The Indian passport is an official document issued by India's Ministry of External Affairs to its citizens. This document serves as proof of identity and nationality during international travel, enabling the holder to enter and exit a foreign country legally.
The passport is issued through the Passport Seva System, and depending on your passport application type, you will need a different set of documents. From verifying your identity to citizenship and personal details, the documents required for passport in India are essential for processing your passport application efficiently and smoothly.
In this guide, we will discuss all the documents required for Indian passport application, whether you are applying for a new passport, a passport for minors, a passport renewal, a Tatkal passport, or a diplomatic/official passport.
Necessary Documents Required for Indian Passport Application
The following is a list of common documents required for the Indian passport, regardless of the passport application you are applying for. Keep these documents handy in any case:
Voter ID Card
This document is issued by the government of India to its citizens proving their eligibility to vote in Indian elections.
Aadhaar card/ E-Aadhaar
Aadhaar card is an official document issued by the Indian government providing its holder with a unique 12-digit identification number, which is used for various purposes, including passport applications.
PAN Card
PAN (Permanent Account Number) is issued by the Indian Income Tax Department and is used primarily for mapping the financial transactions of its holder.
Driving License
This document is a government-issued authorization to drive a motor vehicle in India.
Birth Certificate
A government-issued document certifying the holder's date of birth, place of birth, and biological parents.
10th Standard Marksheet
This document shows your performance on the 10th-grade board exam.
Bank Passbook photo
In addition to the aforementioned government documents, the applicant must also provide a photograph of their bank passbook. The picture must clearly show you the transaction history and the account details.
School Leaving Certificate
This document, issued by your school, certifies that you have completed your education on the date of leaving your school.
Ration Card
This is a government-issued card that allows the holder to purchase food grains at a subsidised rate.
Documents Required to Apply for a New Passport
The process of getting a new passport is relatively simple if you know which documents are required for an Indian passport.
Just so you don't end up in any last-minute hassle, here's a list of documents required for a new passport in India. Ensure that you have all of them handy before you sit down to apply for your passport.
Proof of Identity
Verifying your identity is essential, and hence, any of the following can be used as evidence of your identity.
- Aadhaar card
- Voter ID Card
- PAN Card
- Driving License
- Government ID Card
- Photo credit card
- Government service Identity card
- Pension document.
Proof of Address
Out of many documents required for a password application in India, any one of the following can serve as the applicant's proof of address.
- Utility bills such as telephone, electricity, water supply, and gas in the name of the applicant.
- Aadhaar card.
- Voter ID Card
- Driving license.
- A bank statement with an attested photograph of the applicant.
- Rent agreement.
- Income tax assessment order.
Proof of Date of Birth or Birth Certificate
When applying for a passport in India, you must provide proof of your date of birth; any of the following documents are acceptable.
- School leaving certificate.
- Applicant's Aadhaar Card or e-aadhaar card.
- If the applicant is an orphan, a declaration from the head of the Child card home or orphanage is acceptable.
- Birth certificates are issued by the Municipal Authority or the registrar of births and deaths.
Passport-sized Photos
Three to five recent colour passport photographs, each being 2 inches * 2 inches in dimensions, with a white plain background. The applicant must not wear glasses and must keep a neutral expression.
Documents Required for A Passport Appointment In India
Below is a list of documents required for a passport appointment in India.
Identity Proof
To prove your identity, the applicant can use:
- Aadhaar card
- Voter ID Card
- PAN Card
- Driving License
- Passport (only if you are getting an appointment to renew a passport).
Address Proof
- Utility Bills (such as water, gas, or electricity).
- Rent Agreement
- Bank Statements
- Aadhar Card
Photographs
Two recent passport-sized photographs with acceptable dimensions, and the portrait must be taken on a white background.
Birth Certificate
A certified copy of the original birth certificate.
Declaration Form
A completed passport application form and declaration.
Fees
Applicant must pay the passport application fees listed.
Additional Documents (if required)
- Marriage Certificate (if married).
- Divorce Decree (if divorced)
- Court Order (if adopted)
- Police Report (if your passport has been lost or stolen, and you are making an appointment to get a new passport in India)
Please note: The requirements for the documents can vary based on the applicant's circumstances and the type of passport application they are making an appointment for. It's best to check the current passport application guidelines or consult with the Indian passport authority for up-to-date information.
Documents Required for New Passport Application of Minors
As a parent or guardian, when applying for a minor's passport, please note that specific documents are required to verify the child's identity, citizenship, and parental consent.
The following is the list of documents required for a new passport application for minors in India. Ensure to keep each of them handy when applying.
Proof of Identity: Copy of parents' passports attested by them or by self, along with the minor's birth certificate.
Proof of Address: Present address proof of the parent, including their active bank account's passbook, utility bill, rent agreement, landline bill, gas connection proof, and mobile bill.
Proof of Age: Municipal corporation-issued birth certificate, or a declaration given by the orphanage on their official letterhead confirming the date of birth of the minor, secondary or higher secondary marksheet, or a policy issued by the public life insurance where the policyholder's DOB is mentioned.
