How to Apply for a Passport in India

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA. Danielle Blinka is a Writer, Editor, Podcaster, Improv Performer, and Artist currently living in Houston, TX. She also has experience teaching English and writing to others. Danielle holds a Bachelor of Arts in English, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Master of Arts in English with a concentration in writing, and Master of Public Administration from Lamar University.

There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

This article has been viewed 4,917 times.

If you want to travel the world, getting a passport is the first step. Fortunately, it’s not difficult to apply for a fresh or reissued passport in India. The application form is the same for new and renewed passports, and you can submit it online or in-person. After you complete the application process, you’ll receive your passport in as few as 25 to 30 working days.

Submitting an Online Application

• You can access the Passport Seva Portal here: https://portal2.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/welcomeLink.

• If you’d rather download the form and fill it out offline, you can retrieve it here: https://portal1.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/online/downloadEFormStatic. To get the form, press the "click here" link next to "Fresh or Re-issue of Passport." A form will download to your computer, which you can open and fill out either online or offline. After completing the form, hit the "Save and Validate" button at the bottom of the page to get an uploadable XML file. Upload this form on your Passport Seva Portal. [3] X Research source

• What kind of passport you want
• Your name
• Birthdate and place of birth
• Marital status
• Citizenship status
• PAN number, if you have one
• Voter ID
• Employment information
• Educational level
• Aadhaar number
• Parent information
• Address
• Emergency contact
• Answers to criminal background questions

• You won’t get the option to pay and schedule an appointment until after you submit your form.

Follow the "Pay and Schedule Appointment" link that appears on the screen. After you submit your form, the website will provide you with a link to the page where you can pay your fees and schedule your appointment to complete the passport application process. After you schedule your appointment, you'll get the option to pay your fees. [7] X Research source

• It will also tell you how many appointments are available at each time.

• If you miss your appointment time, you’ll need to start the entire process over again. Since your fees cannot be transferred from one Application Reference Number (ARN) to another, you'll usually need to pay the application fees again if you start over. [11] X Research source

• The fees for fresh and reissued passports are the same. For a normal 36 page passport, fees are currently Rs. 1,500, as of January 2019. If you want a normal 60 page passport, your fee would be Rs. 2,000. [13] X Research source
• The online fee calculator is available here: https://portal2.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/fee/feeInput.

Print your receipt for your records. The receipt will provide you an Application Reference Number (ARN) or appointment number. Use this to keep track of your appointment information. Then, take it with you to your passport appointment. [14] X Research source

Attending an Appointment for an Online Application

• Proof of your date of birth (i.g. birth certificate, Aadhaar card, school records, PAN card, driving license, etc.)
• Proof of your identity, with a photograph (i.g. driving license, Aadhaar card, Election Commission photo ID card, etc.)
• Proof of residence (i.g. water bill, telephone bill, electricity bill, income tax assessment order, Aadhaar card, rent agreement, etc.)
• Proof of nationality (i.g. citizenship or nationality papers)

• Don’t bring a camera or anything that might be considered a weapon, as these items aren’t allowed in the PSK.

• Expect to take your photo in front of a white background. The official may ask you to adjust your clothing, head cover, or glasses so they can better see your face and eyes.
• PSK officials won't take photos of children under the age of 4. If you’re getting a passport for a child under the age of 4, bring a 2 in (51 mm) by 2 in (51 mm) passport photo of them to your appointment. Take the photo in front of a white background, and make sure the child’s face and eyes are visible. [18] X Research source

to visit your home to verify your information in 3-4 days." width="460" height="306" />

• A summons to the police station doesn't mean you're under arrest. It just means the police want to do additional questioning before verifying you.
• In addition to verifying your address and identity, the police will make sure you don’t have a criminal record or existing charges against you.
• If you’re renewing your passport, they may allow you to skip this process if you don’t have any new entries on your record.

