Passport Services Guide

Q.1. What are the various passport services and which form has to be filled in?

   The various passport services are:

i.  Issue of Fresh Passport: One should apply for a fresh passport for the new born child if applying for the first time.

ii. Re-issue of Passport: You may apply for re-issue of passport if you need another passport in lieu of the existing passport for any of the following reasons:

• Expiring within 1 year of validity
• Exhaustion of pages
• Damaged passport
• Lost passport
• Change in passport particulars

No extensions of validity are made on the existing passports. Passport will always be re- issued on making a fresh application.

Q.2.  What types of photographs are required for Passport?

Specifications for the photograph are given below:

• The photo must be of professional grade, a photo printed from a home/personal printer will be rejected
• The size of the photograph should be 51mm x 51mm (2 inches by 2 inches)
• Applicant’s recent colored passport size photograph should be pasted in box meant for affixing the photograph
• The photo must have adequate brightness and contrast
• It should be a close-up of head and top of shoulder so that face takes up 70–80% of the photograph
• Ears should be visible
• Eyes should be open and clearly visible (No hair across the eyes)
• Skin tone should be natural. It should not be too dark or too light
• Head coverings, hair or facial ornaments should not obscure the face
• Should not have ‘Red eye’
• Should not have reflection of the flash
• Face should be directly facing the camera (Portrait style)
• The background should be of white color
• Photograph should not be older than 6 months
• In case of minor, no uniform should be worn in the photo.
• If wearing prescription glasses then make sure that the frames do not cover any part of the eyes.
• Photograph should be without any distracting objects. For example: No chair, objects or other people should be visible in the background.
• Photo must not be stapled
• Photo must be scratch free

Q.3.  What additional documents are required in case the passport has expired for less than 6 months?            

                For passports which expired less than 6 months ago, a self-explanatory letter explaining why the passport was not renewed in time should be attached.

Q.4. What additional documents are required in case the passport has expired for more than 3 years?

If passport is expired for more than 3 years:

1. Two copies of the National verification form are required to be attached with the application form in addition to all other required documents.
2. Notarized affidavit along with a self-explanatory letter explaining why the passport was not re-issued after expiry for such a long time.

• Minor

Q.1. What is the definition of minor for issue of passport?

Applicants less than 18 years of age are considered as minors for issuance of passport.

In case of minors, the validity of passport is restricted to 5 years or till they attain the age of 18, whichever is earlier.

However, minors between 15 to 18 years of age can apply for a 10-year validity passport.

Different fees are applicable depending upon the category applied for.

Q.2. What would be the validity of a minor's passport?

The validity of a minor's passport is restricted to five years or till they attain the age of 18, whichever is earlier.

Endorsement of child's name in parent's passports is not allowed anymore. Every minor is required to have his/her own passport.

Q.4.  In case of minor's passport, whose parent is abroad, is it mandatory to obtain that parent's consent to apply for the child's passport? If so, what is the procedure?

 If parent(s) of the minor holds a valid passport, then an attested photocopy of father’s passport needs to be submitted along with the application form. Both parents should have valid passports and each other’s name should be endorsed and printed on their passports. If not, a certified copy of the marriage certificate must be submitted.

If father is abroad, then a sworn affidavit attested by the Indian Mission/Regional passport office along with an attested photocopy of the passport needs to be submitted.

Q.5. I am a minor who is 16 years old. Is it possible for me to obtain a full validity passport of 10 years?

Minors between 15 to 18 years of age can apply for a 10-year validity passport. The fee for a 10-year validity passport is higher than that applicable for a 5-year validity passport. 

Q.6. I wish to apply for a passport for my child who is 12 months old. Can I apply for a 60 pages booklet?

No. Only 36 pages passport booklet are issued to minors since the passport will be issued for a period of 5 years only.

Q.7.  What are the requirements regarding appending thumb impression of a newborn/ infant on the application form?

There is an earmarked space for the purpose. Left thumb impression for a male child and right thumb impression for a female child needs to be appended in the earmarked space.

Damaged Passport

• Q.1.  What is the definition of a damaged passport?

A damaged passport is classified further based on the extent of damage, i.e.:

1. Passport number is unreadable, name is illegible and Photo is not intact
2. Damaged beyond recognition/ mutilated/smudged entries/washed out/torn/or apparently visibly damaged.

• Q.2. What is the procedure to apply for a duplicate passport in case of damaged passport?

To apply for a duplicate passport in case of damaged passport, one has to apply for "Re-issue" of passport.