Photograph: Three recent passport-sized photographs coloured and in 2-inch * 2-inch size.
Documents Required to Reissue a Passport
A passport is reissued under certain circumstances, such as when it is about to expire or has already expired. Other reasons include the passport being damaged, stolen, or lost, or changes to the passport holder's personal details, such as address, name, appearance, or marital status. A passport is also reissued if the existing passport's blank pages are running out.
The common documents required for Indian passport reissue are the applicant's identity proof, the existing passport booklet, and recent passport-sized photographs. Furthermore, depending on the reason for passport reissuance, additional documents may be required.
For example, if the reason for your passport reissuance is a name change after marriage. Hence, to validate the reason, a marriage certificate is required. Whereas in the case of a lost or damaged passport, an affidavit is required.
In a nutshell, with respect to the reason for passport reissuance, carefully go through the list of required documents and check if any special condition or exemption applies to you before you start the reissuance process.
Regardless of the reason for passport reissuance, keep these standard documents ready.
Original Old Passport: The photo of your passport's first two and last two pages, including the observation page and the ECR/Non-ECR page.
Proof of Address: To prove your address, you can use any of the following documents:
- Utility bills such as water supply, gas, electricity, or telephone in the name of the applicant.
- Aadhaar Card
- Voter ID Card
- Driving License
- Applicant's active account bank statement with their attested photograph.
- Rent Agreement
- Income Tax Assessment Order.
- Passport-sized photographs: You need two recent passport-sized colour photographs, 2 inches by 2 inches.
Documents Required for Minors for Reissue of Passport
In case of minor passport reissuance, the following are the documents required to reissue a passport for minors.
Original Old Passport: Provide a photocopy of the first two and last two pages of the passport, including the ECR, non-ECR (formerly known as ECNR in passports) pages, and the observation page.
Parental Consent: A letter of consent from either the guardian of the minor or the parent (s).
Certificate from School: Photocopy of the school leaving certificate.
Proof of Address: Any of the following documents may be used by parents or guardians as proof of address.
- Utility bills ( such as electricity, telephone, gas, or water supply) in the applicant's name.
- Aadhaar card
- Voter ID card
- Driving License
- Bank Statement along with the applicant's self-attested photograph.
- Rent Agreement
- Income Tax Assessment Order
Passport Renewal Process
The entire passport renewal process is quite simple if you have the correct list of passport renewal documents needed.
Documents Required for Passport Renewal
People often mistake passport renewal and reissuance as the same, but they're different. Passport renewal means extending the validity of the old passport while keeping the number the same. With a reissue, you get a new passport booklet, which happens when a passport expires, is damaged or lost, or the holder undergoes detailed changes.
For passport renewal, you will need to submit specific documents along with your renewal application. The Passport Seva Portal's documents advisor will provide precise details on the documents required for a passport renewal application. However, here is a list of general documents that you must keep handy:
Original Old Passport: The current passport with all the valid pages.
Photocopies: Please provide the self-attested copies of the first two and the last two pages of your passport, along with ECR/Non-ECR pages and observation pages.
Additional Documents for Indian Passport Renewal: In cases where the applicant holds a Short-Validity Passport (SVP), they will be required to provide copies of the relevant documents for the issue resolution or for any validity extension pages. However, please remember that requirements may vary, so it's best to consult the Passport Seva Portal or contact the designated authorities for correct information.
In a nutshell, the renewal process for lost or damaged passports is way easier when you know what documents are required.
Causes of Reissuing a Passport
Below are the following reasons for reissuing or renewing a passport.
Passport Expiration: When a passport's expiration date is approaching, it must be renewed to travel internationally.
Name Change: If the passport holder's name changes legally due to either divorce, marriage, or any other reason, a new passport is reissued to them. That new passport will be issued with the updated name.
Damage or wear: Passports that are damaged, torn, or show excessive wear and tear require reissue. This is done to ensure that the passport is machine-readable and tamper-proof.
Lost or Stolen Passport: If the passport is lost or stolen, it must be reissued immediately to prevent fraudulent use or identity theft.
No New Visa Pages: If the passport is running out of blank visa pages for extra/entry stamps, then the holder must apply for a passport reissue.
Changes in appearance: Major changes due to age or other factors require a new passport with an updated photo.
Child-to-adult transition: Children's passports expire sooner than adult passports. Hence, whenever a child reaches adulthood, they must apply for an adult passport.
Documents Required for Tatkal Passport
You cannot travel across borders without a passport, and life emergencies arise without warning. Imagine you have an emergency across the border that immediately needs you there, but you don't have a passport, and a regular passport processing takes around 30-40 business days. That's when a Tatkal passport comes to the rescue.
The government of India provides two types of passport services: Regular and Tatkal. Tatkal passport is an expedited service in which the applicant pays a higher fee and must submit additional documents to receive their passport within 3 to 5 working days, but it's conditional.
