Q1: What are the various passport services and which form has to be filled in?
A: The various passport services are:
Issue of Fresh Passport: You can apply for fresh passport if applying for the first time in the applied category.
Re-issue of Passport: You can apply for re-issue of passport if you want another passport in lieu of an existing passport for any of the following reasons:
Change in existing personal particulars.
Validity expired within 3 years/ Due to expire within one year.
Validity expired more than 3 years ago.
Exhaustion of pages.
Damaged passport.
Lost passport.
The applicant must apply under fresh category, in case they did not hold previously any Ordinary Passport, even if they currently hold Official/Diplomatic Passport.
The applicants for Official/Diplomatic Passport must apply under fresh category in case they did not hold previously any Official/Diplomatic Passport, even if they currently hold Ordinary Passport.
Q2: What types of passports are issued in India?
A: Following three types of passports are issued in India:
Ordinary Passport: An ordinary passport consists of 36/60 pages. Generally, for adults it is valid for 10 years from the date of issue and can be re-issued. For minors' passport, the validity is restricted to five years or till they attain the age of 18, whichever is earlier.
Diplomatic Passport: Issued to designated members authorised by the Government of India.
Official Passport: Issued to designated Government servants or any other person specifically authorised by the Government deputed abroad on official assignment.
Q3: How do I apply for a Passport or Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)?
A: For issue of fresh/re-issue of Passport and PCC, applicant should fill in the application form online at www.passportindia.in .
Note: It is mandatory for all applicants, including infants, to be physically present at the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or the Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) to give their biometrics (fingerprints) and photographs and follow prescribed procedures.
Minor
Q4: What is the definition of minor for issue of passport?
A: Applicants less than 18 years of age are considered as minor for issuance of passport.
Q5: I have a one-month old baby? Does the baby require a separate passport or his/her name can be endorsed in one of the parent's passport?
A: Endorsement of child's name in parent's passports is not allowed anymore. As per the amended instructions, a minor should have a separate passport.
Q6: In case of minor's passport, whose father is abroad, is it mandatory to obtain father's consent to apply for the child's passport? If so, what is the procedure?
A: Ideally, both the parents/legal guardian should sign Annexure ‘D’ in fresh or re-issue cases (to safeguard the interest of minor applicants). Both parents shall be present at the PSK/POPSK while applying for passport for their minor children or one parent with passports of both the parents may be present (PSK in-charge may call for other parent, if not satisfied with the signature on Annexure-D). In case either parent is resident abroad, the parent who is submitting the application in India will sign the application form and obtain the consent of other parent in Annexure-‘D’. In the cases where consent of either parent is not possible to be obtained, declaration in form of Annexure-C may be provided with applicable reason. .
Q7: I am a minor who is 16 years old. Is it possible for me to obtain a full validity passport of 10 years?
A: Children between the ages of 15 and 18 have the option to apply for a minor passport valid until he/she attains the 18 years of age or full validity passport of 10 years. Different fees are applicable for different validity.
Q8: What would be the validity of a minor's passport?
A: The validity of a minor's passport is restricted to five years or till they attain the age of 18, whichever is earlier. Minors aged between 15 to 18 years may refer to question 7 above.
Q9: Who can apply for my minor child passport in India if I am offshore?
A: Refer to question 6 above.
Q10: Is it true that passport applications for minors under 18 require consent of either both parents or legal guardian?
A: Ideally, both the parents should sign Annexure ‘D’ in fresh or reissue cases (to safeguard the interest of minor applicants). Both parents shall be present at the PSK while applying for passport for their minor children or one parent with passports of both the parents may be present (PSK in-charge may call for other parent, if not satisfied with the signature on Annexure-D). However, when consent of either parent is not possible, the parent who is submitting the application may provide declaration in form of Annexure-C with applicable reason must submit a declaration in the form in Annexure-‘C’ stating the reasons. Following documents have to be submitted in the given cases:
Q11: My spouse is living in another country. How do I get his/her signature for consent while applying for my child's passport?
A: Please refer to question 6 above.
Q12: I want to apply for my child's passport. Are signatures of both parents mandatory on Annexure D to be submitted along with the application? What if my spouse is refusing to sign the form?
A: Please refer to question 10 above.
Q13: I wish to apply for a passport for my child who is 12 months old. Can I apply for a 60 pages (Jumbo) booklet?
A: No, only 36 pages passport booklet are issued to minors.
Q14: If parents have valid passport, however, the background details of the parents is adverse in the passport database, can passport be issued to minor on an urgent basis?
A: In such cases, minors can be issued passport under Tatkaal scheme subject to the approval of the Competent Authority.
Q15: Do I need to carry photographs of my 3 months old child while visiting the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK)/ Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK)/ Passport Office (PO)?
A: Minor applicants below the age of 4 years need to carry a passport size photograph for the processing of application at the PSK/POPSK/PO. For applicants above the age of 4 years, photographs will be captured at the PSK/POPSK/PO itself. Please Click Here for guidelines for capturing photographs for minors below 4 years of age.
Q16: My spouse is living in another country. How do I get his/her signature for consent while applying for my child's passport?
A: Please refer to question 6 above.
Q17: I want to apply for my child's passport. Are signatures of both parents mandatory on Annexure D to be submitted along with the application? What if my spouse is refusing to sign the form?
A: Please refer to question 10 above.
Q18: I wish to apply for a passport for my child who is 12 months old. Can I apply for a 60 pages (Jumbo) booklet?
A: No, only 36 pages passport booklet are issued to minors.
Q19: If parents have valid passport, however, the background details of the parents is adverse in the passport database, can passport be issued to minor on an urgent basis?
A: In such cases, minors can be issued passport under Tatkaal scheme subject to the approval of the Competent Authority.
Q20: Do I need to carry photographs of my 3 months old child while visiting the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK)/ Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK)/ Passport Office (PO)?
A: Minor applicants below the age of 4 years need to carry a passport size photograph for the processing of application at the PSK/POPSK/PO. For applicants above the age of 4 years, photographs will be captured at the PSK/POPSK/PO itself. Please Click Here for guidelines for capturing photographs for minors below 4 years of age.