• It’s possible your application will be rejected if there’s an issue with your documents. If this happens, you can re-apply for a passport once you have the correct paperwork. However, you'll need to pay your fee again, as it cannot be transferred to another application. [21] X Research source
• If the police don't verify you because of an issue with your paperwork or your criminal record, you can still re-apply for a passport. However, it's best to contact the Regional Passport Office (RPO) first, as they can tell you why you were not verified. From there, you can learn what you need to do to clear your record. [22] X Research source
• You can check your application status here: https://portal1.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/statusTracker/trackStatusInpNew.

Completing an In-Person Application

• If you don’t want to log into the site, you can buy a paper application for a fresh or reissued passport from your District Passport Cell (DPC). As of January 2019, the cost is Rs. 10.

Click Print Application Form to create a paper application. This takes you to a screen where you can print out your application. Press print to send the form to the printer. [24] X Research source

• What kind of passport you want
• Your name
• Birthdate and place of birth
• Marital status
• Citizenship status
• PAN number, if you have one
• Voter ID
• Employment information
• Educational level
• Aadhaar number
• Parent information
• Address
• Emergency contact
• Answers to criminal background questions

• Photograph is in colour.
• Photograph is professional or printed on good photo paper.
• Background is white.
• Clothing is dark.
• Face is visible and facing forward.
• Eyes are visible.
• Expression is neutral.

• Proof of your date of birth (i.g. birth certificate, Aadhaar card, school records, PAN card, driving license, etc.)
• Proof of your identity, with a photograph (i.g. driving license, Aadhaar card, Election Commission photo ID card, etc.)
• Proof of residence (i.g. water bill, telephone bill, electricity bill, income tax assessment order, Aadhaar card, rent agreement, etc.)
• Proof of nationality (i.g. citizenship or nationality papers)

Step 6 Wait while the official verifies your documents." width="460" height="306" />

• If the official can’t verify your documents, they’ll reject your application. If this occurs, you can re-apply once you’ve collected verifiable documents. Since you haven't paid your fees yet, this will not cost you any extra money.

• Fees for fresh and reissued passports are the same. As of January 2019, fees for a normal 36 page passport are currently Rs. 1,500, while fees for a normal 60 page passport are Rs. 2,000. [32] X Research source
• The online fee calculator is available here: https://portal2.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/fee/feeInput.

• Keep this form for your records.

• If you receive a summons, it doesn't mean you're under arrest. It just means the police officer wants to ask more questions before they verify you.
• In addition to verifying your address and identity, the police will check your criminal background and make sure you don’t have any pending charges.
• You may not need to go through the police certification verification process if you’re renewing your passport and don’t have any new entries on your police record.

• You can access the Passport SEVA portal here: https://portal2.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/welcomeLink.
• If you'd rather track your application through the call centre, the phone number is 1-800-258-1800. [36] X Research source
• If something is wrong with your documents, you may be rejected. However, you can re-apply for a passport once your paperwork is correct, but you'll need to pay your fees again.
• If you're rejected because you didn't pass the police verification process, you can still re-apply for a passport. Before you re-apply, contact the Regional Passport Office (RPO) first to find out why you were not verified. Then, you can learn what you need to do to clear your record. [37] X Research source

Expert Q&A

The process is the same whether you’re applying for a fresh or reissued passport. However, you may be able to go through the verification process more quickly if you’re renewing an existing passport.

If you apply for your passport online and visit a PSK for your passport appointment, you don’t need to get a passport photo taken. They’ll take your photo during your appointment.

You can only reschedule or cancel your passport appointment twice annually. If you miss your appointment time again, you’ll need to wait a year to reapply for your passport.

