Passport is more than just a travel document; it carries significant importance. Firstly, it serves as a vital proof of identity, allowing you to travel internationally.
Secondly, in India, passports are highly credible documents that can be used for various purposes, such as opening a bank account, obtaining a mobile phone SIM card, checking into hotels, and applying for other official documents that require identity verification. Read on to know more about the documents required to apply for a Passport.
Documents Required for Fresh & New Passport
Address Proof:
Proof of address must be submitted by the applicant. It is among the required documents for the passport application process for an Indian citizen. As address proof, you must provide a copy of any one of the following documents:
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- Aadhaar card / E-Aadhaar
- Water bill
- Electricity bill
- Telephone bill
- Voter ID
- Rental agreement
- Bank account statement
- Gas connection bill
- Income tax assessment order
Date of Birth Proof:
Following documents can be submitted as date of birth proof:
- Driving licence
- PAN card
- Birth certificate
- Aadhaar card / E-Aadhaar
Photo ID Proof:
Photo ID proof must be included with the passport application. A copy of any one of the following must be submitted:
- Voter ID
- PAN card
- Aadhaar card / E-Aadhaar
- Driving licence
Passport-size Photographs:
Two recent passport-sized photos with a white background are required.
Old Passport:
Your application form must be submitted with your old passport if you have one.
Additional Passport Documentation:
Additional passport documents might be needed for an Indian passport, based on your particular circumstances. It is advised that you make sure you have all the necessary paperwork by reviewing the passport application requirements on the Indian Passport Seva official website.
Documents Required for Minors for Indian Passport
Anybody under the age of 18 years is considered a minor in India. Minors’ Indian passports are valid for five years or until the minor reaches the age of 18 years. Gather the documentation that is needed to apply for a passport for a minor.
Documents required are as follows:
- Minor’s birth certificate
- Address proof
- Proof of parents’ citizenship
- Recent passport-sized photographs
- Annexure ‘D’ for both parents/guardians
- Annexure ‘C’ for minors aged 15 to 18 years
- Any additional paperwork that the passport office specifies
Note that the minor’s parents or legal guardians must both be present during the passport application process and give their approval before the passport can be issued. If one parent is unavailable, the application may be filed with a notarized affidavit from the absent parent.
Current address proof for the minor applicant must also be submitted in the parents’ names. It is advised that parents who possess passports bring both self-tested copies and originals to the PSK.
Documents Required for Re-issue of Passport for Minors
Minors need the following documents for passport re-issuance:
Old Passport
Application must be submitted with the applicant’s original old passport. It is advised that parents bring both self-attested copies and their original passports.
Self-attested Copies
Copies of the self-attested passport’s first and last two pages must also be submitted by the applicant. Observation page (if any), the ECR/Non-ECR page, and the validity extension page must be included.
Address Proof:
- Voter ID
- Aadhaar card
- Utility bills
- Rental agreement
- Bank account statement
- Letter from employer
Additional Documents: Based on the reason for reissuing, a minor passport has a different list of documents that must be submitted.
Documents Required for Re-issue of Passport
Applicant may require a new passport (re-issue) for a number of reasons. Following are some of the primary causes:
- Change of the passport holder’s address
- Passport’s validity is about to expire
- Renewal of Short Validity Passport (SVP)
- Damaged/lost/stolen passport
- Any modifications to current personal information
- Page exhaustion in the passport booklet
- Expired passport
Old Passport:
Application must be submitted with your original old passport. If your old passport is expired, damaged, or valid for less than one year, you must surrender it. You must also provide a self-attested copy of the passport’s first and last two pages. Include the ECR/Non-ECR page as well as the observation page (if applicable). If the validity of your passport is limited, don’t forget to include the extension page.
Date of Birth Proof
Any one of the following documents can be submitted as date of birth proof:
- Birth certificate
- Aadhaar card
- PAN card
- School Leaving Certificate/Transfer Certificate
Address Proof
Any one of the following documents can be submitted as address proof:
- Voter ID
- Aadhaar card
- Utility bills
- Rental agreement
- Bank account statement
- Letter from employer
Photographs
Two recent passport-size photos are required. Photographs must be taken within the last six months and feature a white background.
Other Documents:
Need to provide a few more documents, depending on the reason for reissuing your passport. Occasionally be required to provide extra paperwork, like a divorce decree, name change affidavit, or marriage certificate.
