for delivery.

In simple terms, the passport has been printed, and it has been sent out for delivery via the courier service provider. No, it is no longer under the issuing authority.

This does mean that your passport will be delivered to your registered address instantly. It will take time after dispatch; the courier will handle all the transportation, sorting, and deliver the passport within the estimated delivery time.

The delivery stages for the passport include:

• Passport verification and printing.
• Passport is dispatched to the courier services.
• The courier gets your passport request
• Shipment reaches the local delivery center.
• Your passport is out for delivery
• Passport successfully delivered.

According to your location, the following steps may take around one day to several days for processing.

Passport Delivery Status Meanings

Here are the different passport status meanings after the passport is dispatched that you can see while checking the passport delivery status.

How Long Does It Take to Receive a Passport After Dispatch?

The delivery time for the passport after dispatch depends on various factors such as the issuing authority, courier partner, destination, weekends, and public holidays.

Here is the table given below, which will help you to know the passport processing time after dispatch.

If your passport delivery is delayed by only one or two days of the estimated delivery time, then it can also be due to the routine courier operation apart from any problem with your Indian passport application.

It is also advised by the authorities that you should wait until the provided delivery time for your passport. If your passport has not been delivered after on or two days of the estimated delivery time, then you need to raise a complaint with the courier service.

How to Track a Dispatched Passport?

 If your passport status has been shown as "Dispatched", then you have received a tracking number through email, SMS, or via the passport application portal.

Here are the steps to check your passport status:

1. Go to the official passport Seva portal or the official page of the courier's tracking page.
2. Enter your passport tracking number or the application reference number that you get at the time of submitting your passport application.
3. Verify all the details according to the latest shipment rules.
4. Check if there is a recent scan or movement.
5. Confirm the expected delivery date for the passport.

Common Reasons Why Your Passport Was Dispatched but Not Delivered?

If your passport is out for delivery but not delivered, then there are various explanations.

 Understanding these reasons will help you decide whether you want to wait a longer time period or want to take further actions.

Courier Delay:

Courier delay is one of the most common reasons for the delay in passport delivery after dispatch due to the heavy logistics workload.

Here are some of the common reasons for the passport being dispatched but not delivered due to courier delays, such as:

• High shipment volumes
• Weather conditions
• Traffic distribution
• Public holiday
• Operational backlog

If your passport has been dispatched, then it can probably be going between the distribution center before being delivered at your local transit hub.

Delivery Attempt Failed

Many applications have faced that their passport delivery reached their requested address, but cannot complete the delivery. 

 It may happen due to:

• No one is there to receive the delivery package
• The house address is locked or inaccessible.
• The courier cannot able to contact the recipient
• Identity verification is needed for the delivery of the passport.

If such a case of passport delivery happens, and your passport status is shown as " Delivery attempt failed, then a new delivery will be assigned to your address by the courier services.

Incorrect or Incomplete Delivery Address

If an incorrect house number or missing house details, or you provide an outdated or previous house address, then it can result in failed passport delivery after dispatch.

You need to make sure that the address you have provided in the Passport application is correct and matches your current address before asking the courier services about the passport delivery.

If there is a single mistake in your passport address, then it can lead to additional delivery or shipment being returned to the sender.

Tracking Information Not Updated

Your passport information has not been updated regularly and can also be a reason for the passport being dispatched but not delivered.

Many applicants have faced this issue when processing their passport via the network, but the latest information for their passport has not been uploaded, which causes the passport delivery delay.

It can also take one day or maybe two days to update your latest information in the passport courier tracking before thinking of it as a major problem.

What to Do If Your Passport Is Out for Delivery but Not Delivered?

If your passport is out for delivery but not delivered within the estimated timeframe, then it can be a stressful moment for the applicants. It usually means that your passport has been processed further to the local delivery office and can be delivered anytime on the same day or the next day.

However, if your passport hasn't been delivered to you within the expected time, then you need to take the following steps, such as:

Track the Latest Updates

You need to go to the official page of the courier tracking page and see the latest passport delivery status, such as:

• Delivery attempted
• Delivery rescheduled
• Address issues
• Returned to Delivery office

While checking the passport delivery status, you need to remember that sometimes it can take a few hours to update the status on the courier tracking page.

Wait Until the End of the Working Day

If your passport status shows "Passport out for Delivery", then you need to wait until the end of the working day because most of the courier partners complete passport deliveries by evening.

Contact Courier Services

If you don't get any updates or a delivery notification on the next working day for your passport delivery, then you need to report to the courier services by contacting them and providing your tracking number.

You need to ask about the following information:

• The current shipment location
• Ask whether a delivery attempt was made.
• If any address verification is needed.
• Ask for the expected delivery date.

You can solve all your passport delivery issues by contacting the courier services directly.

Verify Delivery Address

Check your delivery address twice while submitting your Indian passport application. If you see any errors or wrong information, then you need to inform the courier services quickly and apply for a passport address change.

