Passport & Travel Documents#095

Understanding Passport application — fresh issue

Apply for your first passport; valid 10 years for adults and 5 years for minors.

At a glance

Jurisdiction

All of India

Who applies

Any Indian citizen applying for a passport for the first time (no previous Indian passport ever issued)

Typical time

3–7 working days (Tatkaal / urgent); 30–45 working days (Normal); post-police-verification timeline adds 15–30 days in most states

Fee

₹1,500 (Normal, 36-page booklet); ₹2,000 (Tatkaal, 36-page booklet); ₹2,000 (Normal, 60-page booklet); ₹2,500 (Tatkaal, 60-page booklet); ₹1,000 (minors under 15, 36-page); additional bank/payment gateway charges may apply

Who should use this process

✓Must be a citizen of India (by birth, descent, or naturalisation)
✓Must not hold any other country's passport that is currently valid
✓Minors can apply through parents or legal guardians; both parents' names and consent are required
✓Applicants must have a valid Aadhaar number (mandatory for e-KYC) or submit alternative address and identity proofs
✓Applicants with prior criminal convictions must declare the same and may be subject to additional verification

Who does NOT need to apply

✕Persons who have renounced Indian citizenship or acquired foreign nationality
✕Persons declared fugitives or against whom a Look-Out Circular is active
✕Persons serving a court-imposed travel ban
✕Applicants reapplying after revocation of an earlier passport (special rules apply)

Documents required

#	Document	Type needed	Purpose
1	Proof of Date of Birth	Original	Establish date of birth as per government records; accepted documents include Birth Certificate, School Leaving Certificate (Class 10 Marksheet with DOB), or Aadhaar/PAN as supplementary
2	Proof of Address	Original	Establish current residential address; accepted documents include Aadhaar card, Voter ID, bank passbook, utility bill (not older than 2 months), or rental agreement registered with government
3	Proof of Identity / Photo ID	Original	Confirm identity of applicant; Aadhaar card, Voter ID, PAN card, or driving licence are accepted
4	Aadhaar Card	Self-attested Copy	Mandatory for e-KYC based address and identity verification; also used for Aadhaar-based online appointment at PSK
5	Annexure E — Verification Affidavit (for Tatkaal applicants)(optional)Required only for Tatkaal applications	Original	Self-declaration affidavit on non-judicial stamp paper required specifically for Tatkaal passport applications
6	Proof of Citizenship (for non-birth citizens)(optional)Required only if Indian citizenship was acquired through naturalisation or registration, not by birth	Original	Naturalisation certificate or registration certificate for citizens not born in India
7	Parental consent documents / birth certificate (for minors)(optional)Required only for minor applicants	Original	Both parents' Aadhaar / ID and signed Annexure-C (Declaration of parents) required for applicants below 18
8	Recent passport-size photographs	Original	4.5 cm x 3.5 cm colour photo against plain white background; photo is captured fresh at the PSK but physical copies may be requested at POPSK counters

Original documents: Carry originals only for in-person visits — do not hand them over permanently unless explicitly required.

