Passport Officer
Passport Seva Division, Ministry of External Affairs
Counter C at PSK — grant or rejection decision
Reviews documents and application, grants or rejects reissue, orders police verification, and approves Tatkaal processing.
Passport & Travel Documents#096
Understanding Passport reissue / renewal
Renew or reissue your passport on expiry, exhaustion of pages, or change of name or address.
At a glance
Jurisdiction
All of India
Who applies
Indian citizens holding an existing passport who wish to renew it before or after expiry, or reissue it due to damage, change in personal details (name, address), exhaustion of pages, or loss
Typical time
3–7 working days (Tatkaal); 30–45 working days (Normal); additional 15–30 days if fresh police verification is ordered
Fee
₹1,500 (Normal, 36-page reissue); ₹2,000 (Tatkaal, 36-page); ₹2,000 (Normal, 60-page); ₹2,500 (Tatkaal, 60-page); ₹3,000 additional fee for loss/damage cases
Who should use this process
- ✓Current passport holder whose passport is expiring within one year, or is already expired
- ✓Holder whose passport has been damaged, mutilated, or has depleted pages
- ✓Holder seeking reissue due to change of name (after marriage, court decree, or gazette notification)
- ✓Holder seeking reissue due to change of address or other personal details
- ✓Holder whose passport has been lost or stolen (additional process and police report required)
Who does NOT need to apply
- ✕Persons who have surrendered Indian citizenship or obtained foreign nationality
- ✕Persons under an active court-imposed travel ban or Look-Out Circular
- ✕Holders whose passport was previously revoked or impounded by the Passport Authority
Documents required
| # | Document | Type needed | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Original old / expired passport | Original | Mandatory for reissue/renewal — the existing passport must be produced for verification and surrender at the PSK counter; all pages including blank pages must be intact |
| 2 | Proof of Address | Original | Required if current address differs from the address on the old passport; accepted documents include Aadhaar, Voter ID, bank passbook, or utility bill (not older than 2 months) |
| 3 | Proof of Date of Birth | Original | Birth certificate or Class 10 marksheet; required only if DOB needs to be corrected or was not present in the previous passport |
| 4 | Aadhaar Card | Self-attested Copy | Mandatory for e-KYC; used to pre-fill address and identity details on the reissue application form |
| 5 | FIR / Police report for lost passport(optional)Required only when reissuing a lost or stolen passport | Original | FIR from the police station nearest to where the passport was lost; mandatory before reissue in case of loss |
| 6 | Name change proof (Gazette Notification or Marriage Certificate)(optional)Required only when reissuing due to name change | Original | Official proof supporting the new name — Gazette notification or marriage certificate for women; court order for others |
| 7 | Annexure E — Tatkaal Verification Affidavit(optional)Required only for Tatkaal scheme reissue | Original | Self-declaration affidavit on non-judicial stamp paper (₹10) for Tatkaal reissue applications |
Original documents: Carry originals only for in-person visits — do not hand them over permanently unless explicitly required.
Step-by-step guide
- 1
Log in and select reissue application
OnlineLog in to your existing Passport Seva account (or register if you have never used the portal before). Select 'Apply for Reissue of Passport' and choose the reason: expiry, name change, damage, exhausted pages, or loss. The old passport number and details are fetched from MEA records using your registered information.
15–20 minutesPassport Seva — passportindia.gov.in - 2
Complete the reissue application form
OnlineFill in the reissue form with updated personal details — current address, emergency contact, spouse name (if applicable), and travel history. If applying due to name change, enter the new name exactly as it appears in the supporting document. Double-check all spellings; inconsistencies will cause rejection.
20–30 minutesPassport Seva — passportindia.gov.in - 3
Pay the reissue fee
OnlinePay the applicable fee (Normal or Tatkaal) using net banking, debit/credit card, or UPI. An additional ₹3,000 penalty fee is levied for lost passports. Payment confirmation generates the Application Reference Number (ARN).
5–10 minutesPassport Seva — passportindia.gov.in - 4
Book and attend PSK/POPSK appointment
BothSchedule an appointment at the nearest PSK or Post Office PSK (POPSK). Carry the original old passport, all supporting documents, and the appointment confirmation. Counter A verifies documents; Counter B captures biometrics (photo and fingerprints); Counter C completes the final review. The old passport is surrendered at the PSK unless it contains a valid visa.
1–3 hoursPSK Officer (TCS) and Passport Officer (MEA) - 5
Police verification (if ordered)
OfflinePolice verification is typically ordered for reissues where the address has changed, or for loss cases. The local police station conducts field verification and submits the report online. Tatkaal applications require Verification Certificate from a gazetted officer or an existing police clearance report.
7–30 daysBeat Constable / SHO, State Police Department - 6
Receive renewed passport by speed post
OfflineAfter grant and (if applicable) clearance of police verification, the new passport is printed at India Security Press, Nashik, and dispatched by India Post speed post. Track status on the Passport Seva portal using ARN or file number. The passport is delivered to the registered address and requires signature on receipt.
3–7 days after dispatchPassport Seva — passportindia.gov.in
Government officers involved
Station House Officer (SHO) / Beat Constable
State Police Department
Post-appointment — police verification for address change or loss cases
Conducts field address verification and submits the police verification report through the Passport Police portal.
Government portals
Passport Seva
https://www.passportindia.gov.inApplication submission, fee payment, appointment booking, status tracking, and ARN download for reissue/renewal.
DigiLocker
https://www.digilocker.gov.inAccess issued documents like Aadhaar, driving licence, or Class 10 certificate to support the reissue application.
Things to watch out for
Old passport must be surrendered even if not expired
The existing passport is taken by the PSK at the time of submission. If it contains a valid foreign visa, inform the officer — they may return the old passport to allow visa use, stamped as cancelled.
Loss cases attract an additional fee and mandatory FIR
Reissue of a lost passport requires an FIR from the local police station, an additional penalty fee of ₹3,000, and mandatory police verification regardless of whether Normal or Tatkaal scheme is chosen.
Name change requires exact match across all documents
The new name on the passport must exactly match the gazette notification or marriage certificate. Any spelling variation across documents causes rejection.
Tatkaal does not bypass police verification for address changes
Even under Tatkaal scheme, if the address has changed significantly or there is a history of adverse PV, fresh police verification is ordered post-issue, which can take weeks.
Passport validity cannot be extended — only reissued
Indian passports cannot be extended. Even if several pages are empty, once the expiry date passes, the passport must be reissued. Plan renewals at least 9 months before expiry to avoid gaps in travel ability.
Address proof must reflect actual place of residence
Police verification is conducted at the address mentioned in the application. If you provide a relative's or employer's address, PV failure is likely. Use an address where you physically reside.