Purpose And Process of Emergency Travel Document

Emergency Travel Document also called an Emergency Certificate, is a one-way travel document. It authorizes a citizen to enter India in an emergency. It is issued to people whose passports are lost, stolen or damaged. These certificates can be issued only when a new passport cannot be issued without approval from the Indian passport authorities.

Applicants must apply for an Emergency Travel Document in person by visiting the Consulate for the mandatory personal interview. Consular Officers will take the final decision regarding approving or rejecting the application. This document's sole purpose is to facilitate an individual's return to India.

Purpose

An Emergency Travel Document can be applied for the following reasons:

• Expired Passport

• Damaged Passport

• Stolen Passport

• Lost or misplaced Passport

• Burnt Passport

This document can be issued to Indians who are currently out of India in situations where new passports cannot be issued. It can be availed for purposes like business, vacation, medical treatment, emergencies, etc.  

Process

When one realizes that they do not have a passport to enter India, they must visit the Indian Mission or Consulate in the country they are currently in. They can also check the website of the Indian Embassy for details.

• An application form is available online at https://passport.gov.in/nri/

• The 'Online Registration Form' tab on the above-mentioned website will take the applicant to a new page where a form will be available to be filled.

• Applicants must select the nearest Indian mission from the drop-down list and then in the "Service desired" option, select "Emergency Certificate" and then enter the required instruction in all the sections of the form.  

• Alternatively, the applicant can physically visit the Consular Office and fill up the form offline.

• Upon submission of the form, an interview will be scheduled.

• A personal interview with the Indian mission or consular officer is mandatory to get approval for Emergency Travel Document.

• A nominal fee has to be paid for the same.

• Moreover, the applicant, with the help of some document, has to prove that he/she is indeed an Indian citizen in order for the application to be approved.

• Upon approval and issuance of the Emergency Certificate, the applicant will have to travel back to Indian within a month from the date of issuance.

Documents Required

• The printed application form, which consists of 4 pages, must first be printed. Then the details on page 2 should be filled in manually. The applicant has to sign in the allotted space on pages 1, 3 and 4.

• Filled in Personal Particular form - 2 copies.

• Six photographs of size 2" x 2" (51mm x 51mm) are required - one should be pasted in the designated box on page 1 and another photo should be stapled on the blank area on page 4. The remaining 4 photographs are required on the Personal Particulars Form.

• Photocopies of the first five and last two pages of the current Indian passport. If unavailable, then the applicant must submit a copy of Indian birth certificate or Matriculation/school Leaving Certificate or any Indian Photo Identity Card (like Driving License, Election Commission ID, Aadhaar card, PAN card, etc.) or any document that contains the applicant's photo and indicates his/her Indian nationality.

• If the original passport is stolen or lost, a detailed police complaint report is also required in original.

• If the passport has expired more than six months ago, a notarized affidavit should be submitted.

• A proof of the visa status - a copy of the page on the passport containing the visa or a copy of an authorized employment permit in the concerned country.

• A valid proof of residence in the concerned country is required.

• A letter should be written by the applicant on a plain paper, addressed to the Consulate General of India of the concerned Indian Mission, explaining the circumstances and the reason for requesting an EC.

Deportation

In case an individual is being deported to India, the application for Emergency Certificate should be submitted to the Deportation Officer instead. The certificate will be delivered to the agency concerned with the deportation.