Lost/Stolen Passport

1. What do I do if I lose my passport?

Loss of passport should be immediately reported to the nearest Police Station. Applicants are required to apply for "Re-issue" of passport and submit all the required documents along with the passport application form.

Exhaustion of Pages

Q.1. The pages in my passport booklet have exhausted, but it has a validity of 5 years.What is the procedure to apply for a new booklet?

You are required to apply for Re-issue of passport. A new passport booklet will be issued with full validity of 10 years from the date of issue.

Q.2. When is an additional booklet/additional pages are issued?

Additional pages are no longer added to a passport booklet. If the pages in the passport booklet have exhausted, one needs to apply for "Re-issue" of passport.

Q.3. Pages of my passport are already full but it is valid for another 4 years, is it possible to add extra pages?

Additional pages are no longer added to a passport booklet. If the pages in the passport booklet have exhausted, one needs to apply for "Re-issue" of passport.

Validity Due to Expire

• Q.1. My passport will expire in 1 year. What should I do?

You can apply for a re-issue of your passport up to 1 year before the expiry, provided there is no change in personal particulars.

Change of Appearance

• Q.1. My appearance has changed. What should I do?

To change the photograph in the passport, you have to apply for "Re-issue" of passport.

Q.2. What is the procedure to change photograph of a child in the passport?

To change the photograph in the passport, you have to apply for "Re-issue" of passport.

Change of Name

Q.1. My name has changed. Can I travel in my previous name? Otherwise, how do I         change the name on my passport?

Once you have changed your name, it is advisable to have your name changed on your passport as well.

Q.2. There is a mistake in the spelling of my name in the passport. What can I do?

If you find any mistake/error in the particulars printed in the passport booklet as per the application form submitted, please return the passport for necessary rectification before using it for international travel and within 1 month from the date of issue. If there is a misrepresentation of facts, then a penalty can also be imposed. However, applicants are requested to apply online with a view to ensure that the passports are delivered without any typographical errors since applicants themselves have fed the data.

Q.3.  The Surname field is blank on my passport. And my full name is written in the Given Name field. What is the process to add the surname to my passport?

If the surname field is blank and your full name (first and last name) is written in the given name field, you are required to follow the name change process.

Additionally, you will have to produce a Court Order for change of name along with a Duly Notarized Sworn Affidavit for change of name.

Change of Date of Birth / Place of Birth

• Q.1. What is the process to change the date/place of birth in the passport?

To change the date/place of birth in the passport, you have to apply for "Re-issue" of passport and get the specified change done in the personal particulars and provide the following documents in support: 

i.  A court order issued by a judicial officer not below the rank of 1st Class Magistrate in India OR a Competent Authority (issues an amendment or correction in the date/ place of birth of the applicant.

ii.  The Competent Authority issuing the amending order should be the same authority whose certification was submitted at the time of issue of original passport. The Competent Authority in such cases can be Municipal Authorities (for date / place of birth and Educational Board Authority (for date of birth). Birth Certificate issued by Government/Municipal authorities.

Change of Spouse's Name

• Q.1. What is the process to endorse my spouse's name on my passport?

To endorse the spouse's name on your passport, you have to apply for 'Re-issue' of passport and get the specified change done in personal particulars.

Q.2. My spouse is a foreign citizen. What document(s) do I need to submit along with my         passport application to include his/her name in my passport?

For the applicants whose spouse is a foreign citizen and the name needs to be included in the passport, one of the following documents need to be submitted along with the passport application:

1. Marriage Certificate issued by the designated Indian Mission. OR
2. Marriage Certificate issued by Foreign Government, duly attested/apostilled either by:

   a. The Indian Mission/Post covering the jurisdiction of the place where the Marriage Certificate was issued. OR

   b. Marriage Certificate issued in India by Indian authorities (Marriage Officer/Registrar of Marriage) OR

3. Marriage Certificate issued by Foreign Embassy/High Commission/Consulate of that country in India (of which the foreign spouse is a citizen).

Q.3. My spouse is a foreign citizen. So while applying for a passport, do I need to add   prefix/suffix with his/her name that denotes nationality of the belonging country?

While mentioning name of foreign spouse in the passport application form, no prefix/ suffix denoting nationality of the spouse should be added. Only the actual name of the spouse needs to be mentioned.

Q.4.  What documents are required for deletion of a spouse's name on account of divorce?

Court certified copy of Divorce decree or Notarized copy of Divorce certificate needs to be submitted.

Change of Address

• Q.1. How do I change the address on my passport?

To change the address in the passport, you have to apply for "Re-issue" of passport to get the specified change done in the personal particulars.