For a Tatkal passport, the documents required for a passport application by the Indian passport authority include:
- Aadhaar Card
- Voter ID
- PAN Card
- Mobile or Landline Bill
- Birth Certificate
- School Leaving Certificate
- Previous Passport (if applicable)
- Two passport-sized photographs
- Annexure E for minor (in the case when one parent has given consent)
- Annexure H for minors (when both parents give consent)
- Police Verification Certificate (PVC).
While applying for a Tatkaal passport, ensure all documents are in order and submitted according to the framework provided by the Indian Passport Office to avoid last-minute hassles during passport issuance.
Tatkal Scheme Eligibility
The Tatkal passport scheme is for individuals who need a passport urgently. However, to obtain a Tatkal passport, the applicant must meet strict eligibility criteria. The following are the main eligibility requirements.
Urgent Travel Need: To obtain a travel passport, you need a strong reason, such as a medical emergency, education, employment, or another critical reason to travel.
Indian Citizenship: Only Indian citizens can apply under this scheme.
Documentation: All the documents required for the Tatkal passport must be submitted in the correct format.
Clean Police Record: Tatkaal passport applicants must not have any criminal history or negative police records.
No Pending Legal Cases: Tatkal passport applications must not have any ongoing legal cases that can prevent international travel.
Resolution of Past Issues: Before applying for a Tatkal passport, ensure that any earlier passport-related issues, such as impounding, cancellation, or revocation, have been resolved.
Government Employees: Applicants who the government employs must obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their department.
Additional Fees: For the Tatkal passport faster process, applicants have to pay higher fees.
Document verification: All documents required for the Indian Tatkal passport application are verified and attested in accordance with the guidelines issued by the passport authority, including notarization of annexures/affidavits when needed.
Pre- or post-verification: Depending on the case, applicants may be subject to pre- or post-issuance verification.
Genuine Usage: The Tatkal passport scheme is intended only for urgent cases and must not be misused to bypass the regular process.
If the applicants meet the conditions as mentioned earlier, they can apply for the Tatkal scheme and benefit from expedited passport processing.
Documents Required for Availing Diplomatic/Official Passport
Indians who have been sent abroad on diplomatic assignments are issued diplomatic and official passports. The documents required to get a diplomatic/official passport are as follows.
- An official letter from the sponsoring authority.
- The sponsoring authority issues an identity card.
- A copy of the official order or the appointment letter.
- Proof of date of birth.
- Proof of the present address.
Documents Required for Police Verification in Passport
Whenever police verification is required in the passport process, the applicant must present a set of valid documents to verify their identity and address. In such a case, the most commonly used documents are.
- Proof of Identity: PAN card, Aadhaar Card, Voter ID card, or Driving License.
- Proof of Address: Utility bills such as electricity, gas, water, rent agreements, or bank statements.
- Existing Passport: Required when applying for a passport's reissuance or renewal.
- Birth Certificates/School Leaving Certificate: These documents are needed for age verification.
- Additional documents: It's better to carry supporting documents needed for Indian passport, such as a marriage certificate, an affidavit, or proof of name change.
How to Apply for a Passport Online
The following are the steps to apply for a passport in India online.
Step 1: Go to the Official Website
Visit your country's official passport application website to start your passport application process.
Step 2: Create an Account
Log in to the website if you already have an account or register for one.
Step 3: Select the Type of Application
Choose the type of passport application you will opt for, such as a new passport, a renewal, a minor application, etc.
Step 4: Fill out the Application Form
Use all relevant details to fill out the application form with correct information. Ensure to check once before submission.
Step 5: Upload all the Documents
Clearly scan and upload all required documents, including proof of identity, address, and a photograph.
Step 6: Pay the Fees
Depending on the application type, applicants can pay the fees online using the secure payment methods available there.
Step 7: Book an Appointment
At the nearest passport office, schedule an appointment.
Step 8: Print the Application Receipt
Download and print the application receipt, including the appointment date.
Step 9: Attend the Appointment
Visit the designated appointment centre and complete the appointment by providing your biometric data and getting the documents verified.
Step 10: Receive Passport
Once everything is done, wait for passport processing and delivery, which usually takes a few weeks.
The Bottom Line
Getting a passport in India is no longer a hassle, thanks to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Everything is simplified by offering an online platform for passport applications.
However, before you apply for a passport, there are two things you must know: your eligibility and the documents required for a passport application in India. While the documents required for an Indian passport renewal and reissuance are generally the same, certain additional documents may be required depending on the applicant's situation.
It's always advisable to seek the help of a professional who is well-versed in the latest requirements and regulations for the Indian passport.
And when it comes to delivering the best passport service in India, Visament is the name to trust. We have been helping individuals across all the states in India with their Indian passport documentation, processing, and police verification.
So, plan your travel and leave the documentation to us; your case is now in the hands of an expert.
Connect with us as we serve our clients 24/7, all days of the week, because we believe no client's inquiry should go unheard.