What are the Passport Application FAQs

What are the benefits of owning an Indian passport?

• The Indian Passport is a crucial document which serves as a proof of age, address, and identity.

• It enables one to travel across the World provided that a visa is stamped on it for the concerned country.

• Moreover, the Indian passport allows people to travel to several countries like the Maldives, Mauritius, and Jamaica without a visa.

Can one apply for a passport at the passport office?

As per the current system, the application of a new/fresh passport has to be made online. The supporting documents can also be uploaded. The application form can also be submitted online on the passport portal.

What are the functions of a passport office?

Although passport offices do not accept passport applications anymore, yet many functions pertaining to the issuance of passports are carried out at these offices:

• The Passport Offices reserve the right to revoke or issue or even impound passports.

• The PSKs are under them, and the POs manage the PSKs.

• Most of the back-end processes are all carried out at the passport offices.

• The passport office controls the printing, lamination and the dispatch of passports.

• Passport offices are well connected to the MEA Headquarters, the local police force as well as the state or union territory administration.

• Legal, financial and RTI-related cases pertaining to passports are handled by the POs.

What is a PSK?

PSK stands for Passport Seva Kendra. These are offices under the Passport Offices, designated to provide the front-end services related to issuing passports.

What is PCC? How can one apply for it?

PCC stands for Police Clearance Certificate. The passport authorities issue the Police Clearance Certificate to Indian citizens who are looking to move to a foreign country for employment, long-term stay or residential stay. People traveling overseas on a tourist visa cannot and need not apply for PCC from Indian authorities.

The form for applying for a PCC is available online. The e-Form can be filled and submitted online after registering with the passport website and creating a user account.

Can one submit a passport application at the passport office?

The passport offices do not accept applications directly. All applications for fresh passports have to be submitted either online or at a PSK. The passport offices manage all the back-end procedures of issuing passports.

Can one apply for a PCC online?

Yes. The form for applying for a PCC is available online. The e-Form can be filled and submitted online after registering with the passport website and creating a user account.

Can one apply for a passport online?

Yes, one can submit an application for a fresh passport online. The e-Form can be filled and submitted online after registering with the passport website and creating a user account.

Can one apply for the re-issue of a passport online?

Yes, one can apply for the re-issue of their passport online by first registering with the Passport Seva website.

Where can one submit the application for a diplomatic or official passport?

The applications for official and diplomatic passports are processed at the Consular, Passport and Visa (CPV) Division. It is situated at Patiala House in New Delhi. However, one can also apply at the Passport Office that has jurisdiction at the applicant's current residential address.

Can someone else submit the passport application on one's behalf?

The application form for a passport can be filled and submitted online. This can be done by anyone else on behalf of the applicant. However, the new passport rules passed in 2016 has made it compulsory for the applicant to be physically present when the passport application is processed at the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK).

How to apply for changes in the passport particulars?

The procedure for changing details on a passport is more or less similar to that of applying for a fresh passport. The application has to be made online under the "re-issue" of passport option. Upon payment of the required fee, an appointment will be scheduled. The applicant must visit the PSK on the date of the appointment along with the relevant documents. One must note that changing a personal particular on the passport requires a supporting document proof.

Which services are not provided by the District Passport Cells (DPC)?

The services that are not available at the District Passport Cells are:

• Re-issue of passports

• IssuingTatkal passports.

• Complex cases of passport application.

• Passport-related services like Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), etc.

What kind of passport applications do the passport offices handle?

The following types of passport applications are handled by the regional passport office (RPO):

• Official or diplomatic passports.

• Complex cases of ordinary passport applications that have been specifically forwarded to the RPO by the PSK.

• Passports required for special purposes like for visiting nations such as Taiwan or Israel.

• Legal or financial cases.

• Cases related to RTI.

How can one apply for a fresh passport online?

The following steps can help one in making an online application for a passport:

• Visit the official passport portal.

• Register at the passport portal.

• Log in to the passport portal with the unique credentials.

• Either download the e-Form which can be filled in without an active internet connection and then upload it. Alternatively, fill up and submit the form online.

• Upload the scanned copies of the documents required for the application.

• Make the fee payment and schedule an appointment.