Passport
1. Issued By & Official Portals
Passport Seva (MEA)
Every passport applicant must appear in person at an authorized Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) for biometric capture (digital photograph and fingerprints) and document verification. Adult applicants do not need to carry loose passport photos; photos are captured live inside the PSK.
2. Why It Is Required
An Indian Passport is an official travel document and primary proof of Indian nationality issued by the Consular, Passport & Visa (CPV) Division of the Ministry of External Affairs under the Passports Act, 1967. It certifies the identity and citizenship of the holder for international travel.
3. Who Is Eligible
- Any citizen of India by birth, descent, registration, or naturalization
- Minors of any age from newborn infants (both parents must give written consent on Annexure-D)
- Must have no pending criminal proceedings or outstanding warrants in Indian courts
4. Official Application Fees & Timeline
Official Fee Breakdown
Official government fee for standard 36-page adult booklet with 10-year validity.
Standard AdultFrequent traveler jumbo 60-page booklet with 10-year validity.
Frequent Flyer₹1,500 standard fee paid online + ₹2,000 Tatkaal fee paid online for urgent processing.
Urgent TatkaalStandard 36-page booklet for children under 18 valid for 5 years or until reaching age 18.
Minor SchemeEstimated Processing Timeline
Select preferred PSK/POPSK date and time slot upon online fee payment.
Document verification at Counters A, B, and C with biometric and photograph capture.
Local police station visits address or calls applicant for identity verification.
Printed by India Security Press (Nashik) and delivered via India Post Speed Post.
All passport fees must be paid online via the official Passport Seva portal before an appointment slot can be confirmed. Tatkaal fees are non-refundable if the application is rejected due to invalid documents.
5. Documents Required
6. Prepare Your Documents (Auto-Fix Studio)
Auto-crop your photograph, resize your signature to recommended pixel and DPI parameters, and convert identity proofs into standardized A4 PDFs formatted for portal size limits.
7. Official Step-by-Step Application Roadmap
Register on Passport Seva
Create an account on passportindia.gov.in. Select the Regional Passport Office (RPO) based on your present residential address.
Fill Application Form Online
Choose 'Apply for Fresh Passport / Re-issue of Passport'. Complete demographic, family, address, emergency contact, and previous passport sections.
Pay Fee & Book PSK Slot
Pay ₹1,500 (Normal) or ₹3,500 (Tatkaal) online. Choose your preferred PSK or POPSK center and available date.
Attend PSK Appointment
Visit PSK 15 minutes before your batch time. Complete Counter A (photo & fingerprint capture), Counter B (document verification), and Counter C (granting approval).
Complete Police Verification
Local police will verify residence. Furnish original address and identity proofs and two neighbor verification signatures.
Speed Post Delivery
Track dispatch via Speed Post Air Waybill number. Passport is handed over only to the applicant upon showing ID proof.
8. Online vs. Offline Application Workflow
- •Registering account on Passport Seva portal.
- •Filling online passport application form and generating Application Reference Number (ARN).
- •Online payment of application fees via SBI Netbanking, Cards, or UPI.
- •Selecting PSK/POPSK center and scheduling appointment slot.
- •Tracking application status and police verification progress.
- •In-person appearance at Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) for biometric capture.
- •Physical inspection of original supporting documents by Verifying and Granting Officers.
- •Physical police verification at applicant's current residential address.
- •Signing physical delivery receipt upon Speed Post arrival.
9. Technical Upload Specifications
Live capture inside PSK for adults. For children under 4: 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm (recent studio print)
Max Size: 2000 KB (JPG)
Background: Pure white background
Adults do NOT carry photos to PSK. Only infants and children under 4 require physical 3.5x4.5 cm photos.
10. Common Rejection Reasons & Mistakes to Avoid
- •Adverse Police Verification Report (PVR) due to applicant not residing at given address or ongoing criminal cases.
- •Failure to disclose previous expired passport details.
- •Name mismatch between applicant's parent details and official records.
- •Applying under Tatkaal without fulfilling mandatory eligibility conditions or annexures.
- •Failing to list all addresses lived at in the past 12 months (causes police verification adverse report).
- •Spelling discrepancy between 10th marksheet and Aadhaar card.
- •Bringing photocopies to PSK without bringing original physical documents.
- •Adults paying local photo studios for passport photos (PSK strictly captures digital photos inside).
11. How to Track & Correct Applications
- Visit passportindia.gov.in and click 'Track Application Status'.
- Select Application Type: 'Passport/PCC/IC/GEP'.
- Enter your 15-character Application Reference Number (ARN) and Date of Birth.
- Click 'Track Status' to see live status (e.g. 'Passport has been granted', 'Police Verification Initiated', or 'Dispatched via Speed Post').
- If a defect is noted at PSK Counter B: The officer issues a token slip with a 30-day window to furnish the missing original document without paying extra fee.
- If Police Verification report is adverse: Visit the Regional Passport Office (RPO) with an enquiry appointment to resolve the query with the Regional Passport Officer.
12. Official Government Sources & Verification
Easy to Doc prioritizes primary government sources. Verify official circulars, fee structures, and procedures directly on statutory portals:
Official portal for all Indian passport applications, fee payments, and appointment bookings.
Official interactive tool detailing exact acceptable proofs for each applicant category.
13. Helpful Easy to Doc Guides & Utilities
Exhaustive walkthrough for Passport Seva registration, PSK visit, and police check.
Application GuidePassport Documents Required ChecklistOfficial MEA checklist of acceptable identity, address, and Non-ECR documents.
Application GuideTatkaal Passport Application GuideUrgent passport rules, Tatkaal fee breakdown, annexures, and fast-track dispatch.
Free In-Browser UtilityPassport Photo Grid MakerFormat 35×45 mm photos for infant passport applications or visa submissions.
Free In-Browser UtilityCompress PDF Under 200 KBCompress annexure declarations and address proofs for online document upload.
14. Frequently Asked Questions
Do adult applicants need to carry physical passport photos to the PSK?
No. For all applicants aged 4 and above, digital facial photographs and fingerprints are captured live inside the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) at Counter A. Only infants and young children under 4 years old require physical 3.5×4.5 cm color photographs with a pure white background.
What is the difference between an ECR and a Non-ECR passport?
An ECR (Emigration Check Required) passport requires clearance from the Protector of Emigrants before traveling to 18 specific countries for employment. If you have passed 10th standard or higher and submit your marksheet, you receive a Non-ECR passport which permits unrestricted worldwide travel without emigration hurdles.
How long is a passport valid for adults and minors?
Passports for adults (18+) are issued with 10 years validity. Passports for minors under 18 are issued with 5 years validity or until the child attains the age of 18, whichever is earlier.
Can I apply for a passport if I have lived at my current address for less than one year?
Yes, but in your application form you must disclose all previous residential addresses where you resided during the past 12 months. Police verification may be initiated across each jurisdiction where you stayed.
How fast is a Tatkaal passport processed and delivered?
Under the Tatkaal scheme, if police verification is post-verification, passports are dispatched within 1 to 3 business days from the date of appointment approval at the PSK.
What should I carry with me on the day of the PSK appointment?
You must carry the printed Application Receipt (ARN slip) or SMS, all original supporting documents (Aadhaar, 10th marksheet, birth certificate, previous passport), and one set of self-attested photocopies of each document.
Information can change when government rules or statutory procedures are updated. Always verify critical filing requirements with the official government source. Easy to Doc is an independent educational platform and is not affiliated with any government authority.
Ready to apply?
Designed to help you prepare files according to commonly specified portal limits. Always verify the latest requirements on the official government portal.