Processing, Issue, Dispatch of Passports at PSKs

All passport applications are processed, verified and sanctioned at the PSKs. Once your passport application is submitted and you have paid the fees to receive the appointment, the next step is to visit the Passport Seva Kendra or PSK to complete the remaining procedures.

• Reach the PSK before time with the ARN receipt and all the required documents.

• Submit your documents for initial screening and obtain a token with a group number.

• You have to pass through the security check next. You will be called along in batches according to your group number.

• Be seated in the waiting area; wait for your turn.

• Proceed inside when your number is called.

• There are different color-coded counters inside the PSK.

Counter A: For document verification, the collection of fees or other charges and photographing applicants by Citizen Service Executive (CSE) or TCS personnel.

As you approach the counter, your documents will be reviewed, and all unnecessary documents will be returned to you. The required documents will be scanned and then uploaded on the portal. You will receive a print-out of this uploaded personal information for review and signature. Your photograph will be clicked, your biometric data (fingerprint scan) will be recorded, and pending charges will have to be paid. The verified information is again scanned and uploaded on the portal.

Counter B: For document verification by Verification Officer (VO) or Government personnel.

As your token number is called out, you will have to approach this counter and your documents will be verified by the Verification Officer once again.

Counter C: For document verification and the decision of issuance by Granting Officer (GO) or Assistant Passport Officer.

This is the final stage of the application where the officer will decide whether you should be granted a passport. They will accordingly process your application and determine when your police verification will take place.

Exit Counter: Acknowledgement Letter

You will get an acknowledgment letter from the PSK, which will contain the status of your application, such as the status of approval and mode of police verification. This document provides the necessary information for tracking details about your passport. This crucial document must be kept safely.

Upon completion of this process, the application process moves from the PSK to the Passport Office (PO) for all the back-end processing. The Passport Office will communicate with the State Police for Verification. The PO will also handle the issuing, printing, laminating specific pages and dispatching the approved passport.

Issue, Printing, and Dispatch of Passport

After the application has been processed successfully, the passport office will initiate the issuing, printing and dispatching of your passport. The time required for the passport to be dispatched mainly depends on the type of Police Verification required.

Pre Police Verification – For normal passports, this happens within three working days from the day the main police station successfully updates the information. This update doesn't count while dispatching the passports applied through the tatkal scheme. Applicants of J&k and Nagaland may face lengthier process for the same.

Post Police Verification – It happens on the 3rd working day for both normal and tatkal passports.

No Police Verification – It happens on the 3rd working day for normal passports and within one working day for tatkal.

Complex applications – For complicated cases involving duplicate passports, document issues, name change, single parent applying for minor, adoption, etc., it might take up to 30 working days to complete this process.

Other cases – In case there is an anomaly in the data provided which requires additional checking or verification or in case of a glitch in the system, additional time may be required exceeding the specified timeframe.

Passports are typically dispatched to the applicant’s current address via India Post through Speed Post. It can be tracked on the India Post website. It is better to receive the passport in person or authorize someone to receive it on your behalf.