A passport is a legally verified document issued by the government of any country for its citizens. Passports are usually required when the people of one country have to cross the borders of other countries and they are proof of the citizenship and identity of the person traveling.
Also, Read- Passport Seva Kendra online portal
Types of Passports In India
Blue Passport- This is the regular passport issued to the common people for their regular or business travels. It is also called the Regular Passport.
White Passport- This passport is issued to Government officials for their office-related trips. It is also called the Official Passport.
Maroon Passport- Its color is maroon and is issued only to diplomats or high profile Government representatives.
Orange Passport- This is issued to people who have only completed their studies till class 10th. So, the people who require an Emigration clearance will be issued the orange jacketed passport, while those who do not require will be using the blue one.
How to Apply For A Passport
There are two conditions for applying for a passport. The first condition arises when the applicant is residing outside the country and the second one arises when the applicant is a resident of the country. Due to digitalization, it has become easy nowadays to apply for a passport. Following are the two ways in which passports can be applied for:-
When the applicant is not currently living in India:-
- The official website of the passport office for Indians is www.embassy.passportindia.gov.in
- Applicants need to register on the website and choose their country of residence. By registering on the official website, a login id and password are created.
- With the help of this login id, the applicant can log in to their account created and click on the Apply for Background Verification for GEP link.
- An application form is displayed which is required to be filled up. This process generates the Application Reference Number (ARN) which is required for further processes.
- Once the form is filled up, it can be printed by clicking on the Print Application Form.
- Once the application form is submitted, the Indian Embassy or the consulate website should be visited along with the applicable fee and the required original documents. As soon as the background verification of the applicant is done, the passport is issued by the government within a few weeks.
When the applicant is currently living in India:-
The first step is always the registration process. The applicant needs to register on the official website of the Indian government i.e. Passport Seva Online Portal. By registering, a login id and password is required to be created for convenience.
With the help of the login id and password, the applicant needs to log in and click on the Apply for Background Verification for GEP link and fill in the required details and click on Submit.
The next step requires clicking on the Pay and Schedule Appointment link on the View Saved/Submitted Applications screen.
For booking an appointment, the fee has to be paid through online mode via any sources viz. cards, NEFT or UPI.
As soon as the fee is paid, the application form can be printed by clicking on the Print Application Receipt link. This generates the printout of the form containing the Application Reference Number (ARN).
Also, the applicant will be getting an SMS on his /her registered mobile number regarding the date and time of the scheduled appointment.
In the last step, the applicant needs to visit the Regional Passport Office carrying the required original documents and the SMS or the printout of the filled application form.
In case the applicant does not visit the passport office within 90 days from the online form submission, he/she needs to resubmit the form.
For children below 4 years of age, the parents need to carry a recent passport-size photograph with a white background.
Documents Required For the Verification
Here is a list of the documents required for passport verification:-
Proof of Citizenship- Date of birth certificate/ Date of birth of parents/ Parents’ Passport/Marriage certificate
Proof of Date of Birth- Birth certificate issued by Municipal office or any authorized office/ School leaving certificate/ Migration Certificate.
Address Proof- Water bill/ Electricity bill/ Telephone bill(landline or postpaid)/ last 1 year bank account statements of any currently active account/ Income tax Assessment Order/ Election Commission photo ID card/ Gas connection proof/Certificate from Employer/Spouse’s Passport copy
Educational details- Last completed education details and its respective certificate.
In case the applicant is a minor, Annexure H has to be submitted by both parents, Annexure C if both the parents are separated but not divorced, or Annexure G when one parent is giving the consent and the other is not.
How to Renew Passports
Passports in India are valid only for a period of 10 years. After this period, the Passports need to be renewed or reissued. The following are the steps of Passport Renewal:-
Login to your account on the Passport Sewa with your registered user id and password. If you don’t have an account, a new account needs to be made for further activities.
After logging in, the Apply for Fresh Passport/ Reissue of Passport tab needs to be clicked.
A form is displayed which needs to be filled up and submitted.
Afterward, by clicking on the Pay and Schedule Appointment link we can choose from the different slots available, followed by paying the fee through online mode only.
As soon as the payment is made, the printout of the submitted application can be taken out for the interview session.