What to Do If Your Passport Is Still Not Delivered?

If your passport status shows Passport dispatched but not received after waiting until the expected delivery time, then you need to do the steps mentioned below:

• Contact the passport issuing authority

If you didn't get a reliable update or information about your shipment, then your passport delivery shipment can be stuck for many days. For this, you need to contact the authorized courier services.

While contacting the courier service, you need to keep the following details ready in hand:

• Passport application number
• File reference number
• Tracking number
• Proof of Identity
• Delivery status

You need to provide the correct details to the authorities, which will help you with a smooth and fast process to solve the issues with your passport delivery.

• Raise a Service Request

You can raise a request to the passport authorities that your passport has not been delivered by filling out an application for online enquiry mentioned you passport courier has not delivered it within the expected timeframe.

You can also attach any supporting documents or screenshots related to passport delivery, which can make more of an impact on your inquiry.

What to Do If Your Passport Tracking Shows Delivered but You Didn't Receive It?

After checking your passport status, if your status shows Delivered and not received, then it is common. Sometimes, the courier delivers your passport to a family member, to building security, a neighbor, or mistakenly updates it in the courier system.

You need to follow the steps mentioned below:

• Verify it with your family members, building security personnel, or your neighbors.
• You need to verify the tracking details for the correct delivery of your passport.
•  Contact the courier and track the status of your passport delivery by providing the tracking number, and request confirmation of delivery.
• If the courier services cannot solve your issue, then you should contact the issuing passport authority and ask for additional help.

For the records, you must keep all the tracking information, contact details, and other records until your passport delivery status query is resolved.

What to Do If Your Passport Is Lost During Delivery?

If your passport is lost in the courier after dispatch, then there are various reasons it can happen, which are transportation, sorting, or final delivery. If the tracking status has not changed for many days, or the courier confirms the delivery location, then your passport may be shown as lost in transit.

You should confirm the passport status with the courier service using the tracking number before assuming it was lost in transit. If your passport is delayed or has any errors while tracking, then it is not clear whether your passport is lost

Steps you need to take if your passport is lost during delivery.

Contact Courier Company

• You need to contact the courier company or the courier service provider if your passport is lost during delivery. 
• You can ask them to confirm if:
  • The last location of the passport tracking.
  • Date of the last scan
  • Delivery attempts made.
  • If your shipment is legally announced lost.

Have Written Confirmation of the Last Shipment

• If the courier service confirms that your shipment is lost and cannot be found, then you should request a written confirmation or provide your complaint or reference number. This is essential to report your passport issue to the authority.

Report to the Passport Issuing Authority

• When your passport is lost in transit, contact the passport issuing authority by submitting all the details such as:
  • Passport application details
  • Tracking number
  • Courier complaint details.
  • Valid proof of identity, if needed
• After this, the passport issuing authority will guide you on the next step according to your situation.

Keep All Records Safe

• You need to keep all the records and copies safe, such as:
  • Screenshots of the courier tracking.
  • Compliant/reference numbers
  • Emails and Messages with the courier.
  • Delivery-related communication
• You need to keep all your records clean, which can help you in fast processing and passport delivery.

When Should You Be Concerned About Passport Delivery Delays?

Passport delivery delays for a small time period are normal, and there is no need to worry about it. Here are some of the steps that you need to take if there has been a delay or the following reasons.

• If your passport has not been tracked for many days.
• The courier cannot track your passport shipment.
• The passport tracking shows delivery failure despite someone being present at the delivery address.
• The estimated delivery time has passed.
• The passport is dispatched but not received.

If you have more queries or doubts related to your passport being dispatched but not delivered, then contact the courier and issuing authority, as they can help you to prevent any further delay and help resolve your issue.

How to Prevent Passport Delivery Delays?

Here are the steps that you need to take that can help you to eliminate the reasons for passport delivery issues and provide you with a smooth delivery.

• Enter your delivery address safely while filling out the application.
• You need to provide your current active mobile number and email address.
• Check the status of your passport regularly after dispatch.
• You need to be sure that an individual, whether a family member or a neighbor, is present to receive your passport safely.
• Check your passport status regularly until it is delivered securely to your home address.
• You need to act quickly if your courier services ask you for additional details.

These are the crucial steps that you need to be aware of to ensure the passport is delivered.

Final Thoughts

If you have applied for a passport and it has not been delivered yet after dispatch, then numerous factors can result in delays. This includes failed delivery, courier operations, long wait times for passport status to appear, and public holidays.

If your passport delivery status remains the same after the estimated delivery time, then you should contact the courier service. However, before doing this, you first need to check the latest passport status to see whether it has changed or not. If this also does not work, then you should take help from the passport issuing authority and tell them about your query.

For passport application assistance, you can take help from the Visament website. Here you will get expert help for different applications such as Indian passport renewal or replacement with easy documentation. Our Visament agents have years of experience with the process and can help you submit your application without facing any errors or delays. Along with this, you will also get real-time updates related to your passport application status.