Step-by-step guide

1
Register on the Passport Seva portal
Online
Visit passportindia.gov.in and create a new account using your email address. Activate the account via the email confirmation link. Log in and link your Aadhaar to enable e-KYC if you wish to skip document uploading for address/DOB fields.
15–20 minutesPassport Seva — passportindia.gov.in
2
Fill and submit the online application form
Online
Select 'Apply for Fresh Passport' and complete the form with personal details, address, emergency contact, and previous travel history. Select Normal or Tatkaal scheme and choose the booklet size (36 or 60 pages). Review all entries carefully — corrections after appointment booking are not allowed without restarting the application.
30–45 minutesPassport Seva — passportindia.gov.in
3
Pay the application fee
Online
Pay the applicable fee online through the portal using debit/credit card, net banking, or UPI. A payment receipt with an Application Reference Number (ARN) is generated. Keep the ARN handy — it is used at every subsequent step.
5–10 minutesPassport Seva — passportindia.gov.in
4
Book an appointment at a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office PSK (POPSK)
Online
After payment, book an appointment slot at the nearest PSK or POPSK. Slots at major city PSKs fill quickly — check availability for nearby POPSKs. Tatkaal slots are limited; book early in the day. Print or save the appointment confirmation.
10–15 minutesPassport Seva — passportindia.gov.in
5
Visit the PSK/POPSK on appointment date
Offline
Carry all original documents and self-attested copies along with the printed appointment confirmation. At the PSK, you will pass through three counters: Counter A (document verification), Counter B (data verification and biometric capture — photo and fingerprints), and Counter C (final review and granting/rejection). Biometrics are captured fresh; no external photograph is needed at most PSKs.
1–3 hoursPassport Seva Kendra Officer (TCS-managed) and Passport Officer (MEA)
6
Passport Officer grants the application
Offline
After Counter C review, the Passport Officer (MEA official) decides whether to grant the application. For Normal scheme, Police Verification (PV) is generally ordered post-issue. For Tatkaal, a Verification Certificate from a gazetted officer or a prior police report is required before granting. An SMS is sent with the grant status.
Same day decisionPassport Officer, Ministry of External Affairs
7
Police Verification (PV)
Offline
For Normal applicants, the local police station conducts pre- or post-issue verification based on the applicant's address. A police officer visits the residence, verifies the address, and submits the report online via the Passport Police portal. Any adverse report can lead to revocation. Tatkaal applicants may still be sent for post-issue PV.
7–30 days (varies by state and district)Local Police Station — Beat Constable / SHO
8
Receive passport by speed post
Offline
On successful PV, the passport is printed at the India Security Press, Nashik, and dispatched by India Post speed post to the registered address. Track delivery using the ARN or speed post tracking number on the Passport Seva portal. Signature of the addressee or authorised family member is required at delivery.
3–7 days after dispatchPassport Seva — passportindia.gov.in

Government officers involved

Passport Officer

Passport Seva Division, Ministry of External Affairs

PSK visit — Counter C, final grant decision

Reviews documents and biometric data, grants or rejects the passport application, and orders police verification where required.

Assistant Passport Officer (APO)

Passport Seva Division, Ministry of External Affairs

PSK visit — Counter B and document escalations

Manages data verification and assists in resolving document discrepancies at the PSK.

Station House Officer (SHO) / Beat Constable

State Police Department

Post-appointment — police verification stage

Conducts field verification of the applicant's address and antecedents; submits the PV report online.

Government portals

Passport Seva

https://www.passportindia.gov.in

Account registration, application form, fee payment, appointment booking, status tracking, and downloading ARN.

mPassport Seva App

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.csc.mpassportseva

Mobile-based application submission, appointment booking, and passport status tracking on Android and iOS.

DigiLocker

https://www.digilocker.gov.in

Access digitally issued government documents (Aadhaar, driving licence, Class 10 certificate) to support the application.

Things to watch out for

Tatkaal is not guaranteed same-day delivery

Tatkaal scheme only expedites processing at the PSK; the actual passport printing and postal delivery still takes 3–5 days after grant. Tatkaal also requires a verification certificate or pre-existing police clearance.

Name mismatch across documents

Any variation in name spelling, date of birth, or address across Aadhaar, PAN, birth certificate, or educational certificates is a common rejection trigger. Resolve discrepancies before applying.

Appointment slot exhaustion

PSK slots in metro cities get booked weeks in advance. Check availability at nearby POPSK or satellite PSKs if the nearest PSK is full. Tatkaal slots are especially limited.

Police verification can delay or cancel passport

An adverse police verification report (negative antecedents, address not verified) can result in impounding or revocation of an already issued passport. Ensure your registered address is where you actually reside.

Original documents mandatory at PSK — photocopies insufficient

All documents must be produced in original at Counter A. Only originals with self-attested copies are accepted. Arriving without originals results in rejection on that day and requires rebooking.

Aadhaar address must match application address

If using Aadhaar for e-KYC, the address pre-filled from Aadhaar becomes your registered address for police verification. Any mismatch with your actual residence causes complications during PV.