If your passport is lost, stolen, or damaged, you will need to provide the original police report and an affidavit that describes the circumstances surrounding the theft, damage, or loss of your previous passport.
Documents Required for Tatkaal Passport
Government of India offers a type of passport service called a ‘Takaal passport’ for emergency or urgent travel requirements. Service is available to Indian nationals requiring a passport for reasons like medical or business travel, or to students who must go overseas for their education. Both new passport applications and passport reissues can be processed through the Tatkaal passport service.
Primary benefit of using the Tatkaal service is that, based on the urgency of the requirement, the passport will be issued in one to three working days. Tatkaal passport service is only available in truly urgent situations and is more costly than the standard passport service. The passport authorities’ judgement and a few additional criteria apply to the issuing of Tatkaal passports.
Passport application form must be completed and submitted online via the Passport Seva website in order to apply for a Tatkaal passport. Next step is to visit a PSK, pay the required fees, and submit the relevant documents, including evidence of the Tatkaal service’s urgency.
Following documents are required to apply for a Tatkaal passport:
- Age proof
- Address proof
- Two passport-sized photographs (4.5 cm x 3.5 cm) with a white background
- Self-attested copies of the first two and last two pages of your old passport (if applicable)
- Annexure E (citizenship declaration, family information, and no criminal record)
- Tatkaal fee payment (which is more than the standard fee)
Also need to submit other documents along with the ones listed above to obtain a Tatkaal passport. Any three of the documents listed in the list of acceptable documents must be submitted by individuals who are older than 18 years. List of acceptable documents:
- PAN card
- Aadhaar card
- Birth certificate
- Photo ID Card for students from an authorised educational institution
- Ration card
- Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC)
- Updated bank passbook/Kisan passbook/post office passbook
- Photo identity card issued by a public sector organisation/state/central government
- Pension documents
Depending on the specifics, a passport’s required documentation list may change.
Documents Required for Official/Diplomatic Passport
To apply for a Diplomatic/Official passport in India, you need the following documents:
- Official identity card of the applicant
- Official request letter from the forwarding officer. Passport seva portal has the format for the same.
- Certificate by the Head of Office. Format is available on the passport seva portal.
- Political/PMO Clearance Certificate (if applicable)
- If the official is about to retire (less than 6 months from the date of the passport application), they must submit an official undertaking from the office.
- To cancel an existing passport or re-issue a diplomatic passport, the applicant must submit the original Diplomatic/Official Passport, original Surrender/Safe, or original Cancellation Certificate.
Documents Required for Diplomatic / Official Passport Application
To apply for a Diplomatic/Official passport in India, the following documents are necessary:
- Applicant’s official identity card must be submitted with the application.
- Certificate from the head of office is required the format for this certificate can be downloaded from the official passport website.
- An official request letter from the forwarding officer is needed, with the format available on the Passport Seva portal.
- If applicable, the applicant must provide a political or PMO clearance certificate.
For existing passport holders or those seeking a re-issue of a diplomatic passport, the original diplomatic/official passport must be submitted for cancellation, along with the original surrender, safe, or cancellation certificate.
FAQs
Is there a government website where I can learn more about the documents required for an Indian passport?
- Yes, more information is available on the Ministry of External Affairs’ official website.
Is it necessary to submit my old passport when applying for a passport reissue?
- Yes, in most cases, the old passport must be submitted when applying for a passport reissue.
If I recently married or divorced, how do I change my surname in my passport?
- In such cases, you must apply for a ‘Re-issue’ of your passport.
What should I do if the required documents for a passport are not available?
- If the required document is not available, certain alternative documents might be acceptable in some cases. You should speak with the passport office about this.
Is a separate passport required for my two-month-old baby?
- Parents cannot endorse their child’s name in their own passports as per the new passport guidelines. This implies that every minor is now required to have their own passport.
How do I apply for passport re-issuance for a passport that expired five years ago?
- If your passport has expired, you can apply for re-issuance by visiting the ‘Re-issue of Passport’ category on the Passport Seva portal. A fresh police verification process will be done because your passport expired more than three years ago.
Will a private bank employee have to submit an Identity Certificate?
- No, only those who work in the public sector, government, or statutory bodies are required to provide their identity certificates.
Can a passbook or bank statement be used as address proof?
- While bank statements cannot be accepted as address proof, the photo passbook of an active bank account is acceptable.
