How to Apply for an Indian Passport - Application Process Guidelines
Your Indian passport is the most important identification proof you have. The Passport represents which country’s citizen you are. This document is one of the most significant prerequisites when you are applying for a postgraduate program in any country. Whether you need to apply for a Language Test or submit your admission application to the universities abroad, having an Indian passport is always the first necessity. If you already have an Indian passport, you can proceed to the next document required for applying for admission to universities in Australia.
Typical time required: 1 to 4 weeks
Passport Fee: Rs.1500 – Rs. 4000 as of December 2019 (depends on the scheme applied, i.e. Normal/Tatkaal)
Required Documents for Indian Passport Application
- A document that serves as proof of your present address You can submit your parents' passport, house rent agreement, aadhar card, electricity or water bills as proof of your current address. Aadhar card is most preferred.
- Proof of your date of birth can be your birth certificate, Aadhar card, PAN card, school leaving certificate or driving license.
- Your secondary school certificate or school graduation certificate.
- Your bank statements as advised by the passport officials.
- Other required documents
Required Documents for Police Verification
- Your Aadhar Card
- Your PAN card
- The Ration Card
- Witness letters written by two of your neighbours
- Your Driving License
- Electricity bill
Online Application for Indian Passport
- Go to the Passport Seva Online Portal Create a new account
- You will get a verification email inthe email inbox. Verify the new account created.
- Sign in with your newly registered Login ID.
- Click on "Apply for a Fresh Passport / Re-issue of Passport".
- Select the "Click here to fill the application form online."
- Choose the State & District in the RPO Selection Page.
- Fill in all the required details and check them thoroughly before submitting. After checking, submit the form.
- Pick your preferred payment method and pay the required corresponding fee.
- You will then get a confirmation email, indicating that the Indian Passport application has been forwarded to your Regional Passport Office.
Appointment Day
- Be present at Passport Seva Kendra well before your reporting time.
- Once you walk into the main office, give your documents to the staff at reception. All the documents will be scanned, and a token will be issued to you.
- Wait for your token number to be called out at the waiting area.
- You will have to visit three different counters, A, B and C.
- At Counter A, your documents will be confirmed. Your photograph, biometrics, and signature will be taken. This process might take about 15 minutes.
- At Counter B, government officials will go through and verify all your documents. This procedure might take somewhere between 15- 20 minutes.
- The granting officer will then perform a final verification of all the submitted records at Counter C. This might again take about 20 minutes.
- You will get an acknowledgement receipt when all the procedures are over.
- The complete procedure might go for about 2-3 hours.
Police Verification
- After the passport interview, you will get an SMS regarding the progress status of your application. The next step is the police verification. You will get an intimation on the verification officer’s name and phone number- he is assigned for your passport procedure.
- Go to the corresponding police station. Meet the constable who shall be handling your file. Request them humbly to finish the procedures as early as they can. Speak with the police officer and fix an appointment to visit your place of residence.
- You need to be present at the police station the following day for the verification interview. You may be asked to take with you the documents mentioned above and also a few additional records as well if required.
- After the verification procedures, request the police officer to process your documents and forward it to the regional passport office at the earliest.
- After this, your Passport will be sent to you in approximately 7 Days. You can utilise the online tracking application tool to keep an eye on your passport’s status regularly.
- Once you receive your Indian Passport, verify whether all the information printed in it is exact and complete. If you see any mistakes, report to the PSK immediately.
Useful Tips
- It takes anywhere between 7-30 days for the issue of a 'Normal' Indian Passport, 1-7 days for issuing a ‘Tatkaal’ Indian passport.
- You can go about the entire procedure on your own; it is a simple and straightforward process. You will get all the needed instructions on the official website.