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1. ↑https://www.india.gov.in/spotlight/passport-seva-portal-convenient-way-get-passport#tab=tab-2
2. ↑https://www.india.gov.in/spotlight/passport-seva-portal-convenient-way-get-passport#tab=tab-2
3. ↑https://www.india.gov.in/spotlight/passport-seva-portal-convenient-way-get-passport#tab=tab-1
4. ↑https://www.india.gov.in/spotlight/passport-seva-portal-convenient-way-get-passport#tab=tab-2
5. ↑https://portal2.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/online/downloadEFormStatic
6. ↑https://www.india.gov.in/spotlight/passport-seva-portal-convenient-way-get-passport#tab=tab-2
7. ↑https://www.india.gov.in/spotlight/passport-seva-portal-convenient-way-get-passport#tab=tab-2
8. ↑https://portal2.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/online/apptAvailStatus
9. ↑https://www.india.gov.in/spotlight/passport-seva-portal-convenient-way-get-passport#tab=tab-2

1. ↑https://www.india.gov.in/spotlight/passport-seva-portal-convenient-way-get-passport#tab=tab-1
2. ↑https://portal2.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/online/faqFeePayment
3. ↑https://www.india.gov.in/spotlight/passport-seva-portal-convenient-way-get-passport#tab=tab-2
4. ↑https://portal2.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/fee/calculateFee
5. ↑https://www.india.gov.in/spotlight/passport-seva-portal-convenient-way-get-passport#tab=tab-2
6. ↑https://www.india.gov.in/spotlight/passport-seva-portal-convenient-way-get-passport#tab=tab-2
7. ↑https://portal2.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/online/procFormSubOnl
8. ↑https://www.thebetterindia.com/93278/india-passport-application-easy/
9. ↑https://portal2.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/online/faqServicesAvailable
10. ↑https://www.thebetterindia.com/93278/india-passport-application-easy/
11. ↑https://www.thebetterindia.com/93278/india-passport-application-easy/
12. ↑https://portal2.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/online/faqFeePayment
13. ↑https://portal1.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/online/faqPoliceVerification
14. ↑https://www.india.gov.in/spotlight/passport-seva-portal-convenient-way-get-passport#tab=tab-3
15. ↑https://www.india.gov.in/spotlight/passport-seva-portal-convenient-way-get-passport#tab=tab-3
16. ↑https://www.india.gov.in/spotlight/passport-seva-portal-convenient-way-get-passport#tab=tab-3
17. ↑https://portal2.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/online/downloadEFormStatic
18. ↑https://passport.in.ckgs.us/howtoapply
19. ↑https://www.india.gov.in/spotlight/passport-seva-portal-convenient-way-get-passport#tab=tab-3
20. ↑https://www.india.gov.in/spotlight/passport-seva-portal-convenient-way-get-passport#tab=tab-2
21. ↑https://www.india.gov.in/spotlight/passport-seva-portal-convenient-way-get-passport#tab=tab-3
22. ↑https://www.india.gov.in/spotlight/passport-seva-portal-convenient-way-get-passport#tab=tab-3
23. ↑https://portal2.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/fee/calculateFee
24. ↑https://www.india.gov.in/spotlight/passport-seva-portal-convenient-way-get-passport#tab=tab-3
25. ↑https://www.thebetterindia.com/93278/india-passport-application-easy/
26. ↑https://www.india.gov.in/spotlight/passport-seva-portal-convenient-way-get-passport#tab=tab-3
27. ↑https://portal1.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/online/faqCallCentre
28. ↑https://portal1.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/online/faqPoliceVerification

About this article

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA. Danielle Blinka is a Writer, Editor, Podcaster, Improv Performer, and Artist currently living in Houston, TX. She also has experience teaching English and writing to others. Danielle holds a Bachelor of Arts in English, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Master of Arts in English with a concentration in writing, and Master of Public Administration from Lamar University. This article has been viewed 4,917 times.

To apply for a passport in India, visit the Passport Seva Portal to fill out a form for a fresh passport or a reissue of a passport. If you’d prefer to work offline, you can also download the form onto your computer. When filling out the application, be prepared to provide personal information, like your place of birth, your voter ID, and your Aadhaar number. Once you submit your form, you’ll see a link to the page where you can pay your fees and schedule your appointment to complete the passport process. For your appointment, make sure you have all of your identification documents, like a birth certificate, driver’s license, electric bill statement, and citizenship papers. After your appointment, expect a police officer to visit your home in the next 3 to 4 days to verify your information. If everything goes well, expect your passport to arrive in 30 working days. To learn how to complete an in-person application for a passport, keep reading!